Questions, answered

Build your day on the Plan my trip page, then tap "Send on WhatsApp" (or email us). We check the jeep and driver and confirm your price and pickup time. We usually reply within an hour, 7:00–⁠21:00 Sri Lanka time. Your booking is confirmed once we've replied.

No. There is no deposit and nothing to pay online. Pay your driver on the day in cash, in Sri Lankan rupees or US dollars. On a trip over more than one day, you pay for the whole trip on the first day. We never ask for card details on WhatsApp.

Yes. Changes and cancellations are free up to 48 hours before your pickup. Closer to the day, there's still nothing to pay, because you don't pay anything before your trip starts, but please tell us as early as you can so we can release your booking. On a trip over more than one day, you can also cancel a later day once your trip has started, and we'll refund what you paid for it in full.

The planner shows an all-in estimate: private car or van with driver, private safari jeep and park tickets. When we reply, we confirm your final price. Once confirmed, it only changes if your plan changes (for example more people, a different park or a full day instead of a half day) or if the park authorities change their fees before your trip, and we would tell you straight away.

Our prices are shown in US dollars. Pay your driver on the day in cash, in Sri Lankan rupees or US dollars. If you'd rather pay in rupees, we'll tell you the rupee amount when we confirm your booking.

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a private air-conditioned car or van with driver for the whole day (including the wait while you are in the park), a private safari jeep with a licensed safari driver, and park tickets. Not included: meals, tips and optional extras.

No. Your jeep and your car are private to your group. A jeep takes up to 6 people; bigger groups get more than one.

It stays locked in your car with your driver, who waits near the park gate and then takes you on to your next stop.

The evening before your trip, we'll send you your driver's name and phone number. You can reach them directly, even for a 3 am pickup.

Mornings are cooler and usually best for wildlife, but they can mean a very early pickup. Afternoons are easier on sleep and give lovely light. The planner shows the pickup and arrival times for each, so you can choose.

Nobody can promise that, and anyone who does is overselling. Yala and Wilpattu give you a real chance, especially in the dry season. In Udawalawe, elephants turn up on almost every drive.

Yala for the best leopard odds and the most variety (and the most jeeps). Udawalawe for wild elephants on almost every drive and an easy day with kids. Wilpattu for quiet lakes, shy leopards and few jeeps. Our park comparison page goes into more detail.

Usually, for a few weeks. Blocks 1 and 2, where most safaris go, close in most dry seasons; in 2026 the closure was set for 14 September to 15 October. Dates are announced late, so if your date falls in September or October we'll confirm nearer the time and, if those blocks are shut, suggest Udawalawe or, if it suits your route, Yala's Block 5 (Galge entrance).

Yes. We only use safari jeeps and drivers registered with the Department of Wildlife Conservation. In Yala, only certified safari drivers are allowed in the park.

Yes. Udawalawe is especially good for kids: open plains, lots of elephants and shorter drives. Children aged 6 to 12 pay a child ticket and under-6s enter the park free.

Tell us the ages of your children in the notes when you send your trip and we will arrange what is available for your car or van.

Yes. The planner works out how many vans and jeeps you need. For groups of 9 or more, send us your plan and we will confirm the best set-up.

Yes. Choose "Just a ride" in the planner for a private car or van between any two towns, including the airport.

Yes. In the planner, choose "Just a ride", set the time your flight lands and add your flight number. We allow about an hour for immigration and bags, and your driver waits for you inside the arrivals hall with a name board.

Yes. Short stops for tea, photos and toilets are always free. For a longer stop on a transfer, add up to three towns from our list when you choose where you're going in the planner: Nuwara Eliya for a tea factory, say, or Galle for lunch. Anywhere else, like Pinnawala, can go in your notes. Each stop adds any extra distance and the driver's waiting time to your estimate. Entry tickets aren't included.

Yes. When a day looks too long, the planner suggests a night on the way (on a safari trip, in a town near the park) and makes it two days in one tap. Each day is priced like its own ride, and you see the difference before you switch: usually none for Yala and Udawalawe, and a little more for a long transfer or a Wilpattu trip, where the night is off the direct road. You book your own hotel for the night; tell us where you're staying, and your driver picks you up there. You pay for the whole trip on the first day.