Sep 6, 2023
Best Yala Safari Agent - Malith is the Best Agent for Yala Safari. We saw so many animals during the Safari. We felt very comfortable and thoroughly enjoyed the Safari. We were the first ones to enter the park and also the first jeep to see leopard. Amazing!! Must visit spot. Definitely revisiting with same agency in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 25, 2023
No complaints - a magical experience - A 7 hour tour pre booked.
We were very lucky to see the animals. Leopards , elephants , sloth bear, monkey , deers, water buffalo , wart hogs and many many birds.
Our driver was amazing - sorry for the name error but “nalaka” or similar was very knowledgeable and warned of us some high speed driving to get to the animal.
There are previous reviews of a mad rush of vehicles but we went in low season so yes there was times were 10+ jeeps in the same place but that is we’re the animals were so what we expected.
Not everyone sees all these things we did so we were very pleased.
Please be aware that booking through this company only confirms the guide and not entrance to the park, this could be a little difficult if you don’t take any money - approx 23500 rupees.
A fantastic experience.
Thank you yala wild.
James and Kate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 23, 2022
Safari with Expert driver/guide Hishan - We booked a private full day safari tour including pickup from Hiriketya. Our guide Hishan did an amazing job in spotting the animals in the park and explaining all about them. We saw: Asian Elephants (male, female, juvenile), Malabar Pied Hornbills, Jackal, wild boars, Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan Axis Deer, Mongoose, various Kingfishers and other birds. The highlight of the day was the hunting Leopard that we say in the afternoon - we were the only ones that day who spotted it thanks to Hishan’s expert driving.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 12, 2022
Block 5 yala half a day - Very nice guide. We were the only jeep in block 5, during the afternoon. Very worth it of you want to see bambis, elephants, lot of birds...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Feb 6, 2022
best safari ever - we had a fantastic experience. our driver and guide Ishan was very friendly. he did everything for us. we saw a lot of animals and also some leopards. we were in the first row every time when a leopard was seen. also the owner of the company was very professional. every wish was fulfilled. It was the perfect experience.
thank you so much to ishan our driver and guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 21, 2022
Pick Ishan like Driver - We slept at the hotel Yala wild safaris Who organized our journey and it was a succes ! Fair price, just prepare you breakfast the day before.
We left the hotel at 4 am with the driver called Ishad ans i highly recommend this guy ! He dis this since 10 years, he knows the road and timing of animals, we saw every animals with him( bear, elephant, crocodile,leopard...) with NO ONE AROUND ! He goes on his Way, switch off the motor engine for don't disturb animals.. AMAZING moment !
Thanks Again to him and the way that he does this job.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jan 8, 2022
Nice experience - This company is very professional and punctual. Communication was very quick and smooth, reservation and confirmation as well. We had a great time at park but didn't have luck to meet leopard at afternoon safari. I guess we need to come back once again :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 31, 2023
The stuff of safari nightmares - I am adding an email sent to the owner of this company. Despite the initial mail and a reminder, I did not receive a response so I am posting this account of our experience here to allow others to make an informed decision.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Now that I am back in London, I wanted to give you some feedback on our experience.
We were picked up on time and were at the ticket office by 510am only to find out that the naturalist I had requested would not be there until 6. So we had no guide. Did we not pay for this?
We then arrived at the gate at 515 and were then told the gate didn’t open until 545. When I asked why we had arrived 30 min earlier, your driver said it was to be first in.
When the gate opened, your driver aggressively battled to be first, almost shoving the jeep next to us off the road. We then travelled in a dusty caravan at at least 50kmh into the park. We passed a stone feature at the side of the road and when our driver saw that others had stopped, he flew in reverse at full speed for about 200m to muscle his way into a tangle of a dozen jeeps in order to get a glimpse of a leopard. The words of may partner were ’this makes me embarrassed to be a human’.
I told the driver this was not good and to get us away away from the pack of jeeps at all cost. We would rather see no wildlife than feel we are driving through Delhi rush hour.
As the experience currently stands, I would not take any of my clients on the safari. We do tours regularly at Chitwan National Park in Nepal and the behaviour of the drivers is nothing like this. And I can tell you that the majority of tourists that visit Yala with you and your competitors will feel exactly as we did.
I would like to suggest you liaise with the other operators and share the story because you are headed down the wrong path. If you are able to provide a tour the features the serenity of nature rather than an aggressive tangle of diesel-spewing jeeps, we would be willing to give it another try. If not, we will find other activities for our guests.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 24, 2023
Not worth to spend that amount of time and money to see few annimals - Its too big territory with few annimals, you have to spent many hours to see leopard for few seconds, few elefants, and then buffalos/ and some birds. And especially we paid too high price for this USD125 per person
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 2, 2023
Awful experience from start to finish - What an awful day out, the bumps are horrendous
We drove down the same roads at least 10 times in the hope to see a leopard or elephant
I don’t know what all the fuss is about, 6 hours of hopeful thinking we will find an animal or two.
Very expensive and not worth the early wake up I’m afraid.
Sorry but the UK offers well organised safaris - I believe all guides should be trained.
Shame as the park is stunning, spoilt by so called ‘guides’ racing each other to locate an animal.
Review provided by Tripadvisor