Safari Tour at Minneriya National Park
4.8
Safari Tour at Minneriya National Park
By Mahaweli Tours & Holidays
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Bunches of Elephants can be seen in their natural behavior and visitors will be amazed to see hundreds in bunch. You will be transferred by a off-road/ 4WD jeep which is specially designed for outdoor activities like this. Out chauffeurs speak good English and equipped with good local knowledge. You will not regret about the decision after completing the tour.
There are two National Parks located within close proximity. They are Minneriya & Kaudulla National Park. Normally the Elephants are switching between two parks during the different months of the year depending on the rain situation and the level of the water of the lakes inside the parks. We will advise the guests about the best location to witness the Elephants on the particular time period and proceed to the relevant park with guest's approval.
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time).
Reserve now & pay later • Secure your spot while staying flexible.
Lowest price guarantee • Find a lower price online? Get the difference refunded!
Ages 1-100
Duration: 5h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
Written guide: English
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
More
Highlights
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- All Fees and Taxes
- Good Value for Money. Good stay closer to the nature.
- Entry/Admission - Minneriya National Park
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- We will pick-you from the hotel you stay. Please let us know the name of the hotel.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 51560P32- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 51560P32
From
$68.00
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 1Minneriya is one of the most beautiful national parks in Sri Lanka. Ideal place to witness bunches of Elephants in their natural behavior. You won't feel tired by looking at their playful acts. Also you will witness some violent giants too. Most probably you will be able to spot hundreds of Elephants within this tour of 04 - 06 Hours. Also Minneriya is located closure to the world famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Dambulla Cave Temples. So your day will be filled with activities and you will not regret. You have the option of choosing either morning safari or the afternoon one. Morning one starts at 6.00 am and Afternoon one starts at 1.30 pm
Buy it with
Top rated
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- hallamroo0 contributionsDrove from Colombo to Ella with no fuss.Driver messaged us in the morning so we knew when he was arriving. Offered to stop so we could buy snacks and use the bathroom on the 6 hour drive and even stopped at a couple of places so we could take photos.Written March 27, 2025
- Katyheartnannies0 contributionsFantastic service - not only for the Ella train, but really for almost all our trips and taxi ridesI booked the Ella train via Viator as the tickets weren't available on the Railway website any longer, and I'm so glad I did. After the booking, Geesara from Mahaweli tour company contacted me and I'm so glad as he was the best organiser not only for the Ella train tickets, but we ended up using him for almost all of our trips and taxi rides around Sri Lanka. He arranged everything, always responded within a few minutes and got us the best drivers. All of them were great, and we felt safe with them. Gaseera went always the extra mile and was looking after us better than we expected - he really became our friend in Sri Lanka, and we can recommend him and the Mahaweli tour company to anyone. We now have a friend we know we can relay on when we're back in Sri Lanka. We were in good hands. Thank you for exceeding our expectations and providing a fantastic service whenever we needed you.Written March 26, 2025
- emmilya20190 contributionsVery helpful & organisedTickets arrived at hotel before we even arrived, also helped arrange pick up from airport with the same company. Really helpful. Thank you!Written March 24, 2025
- tannik20220 contributionsAmazing Sri Lanka adventure!!Upon arrival I was welcomed by my personal guide Chathura, who also gave me flowers by arrival in the airport. The guide and tour was extremely good, very flexible (appreciate this!) and for that he deserves a special thanks. I had six great days in Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella and Yala which included all the ‘must see’ attractions + the most beautiful train ride to Ella and an amazing safari tour in Yala. Chathura has a warm personality and is a highly motivated guide (recommendable!). All respect for Chathura who does a great job; a true sample of excellent tour guide! Many thanks again and I recommend guide Chathura to everyone!Written March 24, 2025
- Monika B0 contributionsA wonderful day in sri lankas cultural triangle with mahaweli toursExcellent service by Pradeep Wick. in terms of driving, tour guide knowledge, flexibility, friendliness and taking care of us.Written March 22, 2025
- Cruiser604085613100 contributionsGreat Experience!Really good organisation. Our journey coordinator Greesara was always friendly and answered all our questions fast.Written March 20, 2025
- Navigator568043130770 contributionsAmacing roundtripAn amacing week in Sri Lanka with our guide Kushan. He was very polite and positive and a safe driver. He was alert on our needs, and had a good sence of humor. The attractions were fantastic, the trip to Sigiriya lion rock needs good legs and observe, that the guys wants to help you up the stairs cost a lot of money at the end! Yala national park was good and we Saw a lot of animals.Written March 19, 2025
- olej_rgeng0 contributionsFantastic holiday in Sri LankaThe «Magical Sri Lanka» tour is really magical! Our driver and guide, Mahesh, took us on a fantastic and very well planned tour where we saw important sights, beautiful nature and experienced exciting activities. Everything was arranged so well and the trip was completed without any problems whatsoever. Sri Lanka is a pleasant country to holiday in, and we were greeted with kindness everywhere. Mahesh was a super guide and driver, and contributed to the trip being so pleasent. He is friendly, knowledgeable and always did everything to makes us comfortable and happy. And he is clearly proud of his country and his hometown Kandy, - a very good ambassador for his country and for Mahaweli Tours and Holidays!Written March 19, 2025
- monicahw3120 contributionsThe Trip of a Lifetime – All Thanks to PradeepThis was hands down the best trip I have ever been on. And while Sri Lanka itself is stunning, what truly made this experience unforgettable was Pradeep—our tour guide, but more than that, someone who turned this trip into something truly special. From the moment we landed, Pradeep was there to welcome us, right on time, with the warmest smile and beautiful beaded necklaces that made us feel instantly at home. He didn’t just guide us through Sri Lanka; he curated an experience so personal, enriching, and immersive that it felt like traveling with a close friend who genuinely cared about making every moment special. One of our first stops was a Spice Farm, where I had the most incredible spice tea I’ve ever tasted. Along the way, we paused at a viewpoint with unreal scenery, where I met the sweetest grandmother with the most beautiful jewelry. Then came Kandy, where Pradeep arranged for us to witness a mesmerizing cultural theatre performance that brought Sri Lankan traditions to life in the most vibrant way. He also took us to a serene Buddhist temple, where we had the privilege of soaking in the spiritual energy, and along the way, we even stumbled upon a street performer with the biggest snake I’ve ever seen! And just when we thought it couldn’t get better, Pradeep ensured we stayed at the most amazing hotel in Kandy, where the buffet breakfast was out of this world—especially the curry chicken, dhal curry, and roasted potatoes. If you ever visit, trust me, this breakfast is a must-try! We also did a bull ride, which was unexpected but so much fun. Then came the climb up Lion Rock Sigiriya—completely worth it for the views alone—followed by a visit to Dambulla Cave Temple, which was just stunning in every way. At some point, we stopped at a colonial bridge, where I took some of the best pictures of my life, and also saw waterfalls so beautiful they didn’t feel real. On the final day, we embarked on a boat ride through the lagoon and mangroves, where we saw majestic eagles soaring above us and even got a firsthand look at how cinnamon is made. I cannot emphasize enough that none of this would have been the same without Pradeep. His passion for his country, his deep knowledge, and his genuine warmth made every single moment feel special. He didn’t just take us from one destination to another—he wove stories, created connections, and made sure we experienced the heart and soul of Sri Lanka. I felt like I made a new friend in this trip, which to me just as more valuable than the entire experience. Thank you, Pradeep, for the trip of a lifetime! 🇱🇰✨ Can't wait to be back!Written March 18, 2025
- davidaboge0 contributionsBest 4 days/3 nights of my life in Sri Lanka (Kandy, Ella, Bentota, Colombo and many more)This is by far the best trip that I have ever had. I had the pleasure of having Pradeep from Mahaweli Tours as my chauffeur and guide and I had the best 4 days/3 nights that one can have in Sri Lanka. From a very organized airport pickup, to an amazing driver in the mountains and the coats, to a very fun person to hang out with, and to a very amazing photographer --my friend and I had an amazing time with Pradeep, and we were emotional leaving Sri Lanka. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who is coming to Sri Lanka and is ready to visit dozens of places in a short timeframe and for a golden chance to meet Pradeep. This trip was also fully organized by the tour company hence I did not have to worry about organizing any part of the itinerary, or accommodation, and it was a good value for money and very affordable. I almost forgot to note that Pradeep surprised my friend and I upon drop off at the airport with a framed collage of our favorite photos from the trip. It's still hard to get over this kindness and the beauty that we saw in the mountains, rivers, train rides, temples, mosques, beaches, hotels and the people of Sri Lanka, led by our chauffeur/guide. To the tour company, Mahaweli, thank you and I hope to be back to tour the rest of the country.Written March 18, 2025
- Quest4384020 contributionsReally good experienceThank you so much again Geesara! For your professionalism and your kindness. We had such a nice experience thanks to you. I recommend highly.Written March 17, 2025
- 282elinf0 contributionsWonderful experience!My husband and I had a wonderful vacation in Sri Lanka, with one week og sightseeing and one week beach holiday. We would never have been able to see this much of this wonderful country without our fantastic guide, Dilshan Wijethunga. He was always helpful, punctual and had a lot of knowledge about the country. Highly recommend!Written March 16, 2025
- T9939ONenricob0 contributionsPerfect expirienceIt was a really good expirience, mahaweli tours expirience get for us online tickets, we get two seats in 2 class in the left side and it was perfect. Not so much people and we could take photos, enjoy the view and stay 7 hours in the train without crowds and well. 100% recommend themWritten March 16, 2025
- 721lucienm0 contributions10 beautiful days in sri lankaWe had some great days in Sri Lanka with many highlights, for example in Negombo, Kandy and Ella. We would definitely recommend this trip, as it is very comfortable and worth seeing. Especially our guide Sunil did a great job, thanks to him. He responded to our wishes, was always interested in showing us his country and shared his extensive knowledge with us.Written March 16, 2025
- GoPlaces296675625310 contributionsEfficient, good value serviceWe have just returned home after 16 amazing days traveling around Sri Lanka. Before leaving the UK we contacted Mahaweli for quotes for journeys and described our planned trip. They were very responsive. During our stay, we found Geesara, our journey coordinator efficient and communicative. Drivers were all excellent and punctual. On longer transits, English speaking guide drivers were provided so we could detour to other points of interest en route and they were very helpful in helping us learn a lot about this wonderful country. I would have no hesitation in recommending this company either for direct transits from one place to another or for guided excursions.Written March 16, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.8
13 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Simon R
10 contributions
We booked the trip to Minneriya but the tour guide suggested to go to Hurulu Eco Park instead. It was a good choice since we saw four elephants just 10 minutes after entering the park. Saw 10-15 more throughout the day, and many birds.
A professional driver/guide with good knowledge of the park and the animals. He picked us up at 6.15 am at our hotel just as agreed. Right on time with a good looking jeep.
We can highly recommend this trip, and it is safe and wise to listen to the tour guide’s recommendations of the parks.
A professional driver/guide with good knowledge of the park and the animals. He picked us up at 6.15 am at our hotel just as agreed. Right on time with a good looking jeep.
We can highly recommend this trip, and it is safe and wise to listen to the tour guide’s recommendations of the parks.
Written December 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meagansail
Grand Cayman2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Book this tour! We had the most amazing time on this tour. Our driver and safari trainer pointed out every animal we came across. They were not pushy like other drivers seemed to be, but still got us some amazing view points. They let us soak in every elephant sighting for as long as we wanted and checked that we were ready to move on each time. We saw maybe 30 elephants over the 2.5 ish hours we were in the national park. We expected to be quite far away but that was not the case!! Zoom not needed for most of the photos we took.
Written December 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sightsee06074630610
3 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We had an incredibly great trip with Mahaweli Tours! Communication in advance went flawlessly. We had booked a tour to Minneriya Park ourselves, but the team recommended us to take a tour at Hurulu Eco Park as more elephants were spotted there. And it was absolutely worth it, we saw between 30-40 elephants. Our guide picked us up from the hotel on time and told us many interesting facts during the tour. Also, the repayment of the overpaid price went flawlessly. I can only recommend a tour with Mahaweli Tours!
Automatically translated
Written October 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, Grüße aus Sri Lanka. Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre tolle Bewertung mit uns zu teilen. Sie ist sehr wertvoll für uns :) Ich hoffe, Sie haben Ihre Safari-Tour genossen. Es war mir eine Freude, Sie zu bedienen und wir freuen uns darauf, Sie wiederzusehen. Das wollen wir immer sorgen dafür, dass unsere Kunden zufrieden sind. Bleib gesegnet :) Danke..
Written October 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Isabel Mateos
Malaga, Spain13 contributions
The experience has been quite an existence, we practically had everything with them. We hired the driver with it for 15 non-consecutive days and it was great really, the drivers were great and then we also hired Minneriya's safari with them and also great, our contact Geesara helped us a lot. Always at our disposal.
Automatically translated
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Estimado señor/señora: Saludos desde Sri Lanka. Muchas gracias por dedicar su valioso tiempo a compartir su increíble reseña con nosotros. Es muy valiosa para nosotros :) Espero que haya disfrutado su gira por Sri Lanka. Es bueno saber que Geesara ha hecho un gran trabajo. Le pasaremos este mensaje a él. Fue un placer servirle y esperamos volver a verlo. Siempre queremos mantener contentos a nuestros clientes. Mantente bendecido :) Gracias..
Written August 30, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KNTraveler95
Brussels, Belgium7 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Had an excellent tour of Minneriya through Mahaweli Tours. Our safari coordinator Geesara made the whole experience effortless and was wonderful with their communication. Highly recommend using them to book your safari tour!
Written September 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir/ Madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your safari tour .Nice to hear that Geesara has done a great job..We will pass this message to him.It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :) Thank you..
Written September 29, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ash M
Italy37 contributions
Jan 2020
We Cannot praise Mahawelli Tours enough. We have just come home form 14 days touring Sri Lanka and thanks to Mahawelli we have had the most memorable experience. From my first communication with Prasad, we were guided and advised on things do and see. We faced delays with the start of our holiday due to flight delays, which meant we missed our train to Kandy. Prasad quickly arranged transport for us, which waited 4 hours for us to arrive. On day 1 we met Gamlath, he was our guide for our first week in central province. He was amazing, he listened to our needs, explained everything to us on our excursions clearly and made our hole experience more memorable. The vehicle was very comfortable and the right size for us and all our luggage, including the oversized surfing equipment. The highlight for our stay was definitely Minneriya, seeing the amazing elephants including babies! We also visited Sigiriya and Dambulla, the Veddah people and a fabulous day in and around Kandy doing the sights, all fabulous. We changed our travel plans in the end of our holiday because of the professional service we had received, booking our onward transport to Hikkiduwa with Mahiwelli and then our final airport transport. The roads and driving in Sri Lanka are crazy, it is most certainly an experience, we felt totally safe with Gamleth at all times. A massive thank you to Prasad and Gamlath for making our holiday amazing!
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Madam,
Thank you very much for selecting Mahaweli as your travel partner and happy to see that you have met the expectations well. Always we enjoyed communications with you and happy that we could end up with a great tour plan. We will pass the message to Gamlath as well. So he will be very happy to hear :)
Thank you.
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Giorgos M
2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
Amazing safari! We managed to see more than 30 elephants. Madushe was a very polite and excellent driver! He was also so motivated to make the safari the best for us! He was brilliant, shared many things about elephants! I would definitely have this safari again!
Written December 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marie-José V
2 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
Beautiful experience, elephants close by without disturbing them. Not too many jeeps at the same time. Hope it will stay that way!🙏
Written September 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir/ Madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your Minneriya safari .It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :) Thank you..
Written October 18, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DragosMoldovan
Dubai, United Arab Emirates41 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
They will pick you up from the parking with a jeep and drive 15 min to the lake where the elephant herds are coming. It was a very pleasant experience.
Written July 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear sir, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your safari tour at Minneriya National Park in Srilanka.It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :)
Written July 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lincoln Shahid
Dhaka City, Bangladesh278 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
It was a great experience at the national park. Weather was a bit rainy. Roads were muddy. But at last we could see many elephants in herds. We had also seen birds, peacock, eagles and even few jackles.
Written December 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much choosing us as your travel partner during your holiday in Sri Lanka. We are delighted to see that you have enjoyed the time with us. Please do visit Sri Lanka again. We will be awaiting to offer you the best service possible.
Thanking you.
Written December 30, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.