One of the most common dilemmas for wildlife lovers visiting Sri Lanka is whether to visit Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park. These parks are renowned for their wonderful wildlife, and both offer the chance to take an unforgettable safari. Yala National Park is well-known for being one of the best places in the world to see leopards in the wild, making it the most popular safari destination in Sri Lanka. Udawalawe National Park is home to herds of wild elephants, and is a more serene and less crowded alternative to Yala. This article covers information and details of safaris at both of these beautiful national parks, to help you decide whether to visit Yala or Udawalawe.
Want a different kind of wildlife experience in Sri Lanka? Read our guides to ethical whale watching in Mirissa and snorkelling with turtles at Polhena Beach!
Udawalawe or Yala National Park: A Comparison
Wildlife
Udawalawe
It’s estimated that there are around 600 elephants in Udawalawe National Park, with several herds of up to 50-60 elephants. This healthy population of elephants means sightings are frequent, and as such Udawalawe is considered the best place to see wild elephants in Sri Lanka.
There are plenty of other amazing species to discover in the park too, including buffalo, crocodiles, and monkeys, as well as an array of birdlife. Sloth bears and leopards do live in Udawalawe, but sightings are extremely rare – and our guide who goes on safari there most days has never seen either in the park.
If you are hoping to see wild elephants, then look no further than a safari at Udawalawe. Although elephants are found in Yala National Park, they are not found in such large groups – which means sightings are less common than at Udawalawe.
Yala
Yala National Park in Sri Lanka has a reputation as one of the best places in the world to see wild leopards. The park boasts a high density of leopards, with some claiming it has the highest density of leopards in the world!
Leopards are often elusive creatures, but are commonly spotted during safaris at Yala National Park. There are 5 blocks within the park, with block 1 having the highest leopard population and thus being most visited on safaris.
As well as being blessed with a healthy population of leopards, Yala National Park is also home to sloth bears. Sightings of sloth bears are fairly regular in Yala, and we were fortunate enough to see both a sloth bear and leopard during the same safari!
Aside from leopards and sloth bears, there are plenty of other amazing species within the park. Some of the species you might encounter in Yala National Park include buffalo, crocodiles, deer, elephants, and monkeys, as well as birds such as hornbills, eagles, and hoopoes!
Cost
National park entrance fees in Sri Lanka are the same whether you visit Yala or Udawalawe, as both are considered to be category 1 national reserves. Although the entrance fees are the same, safaris in Yala normally cost more than a safari at Udawalawe.
There are a number of fees required to enter either the Yala or Udawalawe National Park, including the entrance fee, a service charge, a vehicle fee, and VAT. Entrance fees can be seen on the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka website, but aren’t particularly easy to find.
As of July 2023, entrance fees to Yala or Udawalawe are $25 USD (or the equivalent in rupees) for foreigners or 150 rupees for locals. In addition to this there is a vehicle fee of $10 USD (or the equivalent in rupees) per vehicle for foreigners or 400 rupees per vehicle for locals.
Unfortunately the cost of a safari isn’t as simple as paying these fees, as this does not include vehicle hire or a guide. It is possible to arrange this individually, but normally it’s best to book in advance with either a local operator or via Get Your Guide.
When booking make sure to confirm any safari in Sri Lanka, whether at Yala or Udawalawe, make sure to confirm whether entrance fees and any other charges are included in the price. Some operators may include fees, but others don’t – so it’s best to confirm before you book if you are unsure!
Udawalawe
Prices for a safari at Udawalawe National Park start from around $15 USD per person for a private 3 hour safari, excluding entrance fees. Full day safaris are possible but realistically 3 hours is more than enough time to see lots of elephants and the other species commonly seen in the park.
The easiest way to book your Udawalawe safari is via the Get Your Guide website, and hotel pick up and drop off is included.
Click here to book an amazing 3 hour safari on the Get Your Guide website!
Yala
Safaris at Yala are more expensive, with prices for a private safari starting at around $44 USD per person excluding entrance fees. An important consideration though is that this is for a full day safari, which maximises your chance of seeing a leopard and sloth bear.
We strongly recommend opting for a full day safari, as it would be a shame to visit Yala and not see a leopard. On our visit to Yala we only saw a leopard at the very end of our full day safari, and so if we had opted for a half day we would have left without seeing one.
Safaris at Yala are easiest to book via the Get Your Guide website, with prices as little as $44 USD per person for a full day safari depending on your group size. This price includes pickup from nearby hotels, as well as a picnic lunch. Alternatively, half day safaris are available to book from as little as $20 USD per person.
Click here to book an incredible full-day leopard safari on the Get Your Guide website!
Busyness
Udawalawe
Udawalawe National Park tends to be fairly quiet, and quite often whilst on safari you will be the only jeep in an area – which means you can admire the incredible wildlife away from crowds of other tourists. This makes it a peaceful and serene experience, allowing you to enjoy the park’s nature and beauty.
It’s definitely a special experience being up close to wild elephants in Udawalawe and being one of the only people around to see them. If you would prefer a safari where you can be more alone with nature, then Udawalawe is much less busy and likely the best choice for you.
Yala
As Sri Lanka’s most visited national park, Yala is much busier than Udawalawe. Throughout a safari in Yala you will see lots of other jeeps – especially if there is a leopard or sloth bear sighting nearby.
When a leopard or sloth bear is seen, any drivers nearby will rush to the area – so you can end up with loads of other jeeps trying to get a glimpse of the animals. Of course this is good in some ways, as it means you hopefully will get a good sighting – but on the other hand it does feel a bit overcrowded at times.
In our opinion some drivers don’t give the animals the space and respect they deserve in Yala National Park. When we had a sighting of a sloth bear there were a number of jeeps chasing after it, which we felt was overcrowding and potentially scaring the animal.
If you don’t mind the busyness and seeing lots of other jeeps, then this won’t necessarily be an issue for you – but it’s something worth considering. Of course, if you want to see leopards or sloth bears then you will have to opt for Yala anyway as you are extremely unlikely to see them in Udawalawe.
Which to choose – Yala or Udawalawe?
When deciding between these two incredible national parks in Sri Lanka, there are a couple of key considerations. The most obvious thing to consider is what animals you’re hoping to see.
If you want to see a leopard or sloth bear, then your choice is simple – pick Yala over Udawalawe. Alternatively, if seeing elephants is your priority, then Udawalawe is a safer choice – although sightings are still possible at Yala.
Assuming the cost isn’t an issue, the other main thing to consider is the busyness of the park. If you want to have a more tranquil safari amongst nature then Udawalawe is the obvious choice.
The busyness of Yala isn’t something everyone will enjoy, but it is of course worth it for the chance to see a leopard or sloth bear in the wild.
In the end it’s up to you whether you decide to visit Udawalawe or Yala National Park. Our personal recommendation, if you have the time, is actually to visit both national parks so you can enjoy the best of both worlds!
How to book a safari in Sri Lanka
There are three main ways to book a safari at Yala or Udawalawe – on the Get Your Guide website, via your accommodation, or directly with a local operator. Our recommendation is to book via Get Your Guide, as you can book within minutes and also easily check reviews of the safari in advance!
When arranging a safari through your accommodation, it’s best to message them in advance of your arrival to sort this as soon as possible. We suggest arranging your accommodation through Booking.com and then using the messaging feature to contact your hotel or homestay about arranging a safari in Udawalawe or Yala.
One downside of arranging a safari this way is that you can’t actually see reviews in the same way as on Get Your Guide.
Alternatively, if you want to book via a local operator you will need to do your own research as to the best rated companies to book with. Many operators for safaris in Yala or Udawalawe don’t list prices on their website, so you will need to contact them to get a quote and then liaise with them in order to book for your preferred date.
It’s generally much easier to book via Get Your Guide, and prices tend to be around the same – which saves you the hassle of looking around or messaging accommodation!
Udawalawe
A private 3-hour safari in Udawalawe starts from as little as $15 USD per person for a group of 6, with entrance fees excluded. Prices for smaller groups are higher per person, but as long as you are visiting with one other person won’t be much more than $20 USD per person.
Click here to book an unforgettable elephant safari on the Get Your Guide website!
If you would prefer to book your safari via your accommodation, then we recommend finding a suitable place to stay on the Booking.com website. There are plenty of great homestays and hotels in Udawalawe – so take a look at the link below to see the best options!
Click here to find the best places to stay near the national park on Booking.com!
Yala
A private full day safari in Yala National Park starts from as little as $44 USD per person for a group of 6, excluding the entrance fees. Prices increase to around $75 USD per person if you are in a group of two, so it works out better value if you are in a bigger group.
Click here to book an amazing leopard safari through Get Your Guide!
Of course, it’s also possible to arrange safaris in Yala via your accommodation – but again our personal preference is to book via Get Your Guide so you can see reviews of the operator. It’s still worth booking your accommodation for Yala in advance, and there are plenty of options for the nearby town of Tissamaharama on Booking.com.
Click here to find some amazing places to stay in Tissamaharama on Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
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