Photographing Sri Lankan Leopard in Yala

Sri Lankan Leopard has been a dream for me and something I have tried and failed on 5 previous occasions.

Unknown - distant rock at Sunset - off park

Anyone, like I did, can go to Yala, hire a jeep and say I want to see leopard. The chances are good as there are around 50 individuals in the park. However there are sightings and there are photographic opportunities. They are not the same - as I will try and explain.

Firstly. 250 jeeps are allowed in the park per day from 6am till 12 and then from 2pm till 6pm. Most will be organised by tour operators from the hotels. They pick you up around 5-7am and then you head to the park to wait in the queue. However on a photo tour it’s different. You arrive as early as possible so you can be first in. We arrived and waited from 4:30am and even then we were second to forth in the queue. Which is fine as you will not have anything in front of you as head in the park. You can also catch up on some sleep or head to the cafe for a coffee which is open at this time.

5:30am 50 jeeps in line. We're second

Once the park is open most of the jeeps will drive in slowly and look for sightings for their quests. Most want to see everything, including leopard. We on the other hand.....are exclusively going for leopard. Which means we drive and head deep into the areas others don’t venture, so can’t be delayed by jeeps stopping to look at the numerous deer or boar. You will see many throughout the day so there is no need to stop now.

The key to good Leopard sightings is a driver and guide that have many years experience on where they are and the normal resting spots.

We spent two half days and 3 full days in the park and were lucky to have 12 sightings from 11 individuals. We did fail on day two to see any leopard.

All our days where spent looking for leopard but we saw and spent a lot of time with elephants, bears, deer, birds etc. Another blog will follow on these.

Our first afternoon we were lucky to find a sub-adult Male wandering through his territory and more lucky as by the time he left deep into the jungle only 3 other jeeps had arrived.

Male - YM17 - Lance

Day three we had 4 sightings in the park and one outside and here you will see the difference from photo sightings to normal sightings.

As normal we headed straight to the far end of the park and searched the normal locations for leopard but nothing was found. At 12pm we arrived to the safe zone in the park to have lunch. Here we have to stay for two hours as the park is shut. Most jeeps take their guests back to the hotels for lunch and then head back into the park in the afternoon. By being in the park for lunch you can get to locations before the crowds arrive back.

Most sightings are shared by drivers so within minutes the word gets round. So any sighting on the main routes will get large number of jeeps appearing. Sightings deep in the park or on roads that are difficult to access don’t get any or little numbers of jeeps arriving.

The following are sightings that most will see.


Unknown - walking through the undergrowth on main road
Numerous Jeeps turned up so we left  

Unknown - We found this Leopard just after lunch on main road
It stayed present all afternoon and caused chaos on main road 45 minute upwards delays. Lucky we were already on the park  

These are sightings that if you’re lucky you will get to see and if you have one of the good drivers that are known to only take photographers you may be given preference.

Female - YF2 Jennie

Female - YF 32 - Aria
We at times could see her body but I like this photo

Male - Unknown at this stage
Distant Crop

Now for the photographic sightings. These  were deep in the park or away from the normal routes. Little jeeps turned up if any. In a couple of cases only us and one other were there. By the time the word gets out the Leopards would be gone as it would take jeeps 30-45 minutes to arrive. Normal jeeps would not try and come.

Male - YM40 Caesar

We spent 45 minutes with him at various locations
Only 3 jeeps by the time he headed into the forest

Female YF 32 - Aria Looking at monkeys
When spotted distantly lots of jeeps present.
We waited hour or so and then got her coming out the undergrowth with few jeeps  

Male - YM17 - Lance

Male - YM32 Charlie
Injured from possibly a fight

Female YF 32 - Aria

My advice to anyone wanting to photograph Leopard is to have a great driver and go with a guide that has a proven track record with leopard. Also be prepared to head quickly from location to location in the search of these stunning cats and finally don’t be upset at the numerous other species you will go past that you will miss. Yes the driver will stop for the special rarer sightings, but not for the common as you will get these. If a bear is present then yes he will stop but if a nice Crested Eagle then only if you ask, but you will possibly miss the leopard. There are hundreds of Crested Eagle.

If you fancy joining me on a future tour please get in touch as I will be heading back twice a year on exclusive Leopard  and Elephant photo tours.