Looking to read a detailed Leopard Safaris Yala review before booking your next trip to Sri Lanka? You’ve come to the right place!
Leopard Safaris Yala is ranked as one of the best safari outfitters in Sri Lanka, a family-run property offering luxurious tented accommodations for visiting nature enthusiasts.
I spent 2 nights in a luxurious honeymoon glamping suite at the boutique safari camp. My review of Leopard Safaris Yala features info on the resorts accommodation options, culinary program, unique on-site amenities and safari experience.
Book A Luxurious Holiday at Leopard Safaris Yala
Leopard Safaris Yala is a family-run sustainable boutique safari camp located on 10 acres of private land next to Sri Lanka’s most famous nature reserve, Yala National Park.
The campsite is located a 15 minute drive from Kataragama, and borders the electric fence of Yala National Park (Block III). Expert nature guides use the much quieter back entrance to Block I for safaris so guests enjoy a less congested experience.
Leopard Safaris Yala began as a fully mobile camping operation in 2006. With a change of government law in 2012, which no longer allowed commercial camping inside any of the national parks, the Rodrigo family acquired an abandoned piece of farm land to set up camp.
During the last 12 years the team have planted thousands of trees to re-forest the 10-acre property and offer an extended habitat to local wildlife. Blending in with nature, they’ve built a handful of semi-permanent accommodation units, largely from natural and re-cycled materials, a chill-out jungle bar, a sheltered dining area, and a saltwater eco pool.
The intimate property features just 6 accommodations, 3 double and 3 family glamping tents. Guests enjoy an all-inclusive stay where the cost of food, drink and daily safari activities are built into the price of your overnight stay.
Guests arrive at a meeting point and hand over their luggage to staff who bring it to their tented camp in a safari jeep. You’re greeted with a refreshing cool towel and welcome drink before enjoying a tour of the property.
Leopard Safaris Yala Review Highlights
Before booking your trip to Sri Lanka, here are a list of highlights that make Leopard Safaris Yala stand out from the rest:
- Leopard Safari Yala is ranked as one of the best glamping sites in Sri Lanka for those looking to enjoy an exciting nature experience to see leopards, elephants and much more, in the wild.
- The property offers an intimate vibe with just 6 boutique tented accommodations, boasting eco-friendly and sustainable design.
- The safari camp is ideally located a short 15 minute drive from both Kataragama and borders the electric fence of Yala National Park Block III.
- The campsite features a restaurant, jungle bar and salt-water eco pool with sun loungers. Guests can relax in a furnished tented lounge outfitted hammocks and easy chairs.
- Guests can book 1 or 2 safaris a day. Other activities at the property include Sri Lankan Cooking Classes, guided nature walk and excursion to the ancient Sithulpawwa Buddhist monastery.
Accommodation
The most important question you have to ask yourself when reading a Leopard Safaris Yala review is, “what type of accommodation would I like to book for my holiday?”
When booking your stay at Leopard Safaris Yala you have the option to book 1 or 2 safaris a day.
The property offers 2 double tents perfect for couples and 2 double family tents, that come with a bunk bed area that can be closed off for privacy and suitable for 4 guests. The XL family tent comfortable sleeps 5 while the sold structured Peacock Nest (the former Neem House) offers a more modern sleeping experience that feels like a cozy house.
All luxury tented camps feature air conditioning, open-air hot rain showers, complimentary mini bar, and modern amenities. Spacious canvas bedrooms are furnished with romantic four-poster king-size beds, wrapped in 350-thread count linen and complimented by stylish recycled wood furniture.
Each glamping site boasts a private boardwalk access and timber deck area that can be used to host a romantic candlelit dinner.
The site comprises dry zone forest, which shade the tents and keep the temperature within them cool. Being situated so close to the national park, there is no lack of wildlife inside the camp. Expect to spot tropical birds, monkeys, squirrels and reptiles such as frogs and prehistoric-looking monitor lizards too!
Safari Experience In Yala National Park
Yala National Park is located in the Southeast of Sri Lanka and borders the Indian Ocean to the East. With its 979 square kilometres, it is Sri Lanka’s second largest National Park. Due to its size and location on the island Yala offers a wide variety of habitats such as dry zones, rivers, lagoons, forest, rocky outcrops, and shore line and therefore boasts a high diversity of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plant species.
Yala is divided into 5 blocks, each block has a different name and can be visited with individual permits. Generally when talking about Yala National Park people are referring to Block I (Ruhuna National Park) which is where most safaris take place. It’s famous for having one of the highest densities of leopards in the world.
At Leopard Safaris, trained naturalist guides drive Toyota Land Cruiser safari jeeps, which are customized for guest comfort and viewing experience.
When on safari guests have access to wildlife handbooks, binoculars, tripods, battery charing stations, rain ponchos and mini bar snack boxes.
So what can you expect to see on a safari inside Yala National Park? Wildlife viewing depends on the season but the park plays home to a variety of must-see animals like leopards, sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles, and exotic birds.
Game drives are shared with other guests at the campsite and run for a minimum of 3 hours. You’ll be accompanied by an experienced driver guide and tracker.
Safaris are offered year round with the driest time of year being June-September. The best time to see big game is June-August. Best time for birding is November-January. The rainy months are typically April, and November to February.
Leopard Safaris Yala Food & Drink
The campsites al fresco restaurant serves up authentic Sri Lankan cuisine prepared with fresh local produce.
Evening drinks and meals are organized around a campfire under a ceiling of twinkling stars. Several times a week the chef hosts an outdoor barbecue. Dining at Leopard Safaris is communal, but romantic couples can arrange a private dining experience upon request.
Each morning guests gather for breakfast, which always includes toast, butter, jam, marmelade, and marmite. You also have a choice of several fresh juices, tropical fruit platters, and tea or coffee.
The a la carte breakfast menu features a flavourful Sri Lankan wake-up-to-the-world with local specialities on rotation like Coconut Roti, Milk Rice, Pancakes with honey roasted coconut, or an English-style breakfast including chicken sausages, grilled tomato, scrambled egg and bacon.
At lunch and dinner heartier local fare is the perfect feast before or after a safari adventure. We enjoyed spooning through fragrant Kottu Rotti with lime pickles, Chicken Biriyani with green coconut sambol, Nosi Goreng with roast chicken drumsticks, String Hoppers with parripou borata, and Pittu with Kiri Hodi and fish curry.
Barbecue dinners are also hosted a few nights a week under the stars. Cooks grill thick pork chops and tender chicken thighs slathered in sweet barbecue sauce, which are served alongside fresh salads, and baked potatoes.
One of the kitchen’s most popular signature dishes is crispy elephant leaves: deep fried leaves from the kara kola (elephant leaf) bush, with salt and chilli powder sprinkled on top. The side dish is served with traditional rice and curry, or as a bar snack with drinks.
At the casual jungle bar guests can sip long-drinks prepared with local spirits, fine wines and ice-cold beer. Pop by for a snack at the bar to nosh on banana chips, manjoca chips, onion rings, battered snake gourd or fresh carrots and cucumber sticks with a creamy dip.
Leopard Safaris Yala Contact
Yala National Park, 94-71-331-4004
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