Private safari jeep tours in Sri Lanka

Yala leopard safaris with trackers who know the jungle

Family-run game drives in Yala, Udawalawe, Bundala and Lunugamvehera, guided from Tissamaharama since the early 1990s.

Since the early 1990s

It began with one Land Rover and a man who knew Yala

Mr. S. P. Dayasena took his first guests into Yala more than thirty years ago. His family still runs every drive. Our drivers are trackers first: they follow the latest sightings, wait as long as a sighting needs, and keep a respectful distance.

Four national parks

Choose your park

Each park suits a different traveller. Pick by what you most want to see.

Best for leopards

Gates open at five. By six, the jungle has already told us where to go.

Daya Safari tracker-drivers

Experiences

Ways to spend a day in the wild

05:00 – 18:00 · Yala

Sunrise to sunset leopard tracking

A full day following fresh tracks and sightings, with breakfast and lunch on request.

Any park

Photographer’s drive

Drivers position the jeep for light and angle and wait while you work.

Morning · Bundala

Birding on the lagoons

Early hours at Bundala, when migratory flocks gather on the water.

Overnight · Near Yala

A night in the tree house

Stay at Yala Tree House Safari Lodge, inspired by the shelters farmers built to watch for elephants.

Why travel with Daya

Thirty years in the same jungle

30+

Years in Yala

Since the first Land Rover in the early 1990s.

Group per jeep

Private drives. We share only if you ask.

National parks

Yala, Udawalawe, Bundala and Lunugamvehera.

4x4

All-weather jeeps

A modern fleet that reaches every corner of the park.

What our guests say

Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice award, 2020.

“Spotted 7 leopards in 3 drives including 3 at once.”

Maxime W · Yala

“He has keen eyes in wildlife spotting.”

victorp456 · Udawalawe, Yala and Bundala

“An unforgettable experience for my two little boys.”

kavishanJ93 · Yala

Quick answers

Before you book

What time does a Yala safari start?

Morning drives leave at 5:00 AM and return around 10:00 AM. Evening drives run 2:30 to 6:00 PM. Half-day tours end at 12:30 PM and full-day tours at 6:00 PM.

Are park tickets included?

Yes. Every package includes the park entrance ticket, service charge, VAT and other taxes.

Is the jeep private?

Yes. Your jeep is not shared unless you ask for it or agree to share with another group.

Do you pick up from hotels?

Yes, free of charge for hotels in Yala, Tissamaharama, Kirinda, Bundala, Kataragama, Weerawila and Hambantota.

Ready to go?