Palatupana is the entrance for BLOCK 01 and 02. And, it's a main entrance for Yala National Park.
Description
Experience an adventure in Yala National Park, located in the southeast of Sri Lanka. Ride in a soft-top Jeep and view the natural wonder of the park with the roof open. Watch the sky bloom at dawn or fade to dusk, depending on your preference, and search for wild animals. Hotel pick-up and drop off is included during this full-day, morning, or evening adventure.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
6:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Next available
Sat, Oct 10
Adult (ages 0–80)
$40
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $80.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 3:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:46 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.
Tour Options
Jeep with Tickets (6 hrs)
LK50C01F01: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with Tickets (6 hrs)
The park entrance ticket includes.
Jeep with Tickets (12 hrs)
LK50C01L01: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with Tickets (12 hrs)
The park entrance ticket includes:
Jeep with No Tickets (3 hrs)
LK50C01C00: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with No Tickets (3 hrs)
The park entrance ticket excludes.
Jeep with Tickets (3 hrs)
LK50C01C00: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with Tickets (3 hrs)
The park entrance ticket includes.
Jeep with No Tickets (6 hrs)
LK50C01F00: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with No Tickets (6 hrs)
The park entrance ticket excludes.
Jeep with No Tickets (12 hrs)
LK50C01L00: Yala National Park Private Safari including Jeep with No Tickets (12 hrs)
The park entrance ticket excludes.
Itinerary
Admission not included180 min
Meet at the gate of Yala National Park at 5:30 am or 2:30 pm to begin your safari adventure. Yala National Park is one of the preeminent spots in Sri Lanka to view a broad variety of wildlife. Admire fan-tailed peacocks in the woods where monkeys leap and chatter. There are 32 species of mammals in the park, including threatened species such as sloth bears, leopards, elephants, water buffalos, wild boars, spotted deers, sambars, and golden jackals.
Yala National Park’s Block 1 has recorded the highest density of leopards among the populations scattered in the wildlife parks of Sri Lanka.
View the large population of elephants that wander the park. Yala National Park is also rich in birdlife, with around 130 species.
After a thorough exploration of all the wildlife, the park has to offer, end your tour at the departure point.
• Please Advise which safari would you like to go on when you making the booking for Half Day Safari.
SKU: LK50030100
What's included
Included
Experienced Driver (Also your tracker).
Park entrance tickets are included when "Jeep With Tickets" selected.
Free Pickup/Drop off from/to any location within the radius of 5 KM from the Palatupana Park Gate.
Private Safari Jeep (Maximum of 6 Passengers per jeep).
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off if outside of 5km of park entrance gate
Park entrance tickets are excluded when "Jeep With No Tickets" selected.
Food And Drinks
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
We can pick you up from Tissamaharama/Yala City or any hotel in Tissamaharama. If you are heading directly to the park entrance, please contact us to confirm the time and date, and we will meet you there.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.4
56 reviews
5
40
4
8
3
3
2
3
1
2
How it compares in Yala National Park
No. 21 by number of reviews among 192 tours in Yala National Park
Starting price $40 is close to the typical $42 for tours of similar length in Yala National Park
Excurgo comparison of 192 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
A maximum of 6 people per booking
Not recommended for child aged 5 years or under
Please Advise which safari would you like to go on when you making the booking for Half Day Safari.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Yala National Park Private Safari take?
Yala National Park Private Safari lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Yala National Park Private Safari cost?
Prices start at $40 per person for this Yala National Park experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $80. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Yala National Park Private Safari run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Can I cancel Yala National Park Private Safari for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. We can pick you up from Tissamaharama/Yala City or any hotel in Tissamaharama. If you are heading directly to the park entrance, please contact us to confirm the time and date, and we will meet you there. Pickup points include Nikara Yala Beach Villas.
What languages is Yala National Park Private Safari offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 6 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not recommended for child aged 5 years or under
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Yala National Park Private Safari worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 56 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Lakpura LLC.
Reviews(56)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
1
165k_r_atb
May 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
It's great to see a leopard without a cage.
I couldn't have imagined this much. Seeing everything live is a completely different experience. I was very happy and had fun. Many thanks to everyone involved. With love and respect
Operator response
(LKG69V4SR9) Thank you so much for your lovely words. We are truly happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and had such a memorable time. Your appreciation means a lot to everyone involved. We hope to welcome you again for another wonderful experience. With love and respect.
P
patricksP7408DI
April 15, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing tour!
Amazing. Recommend highly. Our guide was a legend.
A
annesH7391KW
January 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Yala national park safari
We did the afternoon safari from 2-6pm and it was a great experience. We saw a leopard, elephants, water buffalo, deer, peacocks all in their natural environment. Whilst there were quite a few tours operating at the same time, the safari did not feel intrusive. Four of us including 19 and 21 yr old went and this exceeded all our expectations
S
Seaside623895
January 1, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Yala full day safari
The booking was easy with Lakpura and changing the pickup point was no problem.Thej 2jeeps were modern with experienced driver/trackers.Because of heavy rain during the drive did not see many animals.The whole visit was well organized and the wait at the entrance was only 15 minutes due to online booking.
Thank you Mewan Maduranga
R
Rakesh_M
December 25, 2025 · via Viator
Money well spent
Well worth the the $, our guide/driver knew all the spots where we could catch a glimpse of Elephants and Leopards etc.
M
MalluMasala
November 1, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Super experience.
Excellent !! Loved it. Would recommend to all to try and use it. Loved seeing elephants and deers and peacocks ...wonderful experience
Operator response
(J35257U03) Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience and loved seeing the elephants, deer, and peacocks. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
We look forward to welcoming you again for another memorable adventure.
M
mathurat2018
October 9, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Jeep Safari Yala National Park
It was interesting, but very few animals seen. We haven't seen any leopards. It is best to go there after rain.
Operator response
(J35134U03) Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad to hear that you found the trip interesting, and we truly appreciate your feedback regarding the wildlife sightings. You’re right — visiting after the rains can often increase the chances of spotting more animals, including leopards.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future for an even more memorable wildlife experience.
7
777kikir
September 19, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Safaritour Yalapark
It was a beautiful experience. The ride to the park, the private jeep ride through the park and the return ride were perfectly arranged! Our driver of the jeep has done his utmost ok to make our safari tour as fun and special as possible. I would recommend it to anyone!
Operator response
(J34936U05) Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that your Yala National Park Safari Tour was perfectly organized and memorable. It’s wonderful to know our jeep driver went above and beyond to make your safari special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you again for more adventures in Sri Lanka!
C
Carolyn_M
July 17, 2025 · via Viator
Great expectations
I booked this Safari trip online via Viator which was confusing because I thought it included the travel from our hotel to the Safari Park but it didn’t the 12 hours that I booked was just for being in the Safai park. I asked the operator to reduce the time to 4 hours. Luckily they refunded me part of my expenses. The Safari itself was a little disappointing. The animals were so far away there were far too many Safari jeeps. I had to tell the driver to slow down because of the rough tracks and to speak to the driver I had to knock on his window for him to wind it down and I could talk to him. The marketing of the experience and the national park is excellent but in reality it’s a money pit but I guess that money pit goes to keeping out the developers. I would recommend it to keep the environment from development.
E
em19031998
April 24, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Yala safari
The safari was very nice, traveling in a car like this was a more than satisfying experience! The driver was on top. Unfortunately we saw that very few animals (not even leopards...) I know that it does not depend on the driver but it impacted our safari, maybe next time!!
Operator response
(J33517U05) Thank you for your kind words and honest feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the ride and appreciated your driver’s efforts. Wildlife sightings can be unpredictable, but we hope your next safari brings more luck. We'd love to welcome you back!
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