Sri Lanka safari tours
Lotus Tours is based in Tissamaharama, the town at the gate of Yala National Park, so safaris are the part of Sri Lanka travel we know best.
Safaris in Sri Lanka run as jeep drives inside national parks, in two daily sessions: an early morning drive starting around 5.30am and an afternoon drive starting around 2pm. Full-day options combine both with a break. Every drive is led by a park-registered driver, and tracker or guide arrangements vary by park.
You can travel in a private jeep, which gives you control over how long you wait at a sighting, or buy a seat on a sharing jeep, which costs less per person but follows a fixed group plan. Both are legitimate ways to see the park — the right choice mostly depends on group size and how much photography matters to you.
Yala National Park
Sri Lanka's most visited park and its best-known leopard country, an hour from our base. Morning, afternoon and full-day drives, private or sharing.
Other parks on request
Bundala for wetland birdlife and Udawalawe for elephants can be arranged as part of a private itinerary. Tell us your dates and we'll confirm what is realistic from where you are staying.
Ask about a parkGetting to safari country
Most safari guests come from Ella in the hill country or from Mirissa and Galle on the south coast — each about 2.5 to 3 hours by private car. Our Yala destination guide covers where to stay and how the area fits into a wider trip.
Want a safari inside a full Sri Lanka itinerary?
Tell us what you'd like to see and we'll build a private itinerary around it, with your own driver for the whole journey.