See wild elephants in Minneriya, Sri Lanka.
Book a private jeep for your group. You pay one price for the whole jeep, we work out the park tickets for you, and on the day all you need to bring is your passport.
Three simple steps. No surprises at the gate.
Pick your park and jeep
We tell you honestly which park the elephants usually use that month. You choose the Cozy Jeep or the Luxury Jeep.
Pay once, in advance
One payment covers the jeep, the driver, the pickup and the park tickets. We show you every line so you know exactly where your money goes.
Bring your passport
The driver picks you up and pays the tickets at the gate. You just show your passport and enjoy the elephants.
The elephants move. So should you.
Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu are joined together. The same elephants walk between them during the year, following fresh grass and water.
Most safari companies just sell you "Minneriya" and hope for the best. We'd rather tell you straight: in July to September go to Minneriya, from October go to Kaudulla, and in the rainy months try Hurulu.
See the full guideWhere the elephants usually are, month by month
or Kaudulla
or Minneriya
or Hurulu
or Kaudulla
or Hurulu
Based on how the herds have moved in past years. Nature changes a little every year, so we check before you book.
Four parks. One easy booking.
Click a park to learn what it's like, when to go and what you'll see.
Minneriya
Home of the Gathering, where hundreds of elephants meet on the grass.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Kaudulla
Where the herds go next, when Minneriya fills up with rain.
From LKR 17,000 per jeep
Hurulu
The rainy-season backup, a few minutes from Habarana, with the cheapest tickets.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Gal Oya
A wild, far-away park around Sri Lanka's biggest lake. Hardly any crowds.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Cozy or Luxury? You decide.
Most companies send whatever jeep is free. With us, you pick. Both are private, both have an open roof, and both fit up to 6 people.
Cozy Jeep · Mahindra
The classic Sri Lankan safari jeep. Open top, bench seats facing each other, and a lot of fun on bumpy tracks. Great value.
From LKR 14,000 for the whole jeepLuxury Jeep · Toyota Hilux
A newer, smoother 4x4 with padded seats that face forward. Less bouncing, more comfort, and easier for kids and older travellers.
From LKR 19,000 for the whole jeepEvery price, right here. No "ask for a quote".
Other websites hide their prices or give you a vague "$60 to $90 per person". Here's what we actually charge, per jeep, not per person.
| Park | Cozy Jeep (Mahindra) | Luxury Jeep (Toyota Hilux) | Park ticket (foreign adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneriya Best: July to September | LKR 14,000≈ US$42 · whole jeep | LKR 19,000≈ US$58 · whole jeep | US$25 adult · US$12.50 child (5–11) |
| Kaudulla Best: October to December | LKR 17,000≈ US$52 · whole jeep | LKR 20,000≈ US$61 · whole jeep | US$25 adult · US$12.50 child (5–11) |
| Hurulu Best: December to April | LKR 14,000≈ US$42 · whole jeep | LKR 19,000≈ US$58 · whole jeep | US$10 adult · US$5 child |
| Gal Oya Best: All year (drier months are easiest) | LKR 14,000≈ US$42 · whole jeep | LKR 19,000≈ US$58 · whole jeep | Confirmed when you book |
The ticket queue is real. Here's how we handle it.
In August 2026 the Sunday Times reported up to 600 jeeps a day at Minneriya, only two ticket counters, and queues of up to two hours in the afternoon.
Nobody can buy tickets in advance. They're sold at the gate, and every foreign visitor has to show a passport. But we can make it fast: your ticket money is already paid, your group details are ready, and we time your pickup to get ahead of the rush.
What to bring and what to expectFilmed by us, not bought from a stock website.
Every clip on this site was filmed by our team in the park. What you see is what's really out there.
Things people ask us
How much does a Minneriya safari cost?
A jeep costs LKR 14,000 (Cozy Jeep) or LKR 19,000 (Luxury Jeep) for the whole jeep, not per person. Up to 6 people can share it. On top of that you pay the government park tickets, which depend on how many people are in your group. Our price calculator shows you the full total before you book.
Is the price per person or per jeep?
Per jeep. One price covers the jeep, the driver and the fuel, for up to 6 people. The more people you bring, the cheaper it gets for each person. Park tickets are per person, because that's how the government charges them.
What's included?
The private jeep, a driver who knows the park, fuel, and free pickup from Habarana or Minneriya town. We also collect your park ticket money in advance and the driver pays it at the gate for you. Pickup from further away costs a little extra.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. Everyone with a foreign passport must bring their real passport (not a photo) to the gate, children too. The ticket office checks it to decide which ticket price applies. No passport can mean no entry.
Can you buy the park tickets for me before the day?
No, nobody can. Tickets are sold only at the park gate, on the day, and the office needs to see your passport. What we do is collect the ticket money with your booking, so the driver pays at the counter and you don't have to handle any cash.
What if the ticket price at the gate is different?
Park fees are set by the government in US dollars and paid in rupees, so the total can move a little with the exchange rate. We settle any difference on the day, up or down, and you can ask to see the ticket receipt.
Ready to see the elephants?
Private jeeps from LKR 14,000 for the whole jeep. Up to 6 people. Park tickets shown upfront and paid in one go.
Run by GrabCab (Pvt) Ltd, the same team behind Yala Safari Sri Lanka. +94 70 171 7888