Yala Safari with Onward Transfer from Ella to the South Coast

Ella and the drive down from the hill country

Ella is a small mountain village in Sri Lanka's Uva Province, about 1,000 metres above sea level, surrounded by tea estates, waterfalls and the deep cleft of Ella Gap. Most travellers arrive by the famous scenic train from Kandy or Nuwara Eliya and then face the question of how to get from Ella to Mirissa, Tangalle or Galle, a journey of several hours by road.

This transfer turns that journey into a highlight. Leaving Ella, the road winds down through the hills past Wellawaya to the dry lowlands of the south-east, where the landscape changes from green tea slopes to scrub, lakes and rice fields. The early departure for the morning safari means you descend in the dark and arrive at the park as the gates open; the afternoon departure gives you a more relaxed start.

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's leopard country

Yala National Park, on the south-east coast, is the most visited wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka and one of its oldest, protected since the early twentieth century. It is a mosaic of dry forest, open scrub, rocky outcrops, freshwater lakes and lagoons running down to the Indian Ocean. Block 1, the area most safaris explore, is known for one of the highest densities of leopards in the world.

Your Yala safari lasts about three hours in a 4x4 jeep with individual seats and a 270-degree view, shared with other travellers. Drivers follow the park tracks and share sightings by radio, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Is a Yala safari worth it on a transfer day? For many travellers it is the best wildlife experience in the country, and the park entrance fee is paid separately on the day.

The wildlife of Yala

Beyond leopards, Yala shelters wild Asian elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, mongooses and large mugger crocodiles in the lakes. Peacocks display along the tracks, and the birdlife is outstanding, with painted storks, pelicans, bee-eaters, hornbills and eagles, plus winter migrants from the north.

The best time to spot leopards in Yala is at dawn and dusk, which is why the safari times are set for early morning and late afternoon. The dry months from about February to July usually give the best sightings, as animals gather at water holes. Bring binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens and a hat, and keep quiet when the driver stops so the animals stay relaxed.

Tissamaharama, the gateway to Yala

Most Yala safaris start near Tissamaharama, a small town built around an ancient reservoir, Tissa Wewa, and a tall white dagoba dating back more than two thousand years to the time of the early Sinhalese kingdoms. The reservoir is lined with trees full of water birds and makes a peaceful sight on the way in or out of the park.

Travellers already staying in Tissamaharama, Kataragama or near the Palatupana gate can choose the option with pickup in the Yala area, either for the safari only or with onward drop-off on the south coast. From Tissamaharama the jeep reaches the park gate at Palatupana in about half an hour, so these pickups are short and relaxed.

The south coast: Tangalle, Hiriketiya, Mirissa and Galle

After the safari, an air-conditioned car or minivan continues west along the coast road to your stay. Tangalle has long, quiet beaches and a fishing harbour; Hiriketiya is a small horseshoe-shaped bay loved by surfers; Mirissa and Weligama are known for golden sand, palm-fringed cafés and whale-watching boats; and Galle, further west, has its UNESCO-listed Dutch fort with ramparts, churches and colonial streets.

The drive from Yala to Tangalle takes about two hours, and further to Mirissa or Galle a little longer. If your stay is in Bentota, along the west coast or near Colombo Airport, choose the long option that continues there; and if you are travelling the other way, from the beaches up to Ella, the reverse option includes the same safari.