Which safari in Sri Lanka?

Hi there! I need your advice :) We’ll be in Sri Lanka in April, a group of 9 adults. Which safari would you recommend, please? Thanks for your replies! Lolo13500

Hi,

It all depends on your itinerary. In Sri Lanka, there are national parks pretty much everywhere, but to avoid unnecessary kilometers, I’d recommend choosing based on your route.

For example, if you're heading to the East Coast, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to visit Uda Walawe or Yala (since they’re quite a few extra kilometers away). Instead, I’d suggest one of the parks in the Cultural Triangle or Wilpattu on your way back between Trincomalee and Negombo (airport).

If you’re going south, though, you’ve got plenty of options—so it really comes down to whether you want to see leopards or not.

Hi Laure,

In April, if you're doing the classic cultural triangle, central, and southern loop, I’d recommend Uda Walawe for a sure chance to see elephants or Yala if you want to try your luck spotting a leopard—but be warned, it’s much busier there. You can check out these safaris and learn more here.

Also, watch the dates in April—safaris get packed with locals during the Sri Lankan New Year, so read up to help plan your trip! :-)

Have a great day, Caroline

Thanks Caroline! I planned my whole trip using your blog—it’s packed with practical details! A real pleasure. Thanks! We’re thinking of stopping in Uda… on the way up from Tangalle to Ella. Get Your Guide offers a transfer with a safari in the middle, but it’s really expensive and there are seven of us. Could I find a taxi that would do the trip with a stop for the safari instead? What’s your take?

Oh, thanks Laure, I’m really happy you liked my reply! :-)

If you can, I’d recommend staying overnight and doing the safari the next morning. That way, you can take a shuttle to Uda Walawe and then another one to Tangalle the following day. Or book a van with your hotel in Ella and then a second one with your Uda Walawe hotel.

If you want the safari to fit into your transfer day, it’ll be a long day since the safari would be in the early afternoon. You might find someone locally to arrange it, but it could be tiring, expensive (they’ll likely take a commission on the safari too), arriving in Tangalle at night, and it’s not guaranteed you’ll easily find a van for 7 people at that time of year. You could try asking Ceylon Taxi for a quote—I’ve heard good things about them! :-)

Have a great day, and enjoy your upcoming trip! Caroline

We're doing the route from the south to Ella, but thanks for your tips! 👍😊