Sri Lanka has one of the highest leopard densities on Earth, and this itinerary is built around it. Over seven days of private jeep safaris in Yala and Kumana National Parks, you will follow the leopard through rocky outcrops, lagoon edges and ancient forest. You will shoot in the soft light of dawn and dusk, with time on each safari to wait for the right moment. Comfortable safari lodges keep you close to the parks, and a few days on the southern coast at the end give you a relaxed finish.
9 Nights / 10 Days
Meet and greet on arrival at the airport, followed by a private air-conditioned transfer to Tissamaharama
Watch the landscape change from the west coast to the dry-zone south
Check in at your safari lodge on the edge of Yala, ready for an early start
Dinner at the lodge
Early tea or coffee, then depart at 5:00 am to reach the park in first light
Full-day private jeep safari in Yala, Block 01
Photograph leopards, elephants, crocodiles, jackals and Sri Lanka's endemic birds
Picnic lunch in the park, with restroom and restaurant facilities available
Return to the lodge in the evening
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Second full-day safari, exploring quieter sectors of Yala known for leopard activity
Fewer vehicles and more open terrain give you room to compose and wait for behaviour
Good conditions for both wildlife and bird photography
Picnic lunch in the park, then overnight at the lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Third full-day safari across Yala's varied habitats: scrub, waterholes, rock and forest
More time in the field means more chances to catch the leopard in action
Picnic lunch in the park, then overnight at the lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast, then travel to the Kumana region
Check in at your lodge near the park
Afternoon private jeep safari in Kumana National Park, as the light turns golden
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early tea or coffee, then depart at 5:00 am
Full-day private safari in Kumana, a quieter, wilder park of lagoons, mangroves and grassland
Photograph leopards, elephants, crocodiles, jackals and large concentrations of water birds
Picnic lunch in the park, then return to the lodge in the evening
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another full day across different sectors of Kumana, from lagoon edges to forest tracks
Varied habitats improve your chances of leopard sightings and give you a wider range of images
Picnic lunch in the park, then return to the lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast, then depart Kumana for the southern coast
Arrive in Mirissa and spend the rest of the day on the beach
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A leisurely day on Sri Lanka's southern coast
Optional visit to the UNESCO-listed Dutch Galle Fort for street photography, ramparts and boutique cafés
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Check out according to your flight time
Private transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport
Meals: Breakfast
Carefully selected safari lodges and boutique hotels
Twin-share or single rooms
Full board throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Private air-conditioned vehicle for all road transfers
Private safari jeeps for every park visit
National park entrance fees included
Government taxes and jeep hire charges included