Leopard Safari Sri Lanka

Often visited for its incredible wildlife, Sri Lanka is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts. Sri Lankan Elephants, Sloth Bears and birdlife though impressive, scarcely compare to the experience of being on a leopard safari sri lanka and if you are really interested in spotting a leopard on safari then your best chance is very probably here. The Sri Lankan Leopard is a recognized subspecies of the Indian Leopard and is the largest leopard found in Asia. It is also endemic to the island. Many tourists from all visit the island annually and go on a leopard safari, sometimes spending many days inside national parks in order to increase their chances of a sighting.

Leopards by nature are elusive and tend to stay away from human interaction, thus spotting one on a safari can be a daunting task. Many if not all national parks do harbor some population of leopards, and sighting is occasionally recorded but at Yala, a leopard safari holds the highest chance of success. Along with its many other attractions, such as prolific birdlife, endemic and non endemic plants and animals, the leopard population density at Yala is as high as one leopard per square kilometer in Block I, making it the highest in the world. It is sometimes noted that leopard safari jeeps no longer are a cause for concern to young males in particular and they appear unafraid of them, similar to tigers in national parks in India. With your expert naturalist, a keen eye, a bit of patience and a pinch of luck you will likely have a memorable and exciting leopard safari.

The best time for a leopard safari early morning
and early evening as animals often retreat deep into
the jungles during the afternoon heat.

Heavy rains must be avoided too as during rains
leopards avoid water pools and roadsides,
creating less of a chance of seeing one.

Leopard Safari - Yala National Park

AVAILIBILITY: YEAR AROUND
SAFARI OPTIONS: HALF DAY, FULL DAY

Yala National Park is renowned for the variety of its wildlife and its fine coastline (with associated coral reefs). But the key highlight here is the Sri Lankan Leopard. Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards living in the wild. In fact, it is the world's best. It also boasts a large number of important cultural ruins, bearing testimony to earlier civilizations and indicating that much of the area used to be populated and well developed.

A 4WD open-top safari is the only way to see all the wonders this protected reserve has to offer, and our experienced and knowledgeable nature guides will make this an unforgettable experience.

Leopard Safari - Wilpattu National Park

AVAILIBILITY: YEAR AROUND
SAFARI OPTIONS: HALF DAY, FULL DAY

The Wilpattu National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Sri Lanka. It was widely regarded as the place to spot the Sri Lankan Leopard in its natural habitat. There are 30 recorded species of mammals in the Wilpattu National Park. These include the Sri Lankan Elephant, Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, and Spotted deer, Water Buffalo, Sambar, Mongoose, Mouse and Shrew. Visitors flock to the Park mostly in the hope of seeing the Leopard and the Sloth Bears.

A 4WD open-top safari is the only way to see all the wonders this protected reserve has to offer, and our experienced and knowledgeable nature guides will make this an unforgettable experience.

What to bring:

Lightly coloured clothing
Sunglasses & a hat to protect against the sun
Insect repellent
Sun protection lotions & Lip balm
Good camera, spare batteries, extra memory cards, cables and chargers
Dust mask or scarf for protection against the dust