4.9 · 10,000+ reviews50% off the 2026 seasonYala Block 5 — the wild, uncrowded
Right beside Yala but a world away from the crowds — elephants, sloth bears and even leopards across a wild elephant corridor. One of Sri Lanka's oldest, least-explored reserves, with licensed guides, free hotel pickup and instant confirmation.
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50% off
2026 season
Rated 4.9 by 10,000+ travellers
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Best price, direct
Book straight with the operator — no agency mark-up, no middlemen.
Away from the crowds
Yala Block 5 — the same wild without the jeep queues.
Licensed trackers
Certified guides who know this quiet corner intimately.
Free hotel pickup
Door-to-door from Tissa, Yala, Kirinda & Kataragama.
Choose your safari
Every tour runs in a 4×4 with a licensed tracker-guide and free hotel pickup. Prices are live and the 50% season deal is already applied.
The half day tour is dedicated towards exploring the most accessible areas of the Lunugamwehera National Park.
The half day tour is dedicated towards exploring the most accessible areas of the Lunugamwehera National Park.
Full day safari, the jeeps venture far inside the Jungle to give the best opportunity to see the best of Sri Lankan wildlife.
Park entrance (~$43/adult, $22/child) payable in cash at the gate, or pre-pay during booking.
What you'll see
It shares its wild residents with neighbouring Yala — elephants, sloth bears and even leopards — but with a fraction of the visitors.
Wild elephants
The park's elephant corridor
Sloth bears
Seasonal, best in fruiting months
Leopards
Shared range with Yala
Spotted deer & birds
Across open plains & tanks
A day in the wild
From a pre-dawn pickup to golden-hour sightings with the plains to yourself, here's how the full-day adventure unfolds.
5:30 am
Hotel pickup
Your driver collects you in an open 4×4 as the jungle wakes.
6:00 – 12:00
Morning game drive
The quiet tracks of the elephant corridor at first light.
9:00 am
Picnic breakfast
Served in the bush, with the plains to yourself.
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Lunch & rest
Relax in the shade before round two.
2:00 – 6:00 pm
Afternoon game drive
Golden-hour sightings without the crowds.
~6:30 pm
Drop-off
Back to your hotel, camera full of memories.
Plan your visit
Local knowledge from the team that has run southern Sri Lanka's safaris since 1987 — so you arrive prepared and leave amazed.
Lunugamwehera National Park adjoins Yala and forms part of the greater Yala protected area — it’s often called Yala Block 5. Set around the Lunugamwehera reservoir, it’s a vital elephant corridor linking Yala and Udawalawe, and one of the island’s oldest, least-visited reserves — about 40 minutes from Tissamaharama.
The dry season from February to July concentrates wildlife near water, and the dawn and dusk drives are best for activity. Lunugamwehera especially shines when Yala’s Block 1 closes each September for maintenance — it stays open and delivers the same wildlife with a fraction of the jeeps.
Booking direct means no agency mark-up: the half-day safari costs $40 per person, the 7-hour tour $55 and the full-day adventure $70 — jeep, driver and licensed tracker-guide included. The only extra is the park entrance fee (about $43/adult, $22/child, the same as Yala), payable in cash at the gate or pre-paid online with your booking.
If you love the idea of Yala’s wildlife but not its jeep queues, Lunugamwehera is the answer: the same elephants, sloth bears and leopards, shared across one continuous ecosystem, but a calmer, more intimate drive. It’s perfect for repeat visitors, photographers who want space, and anyone travelling in Yala’s September closure.
Family-run and licensed since 1987, Ajith Safari Jeep Tours also runs safaris in Yala and the other great national parks of Sri Lanka beyond Lunugamwehera.
10,000+ five-star reviews
“Our tracker spotted a leopard within the first hour. He knew exactly where to wait — the whole jeep was speechless. Best morning of our Sri Lanka trip.”
“Picked us up in Ella, safari through the park, dropped at our beach hotel by evening. Zero stress and we saw dozens of elephants. Incredible value.”
“Comfortable jeep, flexible timing, and a guide who genuinely loves the wildlife. Booking was simple and the price was honest. Cannot recommend enough.”
Keep exploring
One trusted, licensed team since 1987 — pair your trip across Sri Lanka's finest reserves.
Good questions
Lunugamwehera adjoins Yala and is part of the greater Yala protected area — commonly known as Yala Block 5. Centred on the Lunugamwehera reservoir, it's a key elephant corridor linking Yala and Udawalawe, and one of Sri Lanka's oldest and least-explored reserves, offering the same wildlife with far fewer visitors.
Prices start from $40 per person for the half-day tour, $55 for the 7-hour tour and $70 for the full-day safari — with the 50% season deal already applied. The only extra is the park entrance fee (about $43 per adult, $22 per child, the same as Yala), payable in cash at the gate or pre-paid online.
Book directly on this page in under two minutes: choose your tour, pick a date and start time, add your group and any extras, then enter your details and pay securely by card. You'll receive an instant email confirmation with your pickup time and driver details. Need help? WhatsApp us any time — we reply in minutes.
Yes — Lunugamwehera shares its range with neighbouring Yala, so leopards, elephants and sloth bears all move through the park. Densities are lower and sightings are wild and never guaranteed, but the trade-off is a quiet, uncrowded drive when you do find them.
It depends what you want. Yala offers the highest leopard density; Lunugamwehera (Yala Block 5) offers the same broad ecosystem with far fewer jeeps — a calmer, more intimate safari. Many travellers pair the two, or choose Lunugamwehera when Yala's Block 1 closes each September.
The dry season (February to July) concentrates wildlife near water, and dawn and dusk drives are best. Lunugamwehera is an excellent choice during September, when Yala's main block usually closes for maintenance.
Park entrance is roughly $43 per adult and $22 per child — the same as Yala, as it's part of the greater Yala protected area — set by the Department of Wildlife and payable in cash at the gate, or pre-payable online during booking.
Yes — free hotel pickup and drop-off is included from hotels in Tissamaharama, Yala, Kirinda and Kataragama. Lunugamwehera is about 40 minutes from Tissa.
Yes — the quieter roads and relaxed pace make Lunugamwehera a comfortable family safari. Infants ride free and reduced child rates apply. Jeeps seat up to 7 for flexible timing.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your safari for a full refund. Book with confidence.
The quiet wild awaits
Instant confirmation, free hotel pickup and free cancellation. The 50% season deal ends soon.
4.9 · 10,000+ reviews
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