Top Hotels in Yala National Park Campgrounds
Top Things to do in Yala National Park
10 Campgrounds in Yala National Park: Best hotel deals for 2023
There are many different reasons to add Yala National Park to your must-see list: the chance to go on safari and see a wild boar or majestic Sri Lankan leopard, the winding trails, and the fact that in some places the park even touches the Indian Ocean. However, two of the most popular reasons to visit are Sithulpauwwa, a Buddhist rock temple, and Magul Maha Viharaya, where folklore says an ancient king wed an abandoned princess. The history and artifacts found here transport you back to those ancient times.
Things to do in Yala National Park
1. Yala Safari Camping
Overall Ratings
5 based on 390 reviews
Our Team who was there from the very beginning of Yala Safari Camping was real wild life and nature lovers who were mixed with wild from childhood. We were born here and most of our childhood memories are connected with jungle experiences. The love and knowledge we gained from childhood came into live since 2003, when we started our first campsite. We could gain the reputation as one of the best safari camping providers of South Asia from the courage of ours and the continuous satisfaction thus came from our guests. Now we have 6 luxury tents and they are identified as the best campsites of Yala and the best location of Yala. We are the only campsite provider who registered with Independent Safari Association of Yala and we are the only provider in such an unique wild life habitat. Yes it is absolutely a wildlife kingdom where we are located in…. We invite you to share our experiences with wild life and nature while enjoying the best safari camping features of Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is located in the south eastern region of Sri Lanka and extends over two provinces of Hambantota district of southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province. There are 2 popular entrances to the park which are t Palatupana and Katagamuwa. Since Palatupana is always busy , we use Katagamuwa entrance. Yala National Park that consists of five blocks is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Though Yala spreads over an area of 1260 square kilometers, only one fifth of the area is open to the visitors. Four-fifths of the park is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. Adjoining the eastern border of the park is Kumana. The gateway to Yala National Park is Tissamaharama. The well-designed visitor center provides the information to the tourists and assigns a tracker to all incoming vehicles. Dawn and dusk bring about the best timing for Safari tours in the Yala National Park. Being located in one of the arid regions of Sri Lanka, the Climate of Ruhuna National Park is usually hot and dry. The mean annual temperature is 27 Celsius, although in the dry season the temperature could go as high as 37 Celsius. The rocky outcrops scattered over the park provides vantage points to enjoy the sprawling areas with Sri Lanka’s dry zone landscape: low scrub and woods. Still more, the southern border of the park being the south-eastern coast, the brackish lagoons and dunes enhances the distinctive charm of the Yala National Park.
Great hospitality, delicious food, super fun safari with the best guides!
Reviewed By 452chiaracWe just came back from 2 days safari at this camp, it has been the most amazing experience! The camp it is a 4 hours car drive from Colombo, our transfer was organised as well by the camp and our driver and guide Mahesh was so friendly, helpful and informative. Closer to the camp site we switched to the jeep who brought us on top of the location given the rocky road. Once reached the camp we were greeted with fresh fruit juice and a warm welcome by the manager Mahesh and Ravi who took care of us and made us feel home. The view from the main unit of the camp site is breathtaking, I believe it is the only camp with a top view of the jungle and it is one of the reasons why we chose it. The sound of all the animals of the jungle is so present at all times and you are completely immersed in the nature. The misty sunrises are unbelievably beautiful, from the bridge which is extending from the unit you can really appreciate the beauty of the nature. The tents are 6 and all down the hill easily reachable with a short hike, our tent was in the middle, spacious and with all the comforts you need. It was so relaxing to open the detachable windows to let in the cool air and to sleep with the jungle sounds. The camp is all inclusive, three meals per day are provided, drinks and snacks, chef Dumi prepared delicious dinners, one evening he made for us one whole baked fish, fresh, juicy and so so good. The safari was of course the main experience of the stay, we did a full day in one zone of the park and we spotted all of the animals, including a young leopard sleeping on a branch and a male adult that crossed the road right in front of us. Elephants, monkeys, buffalos, so many birds. Achintha is the best animal spotter and guide, he drove us around tirelessly and pointed at all the wildlife we encountered. Breakfast was takeaway and we enjoyed it in the pick nick area where we were allowed to jump off the jeep, so many monkeys were trying to steal our food and it was so funny to capture the successful thefts. From 12:00 to 14:00, as per park rules, no one is allowed to drive around the park, the team set up chairs and table for us to have lunch on the riverside, Achintha even cut open a fresh sweet pineapple that we enjoyed directly from the cutting board. After the safari ended were were welcomed back to the camp with fresh lime juice and the usual warmest greeting from Ravi. The second day we did a morning game in another area of the park and once back at the camp, fresh watermelon juice and fresh fruit platter was waiting for us with an astonishing view. Everything from from start to end was absolutely perfect and we cannot recommend it enough, we hope to come back and stay longer. Thank you all for your amazing hospitality, our stay was really beyond expectations!!
2. Big Game Camp Yala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 456 reviews
Big Game Camp Yala is located on the edge of Yala National Parks, a 20-minute drive from the park entrance. Surrounded by beautiful nature landscapes, it provides spacious tents with a private bathroom. Barbecue dinner is provided around a campfire.All tents are fitted with comfortable mattresses and pillows. Free drinking water will be provided. All bathrooms are equipped with a shower.Big Game Camp Yala is 261 km from Colombo and 310 km from Bandaranaike International Airport.Safaris, airport transfers and laundry services can be arranged at an extra charge.Please note, guests booking the all inclusive package enjoy: - 3 meals daily - Tea, coffee & beer. - Snacks - Half-day Safari to Yala National Park with jeep, entrance and permit fees.
Great place to stay when visiting Yala
Reviewed By D372IZmarkdI highly recommend this place if you want to see and experience Yala. I have stayed at this camp for 5 nights in June 2022, and it was just great! The tents were clean, food was amazing, and the whole team was very friendly and helpful. And of course, the game drives - the driver and the guide weer just super, we've got to see quite a lot. Additional comment - Sri Lanka is getting some attention in the news lately because of the political and economic situation, and I had my concerns before visiting. However, everything was very smooth and with no problems whatsoever, so don't let this to stop you from visiting. There was even advantage to visit now - the park was not crowded at all, which is very different from what it was before - so if you want to see it, now is the time!
3. Mahoora Tented Safari Camp Yala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 380 reviews
Mahoora is a holistic experience from your arrival to the departure focused on living in the wild and wildlife viewing and not just an accommodation option only.All the Safaris are included in the price. Mahoora safaris include high quality Safari Jeep / all the entrance and permit fees, sumptuous picnic basket and an unlimited supply of chilled beverages and a Mahoora Naturalist to ensure the best animal sightings and interpretations. All of Mahoora elite tents are set-up just prior to your arrival, and are moved out after your departure, thereby minimizing impact on the environment. This "Pack in and Pack out" aspect combined with all other green initiatives; guarantee to make your stay with Mahoora the one of the most environmentally friendly accommodation in Sri Lanka.Mahoora is an all inclusive stay and Tea / coffee, Tropical Fresh Fruit Juices, Beer & Spirits, Wine, and Snacks all are included in to the price. Mahoora's Fine Dining Executive Chefs will prepare tantalizing meals to suit your personal tastes, whilst adding in a few culinary surprises. This is just one aspect of the unique Mahoora adventure which keeps clients returning to the wild, time and time again.
A great safari experience and a trip to remember
Reviewed By traveller422015We stayed at Mahoora Yala for 3 nights and cannot praise the team enough. Pre-trip: We booked directly with Eco Team and the office team were really responsive to emails, organised our transfers and were very helpful. The camp: The camp itself is lovely- it's next to the buffer zone of the park and there are lots of birds etc. The tents are impressive in terms of their facilities, especially if you remember that these are not permanent structures! They are both functional and comfortable and had lovely touches e.g. freshly lit candles every evening. The fans do a good job at keeping you cool at night. The camp staff are very friendly and helpful. The food was great. The safaris: These really are the star of the show- we did both half day and full day trips. The safaris have both a driver and naturalist and this really enhances the experience. Moreover, their enthusiasm for the park and sharing it with others was clear. Avinka looked after us so well. He was excellent at spotting animals, explained lots to us about the park and really took the time to get to know us. We got some beautiful leopard sightings but we were also interested in all the other different animals and birds, we were never rushed and could ask to stop and watch whenever we wanted. We also want to make a special mention of how hard everyone is working to make the trips a success despite the challenges in Sri Lanka at the moment. The camp's generators supply power during the regional blackouts and our driver worked overtime (after we came back from our drives) to ensure there was always fuel for the safaris. Despite the adversity, the hospitality we were offered and the experience we had was second to none. In summary: if you've come to Yala to experience the beautiful park and the abundant wildlife we would definitely recommend Mahoora!
4. Leopard Trails Camp Yala Sri Lanka
Overall Ratings
5 based on 606 reviews
Leopard Trails bespoke tented safaris redefine the original tented safari with convenient modern-day amenities, all the while staying true to the romantic ambiance of a by-gone British colonial era filled with adventure. Tented Safaris is the most authentic form of safari, a true immersion into the sights and sounds of the wilderness.
Superb Wildlife Viewing!
Reviewed By bioprofThis was one of our most anticipated places to stay on our trip and we were not let down. Our rooms were very large, and our little backyard area was nice for viewing wildlife. The food was good, although we were told that there were some shortages of various items because of the current economic situation and the gas shortage in Sri Lanka. But the offerings were good, from breakfast to dinner, although I am challenged by the level of spice in many Sri Lankan dishes. The level of guiding was very high here, and though we didn’t have the best luck compared to some other recent days, regarding seeing leopards, we had some sightings at a distance and saw a lot of other very great wildlife, especially the birds. Our guide was super nice and very experienced, and also gave me some recommendations regarding getting a new camera. What made Leopard Trails one of our favorite places on this trip was that we felt at home here. Our guide really looked out for our desire to see certain wildlife and also our comfort. We wish we had had more time here!
5. Ruhunu Safari Camping
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 182 reviews
Ruhunu Safari Camping operates two luxury tented safari camps in Sri Lanka. Established in 2009, we run premium safaris in Yala National Park which has the highest concentration of leopards per square kilometre in the world & Udawalawe National Park which has Sri Lanka's largest population of Asian elephants. Our specialist guides & trackers speak several languages & have an in depth knowledge of the mammals, birds, reptiles & insects found in Sri Lanka to give guests a memorable wild life experience. We also offer our guests a number of other exciting tours such as birding at Bundala National Park, an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds and famed for its large flocks of flamingoes. Our luxury tented camp surrounded by lush tropical jungle provides our guests with an hotel standard of accommodation . The cuisine is a combination of European & Sri Lankan dishes from locally grown organic crops. Our guest experience evokes a bygone age combining luxury & adventure.
Not professional in anyway
Reviewed By Graycieon PI booked three rooms for 07 guests for today (05th September 2020), I tried to contact them from yesterday morning to check the situation, their phones were ringing but nobody answered. Their website is also not functioning. I had to undergo severe difficulties to find a place for them. Such a third class act. Not anyway professional as mentioning in the telephone answering machine.
6. Yala Safari Camping
Overall Ratings
5 based on 390 reviews
Our Team who was there from the very beginning of Yala Safari Camping was real wild life and nature lovers who were mixed with wild from childhood. We were born here and most of our childhood memories are connected with jungle experiences. The love and knowledge we gained from childhood came into live since 2003, when we started our first campsite. We could gain the reputation as one of the best safari camping providers of South Asia from the courage of ours and the continuous satisfaction thus came from our guests. Now we have 6 luxury tents and they are identified as the best campsites of Yala and the best location of Yala. We are the only campsite provider who registered with Independent Safari Association of Yala and we are the only provider in such an unique wild life habitat. Yes it is absolutely a wildlife kingdom where we are located in…. We invite you to share our experiences with wild life and nature while enjoying the best safari camping features of Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is located in the south eastern region of Sri Lanka and extends over two provinces of Hambantota district of southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province. There are 2 popular entrances to the park which are t Palatupana and Katagamuwa. Since Palatupana is always busy , we use Katagamuwa entrance. Yala National Park that consists of five blocks is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Though Yala spreads over an area of 1260 square kilometers, only one fifth of the area is open to the visitors. Four-fifths of the park is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. Adjoining the eastern border of the park is Kumana. The gateway to Yala National Park is Tissamaharama. The well-designed visitor center provides the information to the tourists and assigns a tracker to all incoming vehicles. Dawn and dusk bring about the best timing for Safari tours in the Yala National Park. Being located in one of the arid regions of Sri Lanka, the Climate of Ruhuna National Park is usually hot and dry. The mean annual temperature is 27 Celsius, although in the dry season the temperature could go as high as 37 Celsius. The rocky outcrops scattered over the park provides vantage points to enjoy the sprawling areas with Sri Lanka’s dry zone landscape: low scrub and woods. Still more, the southern border of the park being the south-eastern coast, the brackish lagoons and dunes enhances the distinctive charm of the Yala National Park.
Great hospitality, delicious food, super fun safari with the best guides!
Reviewed By 452chiaracWe just came back from 2 days safari at this camp, it has been the most amazing experience! The camp it is a 4 hours car drive from Colombo, our transfer was organised as well by the camp and our driver and guide Mahesh was so friendly, helpful and informative. Closer to the camp site we switched to the jeep who brought us on top of the location given the rocky road. Once reached the camp we were greeted with fresh fruit juice and a warm welcome by the manager Mahesh and Ravi who took care of us and made us feel home. The view from the main unit of the camp site is breathtaking, I believe it is the only camp with a top view of the jungle and it is one of the reasons why we chose it. The sound of all the animals of the jungle is so present at all times and you are completely immersed in the nature. The misty sunrises are unbelievably beautiful, from the bridge which is extending from the unit you can really appreciate the beauty of the nature. The tents are 6 and all down the hill easily reachable with a short hike, our tent was in the middle, spacious and with all the comforts you need. It was so relaxing to open the detachable windows to let in the cool air and to sleep with the jungle sounds. The camp is all inclusive, three meals per day are provided, drinks and snacks, chef Dumi prepared delicious dinners, one evening he made for us one whole baked fish, fresh, juicy and so so good. The safari was of course the main experience of the stay, we did a full day in one zone of the park and we spotted all of the animals, including a young leopard sleeping on a branch and a male adult that crossed the road right in front of us. Elephants, monkeys, buffalos, so many birds. Achintha is the best animal spotter and guide, he drove us around tirelessly and pointed at all the wildlife we encountered. Breakfast was takeaway and we enjoyed it in the pick nick area where we were allowed to jump off the jeep, so many monkeys were trying to steal our food and it was so funny to capture the successful thefts. From 12:00 to 14:00, as per park rules, no one is allowed to drive around the park, the team set up chairs and table for us to have lunch on the riverside, Achintha even cut open a fresh sweet pineapple that we enjoyed directly from the cutting board. After the safari ended were were welcomed back to the camp with fresh lime juice and the usual warmest greeting from Ravi. The second day we did a morning game in another area of the park and once back at the camp, fresh watermelon juice and fresh fruit platter was waiting for us with an astonishing view. Everything from from start to end was absolutely perfect and we cannot recommend it enough, we hope to come back and stay longer. Thank you all for your amazing hospitality, our stay was really beyond expectations!!
7. The Campers Lodge Yala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Real camping experience, Friendly Staff, amazing surroundings
Reviewed By ruwanj2015This place is a hidden gem inside Yala vicinity, had an amazing experience blended with nature & simplicity. Camp had only electricity to lit small bulbs on path way inside the jungle area to the camp, they`ll lit oil lamps around the camp at night. Having no power means total digital detox for our busy lives, but make sure you bring your power banks just in case of an emergency. Staff was super friendly and everything was prepared and detailed to indulge into nature and it`s quietness, we could only hear noises of birds and creatures. Dinner was provided outside on open space with a bon fire and BBQ. Skies were super clear in these unspoiled area of Sri Lanka, where we had our dinner under starry skies. Food portions were large & tasty. This establishment cannot be reached by a car, so they provide parking arrangement and a transport by a Jeep. Make sure you check with them. They provide phone charging facility and cool box for the beer. This kind of an experience is not for everyone, but if you are a real nature lover this is the place.
8. Wild Eco Safari
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
We provide tents as accommodation and provide safari jeeps. We are Sheltered in Nimalawa sanctuary which is buffer zone of the Yala national park. We have two tents. We provide local dining for our guest and BBQ at dinner.
Full-day Safari With One Night Stay
Reviewed By hallooooo178Definiteley one of the best days I ever had!! The staff was really nice and they offered a welcome drink. In the morning we got Coffee and they had Food for the whole day. The Bbq the evening before was really good. 15$ was worth it because it was a lot and especially fresh food!! The guide knew a lot about the different animals and we saw elephants(also one babyelephant) and a lepard! To be honest the day was really perfect. Started with the sunrise and end with the sunset. The accomodation was a tent, but It had beds that were comfortable and a bathroom with shower and a lavatory. The shower was outside but also nice experience. Everything was clean!
9. The Yala Camping
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
The Yala Camping is mobile camping. You can be with the nature at several location in Yala or Tissamaharama. You will have deferent experience with nature culture & adventure. Our uniqueness is that. Come & feel it it will be your life time experience.
Highly recommend
Reviewed By tracyjflemingHad an awesome stay..It was really wonderful.The staff was very friendly, attentive and hospitality was too good.Ideal place to experience the wildlife surrounded by the glamour of natural beauty.Highly recommended to every one heading to Sri Lanka.
10. The Sanctuary Yala
Overall Ratings
5 based on 21 reviews
Located 600m from the boundary of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka your safari adventure begins with our boutique camping experience. Providing comfort and safety whilst living with nature, the ruggedly beautiful Sanctuary Safari Camp is a cool haven amongst pristine vegetation and birdsong. We offer a personalised luxury adventure of Safari packages including your own specialist wild Life experts and trackers who have been working in the park for more than 5 years and have superior knowledge of the many mammels, birds and reptiles found throughout the region. Yala National Park has the highest concentration of leopards per square kilometre in the world plus a herd of over 350 elephants.. with no doubt the best service and accommodation in Yala, 3 beautiful meals included daily your experience at The Sanctuary will leave you with amazing memories for years to come.
Wonderful time with Dinesh and his team
Reviewed By andreaglon2vI was recommended Dinesh who has started his own camp and what a delightful experience. I was travelling on my own and was completely spoilt. Treehouse for lunch and breakfast and a campfire for dinner.... and of course the safaris where we went away from the crowds... a bit (alot!) bumpy but so worth it for the peace in the park to watch all the wildlife on our own. I would highly recommend.
