Quick answer
Yala National Park's rules require visitors to stay in the vehicle except at designated stops, keep to marked tracks, obey the posted speed limit, keep noise down, never feed or disturb animals, take all litter out and leave the park by closing time, around 6pm. Drones, music and pets are not allowed. Every jeep carries a Department of Wildlife Conservation tracker who is responsible for enforcing the rules, and drivers who break them can be fined or banned.
Key takeaways
- Visitors in Yala must stay in the vehicle except at designated stops such as Patanangala.
- Jeeps in Yala must keep to marked tracks and obey a posted speed limit, which protects both animals and passengers.
- Feeding animals in Yala is forbidden, because it changes their behaviour and can make them dangerous.
- Drones, loud music, pets and littering are not allowed in Yala National Park.
- Every vehicle must be out of Yala by closing time, around 6pm, and drivers who break the rules can be fined or banned.
Why Yala has rules
Yala National Park's rules exist to protect wildlife from disturbance and visitors from harm. They are set by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and enforced by the tracker in every jeep and by rangers in the park.
Most rules are common sense, but in a busy park the pressure to get a leopard leads some drivers to bend them. Knowing the rules lets you ask your driver to keep them.
Rules about the vehicle
Visitors must stay inside the vehicle at all times except at designated stops, such as Patanangala on the coast. Standing on seats, sitting on the roof or leaning out to get closer to an animal is not allowed.
Jeeps must keep to the marked tracks and obey the posted speed limit. Off-track driving damages habitat and disturbs animals; speeding causes accidents and kills wildlife on the road.
- →Stay in the vehicle except at designated stops.
- →Do not stand on seats or lean out.
- →Keep to marked tracks.
- →Obey the posted speed limit.
Rules about wildlife
Feeding any animal in Yala is forbidden. Fed animals lose their fear of people and can become aggressive, and human food harms them. Calling to, chasing or provoking animals is also forbidden.
At sightings, drivers should keep a respectful distance, avoid blocking an animal's path and leave when an animal is crowded. Flash photography near animals is discouraged and, at night, is harmful.
- →Never feed any animal.
- →Never call to, chase or provoke animals.
- →Keep a respectful distance at sightings.
- →Do not block an animal's path.
Rules about noise, litter and equipment
Noise should be kept low throughout the park, and music is not allowed. All litter, including food scraps and tissues, must be taken back out of the park.
Drones are not allowed in Yala without special permission, which is not given for tourist use. Pets are not allowed, and nothing, from plants to stones, may be taken from the park.
Rules about time
Yala opens around 6am and closes around 6pm, and every vehicle must be out of the park by closing time. Drivers who leave late can be fined, which is why afternoon drives often end with a hurried run to the gate.
Full-day drives need the appropriate ticket, and lunch must be eaten at a designated stop.
- →Opening: around 6am.
- →Closing: around 6pm; all vehicles out.
- →Confirm current hours locally.
How Yala's rules are enforced
The tracker in every jeep is responsible for making sure the driver keeps the rules, and rangers patrol the park. Drivers who break rules can be fined, suspended or banned from the park.
Lankan Stays & Trails asks every guest to tell us if a driver broke the rules, and stops using drivers who do. If you see serious rule-breaking, report it to the Department of Wildlife Conservation office at the gate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get out of the jeep in Yala?
Only at designated stops, such as Patanangala on the coast. Everywhere else, visitors must stay inside the vehicle. The rule protects both people and animals, and drivers who let passengers out elsewhere can be fined.
What is the speed limit in Yala?
Yala has a posted speed limit for vehicles inside the park, low enough to protect animals on the tracks and passengers in open jeeps. Ask your driver to keep to it, even when a leopard is reported elsewhere.
Can you fly a drone in Yala?
No. Drones are not allowed in Yala National Park without special permission from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, which is not given for tourist use. Flying one can lead to confiscation and fines, and the noise disturbs animals. Leave drones at the hotel on safari days.
Can you feed animals in Yala?
No. Feeding any animal in Yala is forbidden. Fed animals lose their fear of people, can become aggressive and are harmed by human food. Keep food out of sight in the jeep and take all scraps back out with you.
What happens if you break the rules in Yala?
Drivers who break Yala's rules can be fined, suspended or banned from the park, and visitors can also be penalised for serious offences such as flying drones or feeding animals. The DWC tracker in every jeep is responsible for enforcement.
What time do you have to leave Yala?
All vehicles must be out of Yala by closing time, around 6pm, and drivers who leave late can be fined. Afternoon drives usually enter at roughly 2 or 3pm to allow three to four hours inside. Confirm current opening and closing times locally.