Which is better- a Morning or Afternoon Safari in Yala National Park?

When it comes to deciding between a morning or afternoon safari in Yala National Park, it really depends on what you're hoping to see and experience.

At Wild Lotus Yala, our morning safaris typically start early, with most guests leaving the villa around 5:30 am. The early start gives a feeling of adventure and excitement as you head out into the park in our open air Land Rover as the sun is just peeking over the horizon. Morning safaris can also be a great option if you want to see animals that are more active in the cooler temperatures of the morning. During this time, you might have a better chance of spotting leopards, elephants, and birds. In addition, the morning safaris free up the rest of your day to relax around the pool or do a bike tour around our village.

Our afternoon safaris usually start around 2:30 pm and are a great option if you want the chance to see nocturnal animals and witness the beauty of the sunset in the park. You might spot animals like the leopard, sloth bear, and even a jackal or two as they become more active in the cooler temperatures of the late afternoon. Additionally, the "golden hour" lighting during this time can create a magical atmosphere, making for some truly memorable photo opportunities.

Our afternoon Wild Lotus Safari guests return around 6:30, just in time for a bonfire and an al fresco feast prepared by our in house chef.

Ultimately, there's no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing between a morning or afternoon safari. It really depends on your own preferences and what you hope to see and experience in the park.

Many guests choose to do a full day safari to maximize their chances of seeing wildlife and enjoying their Sri Lankan safari experience to the fullest.

Want to learn more? We are happy to help and only a message away.

Does Yala close in September?

Before getting into the details, it's important to note that Yala National Park is massive. It covers 979 sq kilometers altogether and is divided into five areas, commonly referred to as Blocks. Block 1 is the one with the most infrastructure and hence most thus popular with tourists. When people refer to Yala, they are usually referring to Block 1.

The government usually closes Block 1 for one month in September to do park maintenance.

However, there are other parts of Yala that are still very much open to wildlife enthusiasts. Most people head to either Block 5/Lumugamvehera for safaris and many people prefer that area of the park even when Block 1 is open as it’s less touristed and more wild.

An experienced guide is especially important when visiting these zones for a few reasons: 1) the animals outside of Block 1 are less used to vehicles and may be more challenging to spot. This will not be an issue for an excellent tracker. 2) the roads outside of Block 1 tend to be more rugged and require a driver with more skill and certainly a 4WD vehicle.

Happy Safari-ing, even in September ;)

-Kristin

Yala Block 5, October 2017 Photo by Gaurika Wijeratne

Top 10 Tips: Yala National Park with kids

26 Dec 2016, Yala National Park

Our eldest daughter's first safari was in 2009 when she was just three months old. At one point we silently sat in the jeep watching a mother sloth bear and two cubs. When the bears started to walk away back into the jungle, Lucia let out a little squawk and the mama stopped in her tracks, turned her head back around toward us and stared silently in our direction for a few seconds before continuing back toward the bush. It was a magical mama moment for sure! Since that safari a decade ago, we've gone on dozens of safaris in Sri Lanka and beyond with kids all ages. Here are my tips of things to bring to keep the kids happy and safe on a Sri Lankan safari:

1. Car seats for the baby and toddler set-- obviously good for safety reasons for the little ones but also both my girls fell asleep after a while (the roads are quite bumpy) and gave the adults a bit of quiet time.

2. Sunscreen and hats-- depending on the time of day and the direction your jeep is heading, you will be directly exposed to the sun for small parts of the trip, be prepared.

3. A sarong or beach towel-- Yala can be dusty, sarongs can be held to your face or to loosely cover a sleeping child in a car seat, we've also tied them inside the jeep for impromptu sun shades or wrapped them around our shoulders (the sarongs, not the kids!) if we left at 5 am and the air was chilly.

4. A small bag of toys/sketchbook and pencils-- this is nature so there will be lulls in the action on the trip. Bring a few items that might keep the kids occupied, kind of like you'd do on an airplane. Full disclosure, we do bring an emergency iPad and headphones just in case. Most of the time it stays hidden away but it has saved us from a loud and cranky toddler more than once.

5. Snacks, snacks and more snacks-- pre-cut fruit, crackers, yogurts etc. We never seem to have enough snacks with us on the trip. Make sure to also bring a bag for garbage.

6. Baby wipes-- great for wiping dust of little faces and also cleaning up your hands before tucking into your arsenal of snacks!

7. Plenty of drinking water-- bottles are easier to manage than the big 4 liter plastic jugs, don't forget that recycling is quite limited in Sri Lanka so pack reusable bottles. At our villa, Wild Lotus, we lend guests metal bottles for the safari and provide unlimited purified drinking water so everyone can keep hydrated while reducing plastic consumption.

8. Bird and animal guide books--even tiny children love to find photos of the wildlife they see on the book's pages.

9. Communicate with your driver-- you are the boss of your safari. Dying to see a leopard and don't mind sitting in a queue of jeeps to do so? Tell him. Prefer a chilled out experience checking out birds and small mammals without getting near other jeeps? Let him know. There is lots of chatter about traffic jams in Yala but what most people don't know is that Yala is enormous and there is no need to hang around other jeeps at all unless you want to. Having an experienced tracker and a driver who knows all the back roads is critical for getting the game drive that you want.

10. Have fun! Yala is unlike any other place in the world, go in with an open mind and heart and try to see the natural world with awe and wonder-- just like the kids do.

Want to know more? Check our Wild Lotus safari packages here.