Highlights
- Separate zones for carnivores and herbivores
- See lions, tigers, elephants and other animals
- A safe outing for families and casual visitors
Overview
Ridiyagama Safari Park, near Hambantota, is Sri Lanka's first drive-through safari park. It opened in 2016 and is run by the Department of National Zoological Gardens. The park covers about 500 acres, divided into zones for carnivores and herbivores, with around 22 species including African lions, tigers, leopards, elephants and zebras.
What you do
You leave your own vehicle in the car park and tour the zones by park shuttle bus or a hired park jeep, with a guide. Animals live in large fenced areas, and the vehicles drive through them. It is a zoo in format, not a wild safari, but it suits young children and anyone who wants a close look at big cats.
Tickets and opening hours
As of October 2026, official prices are USD 17.70 for foreign adults and USD 8.85 for children, with lower SAARC rates. Transport inside the park costs extra. The park is open daily, generally 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, though some official listings show 5 pm, so check the last entry time. Prices are paid in rupees at the counter.
How long it takes
Two to three hours on a quiet weekday; up to half a day at weekends and holidays, when there can be a long queue for transport.
Getting there
Ridiyagama is about 3.5 hours from Colombo on the Southern Expressway. From Tissamaharama and Yala it is roughly an hour.
Practical tips
- Arrive at opening time for cooler weather and shorter queues.
- Do not feed or tease the animals; it is against park rules.
- Bring water, hats and sunscreen.
For wild animals, compare with a Yala safari or Bundala birdwatching. See also things to do near Bundala and hotels in the area.
Prices are as of October 2026 and may change.
Related posts
Birdwatching in Kumana National Park
Kumana, once called Yala East, is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for birdwatching. Pelicans, storks, spoonbills and herons nest in the Kumana Villu, and rare species such as the black-necked stork have been seen.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Gal Oya National Park Safari
Gal Oya, in the east near Ampara, is one of the few parks in Sri Lanka with boat safaris. Cruise the Senanayake Samudraya reservoir looking for elephants swimming between islands, or explore the forest by jeep.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Horton Plains
Horton Plains National Park is a high plateau of grassland, cloud forest and streams at over 2,100 metres, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to sambar deer, endemic birds and the World's End cliff.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Kitulgala Jungle Trek
Cross the Kelani River by boat and walk into the Kitulgala forest reserve with a guide. The trails pass streams and small waterfalls, with endemic birds, butterflies and plants along the way.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Elephant Transit Home
The Elephant Transit Home beside Udawalawe National Park cares for orphaned baby elephants until they can be released into the wild. Visitors can watch the calves being fed from a viewing area.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Moon Plains
Moon Plains is an area of montane grassland just outside Nuwara Eliya. Its viewpoint, sometimes called Mini World's End, looks over the surrounding mountains on a clear day.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Wasgamuwa National Park Safari
Take a jeep safari in Wasgamuwa, a park between the Mahaweli and Amban rivers that sees far fewer visitors than Yala or Minneriya. Elephants, sloth bears and many birds live in its forest and grassland.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Kumana National Park Safari
A jeep safari in Kumana, south of Arugam Bay, is quieter than one in Yala and especially good for birds. Leopards, elephants and crocodiles also live among the park's lagoons and small tanks.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Bird Watching in Sinharaja
Sinharaja is the best place in Sri Lanka to see endemic birds. With a local guide, look for the Sri Lanka blue magpie, red-faced malkoha and the mixed feeding flocks that move through the forest.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Wilpattu National Park Safari
Wilpattu, on the north-west coast, is the largest national park in Sri Lanka. Its quiet forest is dotted with natural lakes called villus, and leopards and sloth bears are the main reasons to visit.
Image Credit: ShutterStock
Lunugamvehera National Park
Lunugamvehera National Park, north of Tissamaharama, protects the catchment of the Lunugamvehera reservoir. It sees few visitors and links Yala with Udawalawe for elephants.
Image Credit: ShutterStock