One and only open air animal zoo in Sri Lanka and they maintain it in great style. No need to make any reservations before you visit (29/01/2022) the premises. Local adult entrance ticket price is Rs. 350 and well worth it for the price. They have AC busses and non AC Jeeps. Jeep price is 2000 and feels bus with AC is more comfortable and no extra payment need to travel using a bus. After all it's an unforgettable experience. Open 365 days as they advertised.

Large open spaces for the animals to freely roam. Such a relief to see the animals roam free instead of pacing back and forth in concrete cages. There are safari buses with guides who explain while we drive. We were able to see lions right next to our bus. There were two African elephants. So many deer, monkeys, peacocks. The lions and tigers are separate from the herbivores. The elephants were cool and minding their own business. According to the guide, the animals are used to the safari buses. This was A new and amazing experience for the entire family. A very good example to how animals should be : free and wild and NOT in tiny, depressing, desolate cages. Hope Srilanka maintains this place ethically without abusing the animals. The 4 stars was because the bathrooms were stinky.

Took my family there, and the kids enjoyed it. One of the elephants gave us a scare 😱. Came next to the bus we were in and gave a few kicks too. As I remember, adults' tickets were 500/=+ tax and kids 200/=+tax. You can't go inside your own vehicle. You have to select a safari jeep or bus. Jeep was 4500/=, and the bus was 150/=. overall good experience.

Nice new experience. Pretty good range of animals and the seem to have plans of expansion. The lion cub 'Dora' seems to be the star attraction these days. Safe ride on either ac bus or private safari jeep.takes about 2 hour total for the ride

You can have a real safari experience and guarantee to see the animals. it is closer to the southern highway Sooriyawewa entrance and the road to wards the park is in good condition. there is a large parking space with shades from trees. you can have your lunch in the parking area or there are many summer huts and benches for you to relax within the car park. Entrance fee - 300 for adults (this includes a free seat in the tour bus) Jeep Safari - 2000 for a jeep. if you don't want to use the free bus ride to visit the park, you can hire a safari jeep. But please note that Safari jeeps need to book prior to your visit or else you may have to spend 15/30 mins to get a jeep when its available. the ride will be 1 hour and you will see lions, Bengali tigers, zebras and many more animals in different zones. these animals are not caged and they are free in large space assigned to the animals. And the guides in both Safari jeep and buses will describe the details while we pass different zones and animals. Overall it is highly recommended and a great experience for local travelers and it a great value for money as well.

One of the best places to visit if you're around the Hambanthota area. It's basically an open zoo that is divided into a few sections: lions, tigers, elephants, and all other herbivores. Although some animals like monkeys and pigeons cannot be contained within walls or electric fences. Animals seemed to be well fed, and the place looked well maintained overall. There was also a dedicated veterinarian for the park, who was very friendly. Apparently they monitor all the animals during their meals, to make sure there are no unattended injuries. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning (after the place is opened). As it gets sunny, animals get into the shade of trees and become harder to spot. Also it gets crowded around noon. There was a place near the ticket counter where you can dump used plastic bottles. The safari jeep cost 4500 Rs per ride, which comes with a guiding person. After the main safari, there was a smaller area for kids to feed birds, ducks and elephants. That would cost you separately.

The Department of National Zoological Gardens is eager to unveil it’s another flagship project for the nature lovers and pleasure hunters browsing the down south of Sri Lanka. A 500 acre drive through Safari Park, the first ever Safari Park in Sri Lanka is being culminated in Ridiyagama, Hambantota. No doubt this will add one more landmark destination to the tourist map of Sri Lanka and to the gloriest history of the Department of National Zoological Gardens and its 79 years commitment to ex situ conservation. Be on alert to dedicate a time lapse in your busiest picnic itinerary next time you visit down south or on your way to Udawalawe and Yala.

The place opens at 8.30 am therefore it is best if you go on time. It gets super crowded during the weekends and you have to wait for sometime at the entrance before getting into a vehicle. You need to first buy a ticket at the entrance which costs 500 LKR per adult and 200 LKR per kid. They have several options for vehicles such as safari jeeps, AC buses and normal buses. The cost is different for each of these vehicles, safari jeeps being the most expensive. For normal bus it is only 100 LKR per person. They don't charge for the toddlers as long as the toddler is kept on the guardian's lap. There is a guide inside the bus who explains well about the animals and the park in Sinhalese. You could ask questions where you need to know more about and they generously share the information. There are 5 seperate zones within the park. They take all precautions when the vehicles enter one zone from another. Animals could be watched closely. The bus stops at an area where there are small animals which the visitors can feed and take photos with. A seperate ticket needs to be bought to enter this area. But there is an area next to it which can be watched free of charge. The bus does not wait for the visitors here, so they need to walk back to the entrance. There are clean toilets and they also have food items inside the park. The place is kept well clean and there are dustbins for segregation of waste.

Great experience. The kids loved the safari and so did we! The park opens at 06:30. This is great for photography enthusiasts as the light is just right till about 08:30. The park fees are very reasonable and includes a bus ride. To get the most out of your visit, I would suggest to book a private safari jeep (which will cost an extra two thousand rupees) which runs for about and hour. This has to be booked in advance as the availability of jeeps are limited.

Better than visiting a zoo where animals are caged but still feels like the animals are caged here. Anyway good experience watching the animals at their habitat like(not really but) environment. Kids really should be enjoying it but it ain’t thrilling like sighting a leopard at Yaala or bear at Kumana though it might be not so right to expect the same. Tickets’ prices are alright given the maintenance cost they’d have. 590 for an adult (Including VAT). And, you’ll have to pay separately for the buses/jeeps for the tour. There were only 4 zones opened by the time we’ve visited. Only 200 acres utilized out of the 500 planned. Should get better in the future. Not bad for one time.

Great place to visit. Hired a Safari jeep for better view rather than bus. Jeep : 2000/= per hr, including guidance. There is a queue for the bus.

This experience is worth a visit. It has several animal zones where you can see lions, tigers, elephants, zebras, deer, hipos and numerous other animals. You can choose a safari jeep if you’re a family or a bus if you are an extended group. However according to the number of your group, you get to choose either one. You’ll be provided with a guide who’ll be explaining everything you need to know about the park and its animals. At the end of visiting all the animal zones, there’s a feeding area for those who wish to feed birds and a few other animals for which you have to pay separately. Overall, an exciting, thrilled experience.

Unlike other zoos, this one is different. You will be taken to see the animals in a bus or safari jeep. Lots of animals to see. But nowadays the animals are somewhat less. You can travel to your destination effortlessly. Several comfortable buses have been used for it. A reasonable amount is charged for the ticket. A separate fee can be obtained for the bus. A guide is provided for each bus. It has very beautiful surroundings. There is a large parking lot. Even invisible animals like tigers and lions can be seen up close. Located in a very large area of ​​land.

The park is well maintained and the animals are well taken care of. You can ride through the enclosures in a jeep or a bus meanwhile the animals can roam around freely. We also loved the feeding area where you can feed elephants and birds

The place have nice clean facilities, the animals have a good environment to move and have their own wild area, I took a jeep with my wife cost 13euros exchange and the entrances was 16 euros per person, we could feed the elephant s for 1,70euros and the birds for 50 cents exchange currency, it worth to go there very recomended and they way to the place are amazing rice wild fields!!!

If you went to South, definitely go there because it is very good experience 👍. A/C bus 🚌 for safari and very beautiful garden area. 1 hour safari experience 🤩. This is not a another zoo.

Nice experience. Visitors have two options for visiting. Join with the bus (Rs 50/) or hire a safari jeep. Last bus ride at 4.30pm and that's the best time to see animals since they are coming out of shades after warm daylight.

It’s a amazing experience with wild animals. Can see their normal living style but still I can’t say it’s their own habitats. Tickets are 350/- for adults. Zoo is providing transport inside zoo small vehicles not entertained. But buses are permitted to enter. Safari jeeps are available 7 seats. With safe grills and guide. Tickets money worth because they we feel animals are getting good care. Safe to visit. Hope it will open all sections in near future. Safari driver’s are helpful. Snacks are available in premises. Wash room facilities are very good.

Lovely experience for the kids. Although, they are still in the process of adding new phases and more animals, it is enjoyable as the price is low (adults 500, kids 250 local)and conveniently located from the expressway exit. Would love to visit again after they add more phases and animals. Highly recommend to go early as possible, opens at around 8.30 am as the later you go they wait for bus or jeep becomes longer. If you are a small family take the bus (100 each) and if you have a good number in your family, take the jeep. Its a dry place,.they water and a mask to protect from dust.

Highly recommended for anyone visiting Srilanka or anyone in the area. Its a medium size safari park which holds lions, tigers, elephants, 1 African elephant, zebras, hippos, deers, horses and few other animals. A scheduled bus system works in the safari park with ac and non ac busses and there are also safe safari jeeps that you can hire at the premises. Prices are as of today (2023/10/22), for a local adult entrance is 500lkr, ac bus per person 150lkr normal bus 100lkr and for the safari jeep its 4500 lkr for a group. The safari ends at a mini zoo where you can interact with rabbits, elephants, tortoise, porcupine, bird for a small fee and also a fish spa.

There were some animals, but I truly believe they can improve the quality of the park. They provide a free bus ride for the entrance ticket. Guide is giving some important details about the park and animals, but bus ride was felt like a off-road rally. Nice place to visit with children.

These days it is closed. Today 20 12 2020 I went there.. I tried several times to contact it. For about six weeks it is closed it seems.. Eventhough Google says it opens by 8 am next day its temporary not for public.. They don't answer the phone even. Today I went there.. There were 100 vehicles coming there and go back .dont know why these authorities can't appoint a person for public affairs. Very disappointing.. Its about 200 km from Colombo. What to do. We have to get used to new society with all te precotions to prevent and avoid contracting covid.. I am a person who treating covid patients. But still I and my family have not get it. Because the use of preventive measures.. Country has to function as usual. Otherwise can't think when this bloody covid will end. So be responsible.. Think about other people.. Do not wast others valuable time..

We went to the ridiyagama safari park yesterday for our first time and it was really good. We have to go in a bus around the zoo or in a jeep. There were animals roaming around and they were imported from other countries. It is a must visit place if you come near ridiyagama. They will later invlude leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and kangaroos. We saw many scary animals like African lions and bengalian tigers. I recommend his place because you can experience many things.

A very good place to visit in Sri Lanka, The staff is very good and the place is very interesting. The ride was really interesting and adventerous and we can see lions and tigers very close. Asian Elephants are really playful and they are very friendly with the staff. It was really interesting. They have made the park very securely. When we are entering to the lion and tiger areas there are two doors to enter and they first open the first door and they don't open the second door untill the first door closes. They have given that much security to the park.

In first sight as a vision it is not a classy work. But as a local project this is really great work. It gives most same feeling that how Africa is (not yet experienced Africa😊). It also very valuable small time period of a safari for Sri Lankans.

Beautiful travel destination. You can have a close look up at wildlife and animal's natural habitats. Well maintained and clean surroundings.

Good Safari. There are 4 zones - Lion, Deer/Hippopotamus, Tiger and Elephant. You come really close to these animals, sometimes touch them too (Elephant). Better than roaming around in other open safaris.

My family and I had an amazing time. Would recommend renting the jeeps over the buses so you have a more up front and personal experience with the animals. Would recommend taking your own toilet paper for the restrooms.

Highly recommended for those who love to see animals from less distance. Safety and security are well organized. Animals are kept in good condition. Overall well organized and well-maintained place. Animals are kept in good way. The guide taught us all the ways of feeding. They are planning to bring panther and leopard in this year.

Went there with my family and they enjoyed it very much. There are 9 Lions in the lion area you can see them in close distance. You can go in a safari Jeep for Rs. 2,000 (six seats, properly covered or in the luxury bus Rs. 225 per seat. There’s a separate Tiger area with 6 Tigers. The third area is for animals with hoofs, there are herds of deer, wild boar, peacocks, donkeys, elephants. Also, there’s Camel, Hipo. They’ve built an artificial tank in the hoofs area. If you can visit the park in the morning by 9 am since they feed animals then you can see them at close distance. Due to Covid-19 situation upon entering the park you have to fill an information sheet, wear a mask etc. The park consists of an area with summer huts which you can have your lunch. There are modern and clean washrooms available.

(Translated by Google) Ridiyagama Safari Park is the first safari park in Sri Lanka. Situated on 500 acres of land, this is a new experience for us. We visit the national parks in our country but sometimes we do not see the animals. But Ridiyagama is also a safari park maintained by people who have animals in a natural environment. You can also see a large number of animals in Africa. This is the only place in Sri Lanka where you can see African lions roaming freely. If you are going through Hambantota, remember to go here as well. 👣 This park can be reached by going about 17 km from Ambalantota town on Ridiyagama road or by turning off at Padalangala junction on Embilipitiya Nonagama road and going on Suriyawewa road and turning at Viharagala junction for about 4 km.❤ Just leave your footprints there to enjoy the beauty! (Original) රිදීයගම සෆාරි උද්‍යානය කියන්නේ ලංකාවේ පලවෙනි සෆාරි උද්‍යානය. අක්කර 500ක භුමි ප්‍රදේශයක පිහිටලා තියන මෙය අපිට අලුත්ම අද්දැකීමක්. අපේ රටේ තියන ජාතික වනෝද්‍යාන වලට අපි සත්තු බලන්න ගියත් සමහර වෙලාවට සත්තු නොදකින්නත් පුළුවන්. එත් රිදීයගම කියන්නේ ඒ වගේම ස්වභාවික වට පිටාවක අනිවාර්යෙන්ම සත්තු ඉන්න මිනිසුන් විසින් නඩත්තු කරන සෆාරි උද්‍යානයක්. ඒ වගේම අප්‍රිකාවේ ඉන්න සත්තු විශාල ප්‍රමාණයක් දකින්න පුළුවන්. අප්‍රිකානු සිංහයන් නිදහසේ හැසිරෙන විදිය දකින්න පුළුවන් ලංකාවේ එකම තැන මේක. හම්බන්තොට හරහා යනවා නං මෙහෙ යන්නත් මතක තියා ගන්න. 👣 අම්බලන්තොට නගරයේ සිට රිදියගම පාරේ කිලෝ මීටර් 17 ක් පමණ යාමෙන් හෝ ඇඹිලිපිටිය නෝනාගම පාරේ පදලංගල හන්දියෙන් හැරි සුරියවැව පාරේ ගොස් විහාරගල හන්දියෙන් හැරී කිලෝ මීටර් 4 ක් පමණ යාමෙන් මේ උද්‍යානයට ලඟාවිය හැකිය.❤ සුන්දරත්වය විදින්න ඔබේ පා සටහන් පමනක් එහි තබා එන්න!

Great adventures place to visit with your family. There is a public free bus as well as paid jeeps for Rs 2000 for the Safari. Commentetor will describe each and every animals on the way. Must see place to everyone.

Wash rooms are not good condition.doors broken . Animals in the park seems exhausted .. For the observation ride it will take arround 1.5 hour's Not that much attractive park But concept is encouragable since animals has free space than a cage.. But if we feel sorry when we see those animals because they seems weak Ticket counter & waiting station staff not supportive and pleasent..

Me and my wife went there in a Saturday afternoon and took a bus ride inside the park. Cost was Rs.350 per local adult. Buses are Indian Eicher with ac. They do 1 trip every hour. Bus ride takes approximately 1.5 hour. Safari park is well secured for any danger from animals. They keep animals in different sectors to prevent doing harms each others. There are lions section, herbivores section, Bengal tigers section and elephants section for now. Park still under development, there will be more sections in the future. For now park only has washroom facility, all other cafeterias and other shops are closed. Overall as my view place is a good place to enjoy.

wild safari park with bus/ pickup transport. For pickip transport there will be an additional fee. Still require some more animals. You can spot tiger, zeebra, deer, elephant ostrich. Need some more interactive communication with the guide.

There are not many animals to see, but it's a new experience for kids feeling & remembering Jurassic Park..😄 Rs 350/= for local adults. If you are planning to visit in season or holiday, please check & reserve the tickets before coming.

Very good place to see animals. This is an open zoo. We have to use safari jeep or bus. We can see lions, tigers, elephants, peacocks, deers, hippos, zebras etc. Tour guides are very friendly.

It was completely a new experience. We had a safari ride which costed Rs. 350.00 (per person). I must say that the ride worth more than what we spent. All the animals were freely moving while we were kind of caged inside the safari jeep😂. The guide explained lot of stuff during the ride. I would recommend this for all of you.

10km From Sooriyawewa, It was completely a new experience For Sure. We had a safari ride For One Hour costed 300/- (per person)On Bus And 2000/- For Jeep (Without Ticket 300) Which Is worth more than That, But need to book in advance as they may be full during weekends. All the animals were freely moving while we were kind of caged inside the safari jeep And Buses. The guide explained lot of stuff during the ride. EveningTime Are Highly recommend. Not that Much Variety Of animals other than Asian elephants, deers, hippos, tigers, lion and few more. I Must Say Park and tour guide staff are very good and friendly. and the place is very interesting.

I want today (26/12/2021). I think This place give you a new level experience. To enter this ticket price 300 per person. If you are from foreign country the ticket 🎟 cost price will be high. But you can't get good meals hear.thare are big parking slot. If you coming by bus you can go and see the park by your bus.

No more flight bookings need to reserve for safari in Africa. Whole animal kingdom is roaming in Ridiyagama. The Department of National Zoological Gardens is eager to unveil it’s another flagship project for the nature lovers and pleasure hunters browsing the down south of Sri Lanka. A 500 acre drive through Safari Park, the first ever Safari Park in Sri Lanka is being culminated in Ridiyagama, Hambantota. No doubt this will add one more landmark destination to the tourist map of Sri Lanka and to the  gloriest history of the Department of National Zoological Gardens and its 79 years commitment to ex situ conservation Good place to see Animals 👍

One of the beautiful safari in Sri Lanka. Nice and clean place. No much crowd. Entrance 500 for adults. Inside the premises you have a free bus ride. If you want a safari jeep. You have to pay 4000. I recommend bus ride. Don't forget to get off to see the butterflies

Great place for watching big cats and other animals. There is 2 ways of safari: bus (100 rs / person) and jeep (4500 rs for the jeep). Can be crowded with people but only on ticket office. Highly recommend!

A great, humane, and ethical place to visit if you’re after animals (as you’re inside a caged truck). In fact, we found this park to be more reliable than Yara National Park in seeing animals up close and personal, and found the service and experience to be a really fun and adventurous addition to our trip. Would highly recommend to tourists.

Nice place to see animals and enjoy nature park. While travelling in South, don't miss to see.. Cheaper price than Singapore zoo.. Management has to focus on the comfort and rules for bus service either time schedule or filling the seat basis departure. Toilets are getting dilapidated and poorly manage. It is not suitable for foreigners. Need to improve sanitory and food stall.

great location to visit. friendly staff. its a open zoo. in general we had a good time here

Riyagama Safari Park is located in the Hambantota District of Sri Lanka. It's a wildlife sanctuary that offers visitors the chance to see a variety of animals, including elephants, deer, buffalo, and birds, in their natural habitat. The park provides safari tours where visitors can explore the area and observe the wildlife from the safety of a vehicle. It's a great destination for nature lovers and those interested in experiencing Sri Lanka's diverse wildlife up close. Entrance ticket price = 500 lkr Ride price = 100 lkr normal bus/ 150 lkr window bus and personnel cabs 4k-5k

This is a terrible place for animals! Large birds are lying in small cages barely enough for flying. It's clearly visible how fat they have become due to this. The park has so much space, but the cages are very small compared to the size of animals. This is a place to enjoy their suffering! ANIMAL LOVERS, Please don't promote this type of places.

What a wonderful place! You should visit this awesome place. Highly recommended and nice staff 🙏

Great way to see free roaming animals living in a natural environment. 500 acres of land has 12 sections allocated for each animal species. currently only 4 sections are operating. (Herbivores, Lions, Tigers and Elephants). Ample parking space. Make sure to make a reservation prior visiting. specially when you book an evening session ask for the closing time(may be 3pm or 5pm) they won't allow you in after that no matter what.

500 acre safari park, they have buses and if you want you can get a safari Jeep too. has more space for animal not like a zoo.

Really nice place, at the moment we visited there were 4 zones in operation . Lions, elephants , tigers and herbivores animals. 350/= for adults and 120/= for children (3-12). They offer you a bus ride with a guid , he explains very well. If you need safare jeep, you can pay extra and have it. Washrooms are clean , facility for eat your own food is availbe there. Good place for kids

A must visit. Better than the Zoo. Animals are living in an equal to ideal environment for them. Very spacious lands are provided for them with freedom to walk around a vast area. We are taken around the safari by an Air conditioned bus for a price of 350 rupees per local adult which is very reasonable. An absolute pleasure to see all the animals in much free environment.

Good for children

Close

Amazing

This needs be the future of zoos. This kinda safari parks allow the animals somewhat justified freedom to roam around along with an opportunity for public to see the animals as well. In my opinion, current type of zoos must be banned because animals suffer alot in those tiny cages for the sake of humans entertainment.

Good place for One day trip.I went via Ambalanthota.Ambalanthota to park road is difficult one.Road is dusty .On the way from Ambalanthota to park you can see Ridiyagame tank.Ridiyagama safari park is 500acres land.It is separated into 4 zones according to animals.You can enjoy by seeing wild anmimals in open area while we are in cage.In the evening you can bathe in hot water wells Madunagala which are locate near safari park.It is added advantage after getting tired.They supply vehicles to go around park with guide who explain about animals.There are safari jeeps facility which carry 6 peoples.you can see elephants,lions,zeebra ,tigers,horses,donkeys,hippopotamus ,ostriches,& deers.They take 45 to 60 minutes for safari trip .In holidays there are lot of people come to vist here and you have to wait until your turn come.It opens 8.30am-6pm.We can see animals .There is enough space for your vehicle parking.There are good shop,wash rooms & resting areas.we can see common wild animals and foreign animals.It is good experience for adult & children.Kids are enjoy very much.park is still developing.so some area need to correct in future I hope they will developed it to give good experience to sri lankans who can not travel abroad to feel it.

Ridiyagama Safari Park compromising few hectares of land is divided into 4 parts, giving different groups of animals separate areas to live. You can see many Sri Lankan as well as foreign animals roaming freely in their dedicated land. One can arrange the ride in a bus (leaving time to time - included in the ticket) or in a Safari jeep if you wish to have a private ride. (But you need to pay separately) It was worthwhile to spend some quality time there. Recommended to all age groups.

Everyone can get different experience in their

Wowww nice place

Average safari park

Super wild life experience..u must visit there...

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Man made wild life reservation with separate zones for different animals. Some zones are still under construction. Good for a visit with children.

Love

Nice and safe place to study on animals lifestyle

Park is maintained by the National Zoological department. Lions, Tigers and various other animals freely roam inside the park. They have A/C bus facilities for the travel. But to get a better experience Jeep service can be obtained at extra cost. A large vehicle park with wash rooms and dining areas is available. Better to call and reserve a slot before going.

They have 3 zones active at the moment. Can see elephants, lions, tigers, deers, bucks n lot of other animals in their habitats. Ticket for adult LKR 350, a separate jeep ride cost LKR 2000. Otherwise they have AC busses. Takes about 1 hr- 1 1/2 hrs. Child friendly. Good wash rooms are available.

It was a great experience. Never saw a free Lion lying so close. Love the concept of free animals and we are in cage. Hope they add more animals soon. Buses was comfortable and on time. Special thanks should go to the person who did the announcement and explained us everything. Only problem we faced was the food. There wasnt a proper place to have a meal. Those small shops didnt fulfill our requirements. Please consider having a proper restaurant type food stall.

It's good. But need more animals.

Selected african and local animals roaming freely...Its worth than natural sanctuary

It's a beautiful open zoo in Sri Lanka.Hope Dehiwala zoo also maintain the same level like this.They are charging 350/- for a local adult.A/C bus is giving by them to travel inside the park.Staff was very friendly.And the guide explained so much about the animals.Worth to go!

Natural Animal zoo Located near Hambantota. You can see this Animals from the 1 hour journey from their bus.

Nice place

You can get good adventure experience form here

(Translated by Google) If you have not booked in advance, the item is (Original) කලින් බුකින් නොකරොත් බඩුම තමා

Actually I feel so happy that animals could get alot of space in here.Felt very excited once i entered to the place❤️ I would love to visit these place more.Also guiders gave us a well explanation about all 4 section.I could recommend this place as a very exciting and the enjoyable place to kids as well.

Ridiyagama Safari Park, Hambantota. The moment of the best experience

If you are going from Colombo definitely take highway or you will waste time.. only four animal types available..

DONT GO WITHOUT A BOOKING!!!! So maybe the park is fantastic. Did not get a chance to see it. But there was no way to book prior. The number doesnt work or it rings and no answer. We came all the way to the park to be helplessly disappointed. A lot can be done to quickly create a better booking experience. The staff are nice but the whole system is outdated. Waste of a long drive. I stood in line with the non bookes crowd. I noticed those who even had bookings at 2.30 were now asked to come at 3.30. Not a place i wanted to be hanging around for hours just to get it. Catch some one first make sure your booked and then drive all the way there! Im sure its worth the visit if you get in!

Best for Kids..

So much potemtial for this place. They are still developing and have only 4 zones open for visitors but its an amazing experiance like entering the jurrasic park. We took the jeep. Had an awsome time.

Good experience and it's great to see animals in their natural habitat. Hoping to see extended area with addition of more animals. The Safari lasted about an hour.

You can see various species with their natural activities within few hours

This is a marvelous experience. ***You can watch more species if you come around 3.30-4pm. *** All the facilities are wheelchair accessible. Due to covid-19 pandemic, they run on half the staff. You have to book a appointment before coming. Otherwise staff will not allow you to enter the premises. Ticket price for local adult is Rs.350. For a foreigner it's Rs.1000/= (on 2021/10/20) Safari bus is Rs.2000 and a safari jeep is around Rs. 7000.

Safari is good and satisfactory. Recommend to visit. Enjoyed the animal in open park but there was a considerable waiting to get into the park may be because of long holiday period. If you go there during a long holiday, better call them prior and book a time slot. They are responsive on call and phone bookings are honored.

I have been wanting to go to this safari park for so long but we could only go today. First let me tell you of the rates. The tickets are in Rs. 300-400 range for locals. If you want a safari jeep all for your group, then it'll cost 2000/=. It's better if you call the place beforehand and get a time slot. There are mainly four zones as of now, the lions, tigers, elephants and herbivores. I'm going to post some videos i took there too as you can get an idea. This park is spacious and provides a much better experience than yala national park. I believe that they will develop it further to include more species. Once it's done, this park will be a splendid experience for everyone. There were a lot of food outlets none of which were open due to covid. So I can't tell you anything of food quality and prices. All in all i liked my time in the safari park! Occasionally it felt like we are in a Jurassic park movie 😂. No I'm serious it was a little scary.

We really enjoyed the experience, the driving is very passionate about wildlife and his stories ane explanations added so much to the overall experience.

No more flight bookings need to reserve for safari in Africa. Whole animal kingdom is roaming in Ridiyagama. The Department of National Zoological Gardens is eager to unveil it’s another flagship project for the nature lovers and pleasure hunters browsing the down south of Sri Lanka. A 500 acre drive through Safari Park, the first ever Safari Park in Sri Lanka is being culminated in Ridiyagama, Hambantota. No doubt this will add one more landmark destination to the tourist map of Sri Lanka and to the gloriest history of the Department of National Zoological Gardens and its 79 years commitment to ex situ conservation. Be on alert to dedicate a time lapse in your busiest picnic itinerary next time you visit down south or on your way to Udawalawe and Yala.

Nice experience, obviously not the best place see wild animals in Sri Lanaka!

This place to need more development. We can see animals closely and it was a different experience. They giving a safari guide also, it was really helpful to know more informations about these animals.

Not that many animals other than Asian elephants, deers, hippos, tigers, lion and few more. Can either rent a safari keep or take the bus. But need to book in advance as they may be full during weekends. Park and tour guide staff are very good and friendly. and the place is very interesting. Four sections are open and other areas are No way near completion. Morning or evening hours are recommended.

It is good experience. But I think the speed of the vehicle should be bit slow ao the passenger can observe animals freely.

They charge separate for both entrance and jeep. I dont understand why is that 2 purchase. Best time to visit this place is morning 9am. That is the time they feed animals, so you can see most of them.

It was an amazing experience with animals including bengal tiger, African lions and an African elephant.

Best safari experience I ever had. The whole ride was about 2 hours. There are a lot of animals and the guides are also friendly.

Didn't know that the jeep service was a private service that need to be booked early. Maybe because it was a holiday. However the authorities don't mention about the jeep service during inquiries Had to take the default bus service as a result. Wouldn't have been a much difference anyway as lions and tigers were not in close vicinity except a couple of elephants. Good variety of animals in the herbivores zone. Could be more interesting with the completion of the yet-to-come animal zones.

Went there toward the end of December-2021. It was a very good experience, specially for the kids. Very large area and have a lot of animals. I think the main attractions are the lions and tigers. They have more than six lions and two Bengal tigers. But there are no proper cafe or food outlets are available.

It was a great experience travelling here. The Safari take around 1 hour. Was able to see many animals during the ride.

A safari park that's divided into 4 sections namely; lion zone, tiger zone, elephant zone and other animals zone. This is an artificially designed structure with few animals, would take u an hour to go around the whole place in a bus or a jeep. (The jeep costs extra) I thought there weren't a lot of animals, and some were too far to view or click photos. It wasn't worth the extra jeep cost but would be fine to travel on the bus. The guide was helpful, he explained about the different animals and their specialities. Overall if u hv some extra time on your hands, would recommend to pay a visit.

Go in the morning or in the evening because sun is not forgiving in middle of the day. It takes about 1-2 hours per visit. Has mainly 4 zones. Animals are separated accordingly their feeding patterns. Safari jeep service available. Inside the park road conditions are poor. About 8 people can go in one jeep. Since few people are visiting these days ( 09/2022) less shops are functioning there. There is a NLB outlet on the way. It has good milk products.

It was a nice experience. Was fun and exciting to see different animals. We were able to see lions, tiger, ostrich, and many other animals. We went in a safari jeep it costed Rs. 4500 however you can go in the bus which is included in the entrance ticket but it take a while to go as they wait until the bus is full. We went on a weekend and it was not that busy. It's a different experience. However they did not take us all around the park (500 acres) as it is not open. There is a bird feeding area where you have to pay for it to go I found it ridiculously priced. For the price only 2 can enter that is just not right and not worth it in my opinion. However looking forward to going again when they open the bear and other animal sections.

An other experience in a Lovely place, we have to go there through the safari vehicle, its like a cage. So it's feel like we are inside the cage and the animals are outside. We can see the real nature way they live.

Safari jeep is the best. The people went on bus ride said that they couldnt see animals. Local adults Rs.500/=, children Rs.200/= for enterence. Safari jeep Rs.4500/= per 7 people. Bus Rs.100/= per person (Year 2023 May)

Consist of around 4 enclosures with animals roaming freely around. The guests get to explore the park in the park's Bus/safari jeep (charges vary) with a park guide as well. They have a bird and elephant feeding,and petting enclosure too. The friendly and accommodating staff is noteworthy.

Ridiyagama is the only Open zoo in sri lanka nearly 500 acres. they have a busses for the safari, But some buses are regular route buses and safety covers are not installed. And because of the high headrest can't see the outside properly. anyhow the guide has explain lot about the animals and the park. and they will open the next phase of the park soon

It was not a pleasant experience, At the start, it was hard to find the place to buy. Had to walk around to find the ticket office (name board had been covered by a tree branch). Used a jeep to roam around the park, driver was good and explained every detail about the park and animals. Most of the highlighted animals were in sleep. Didn't get a safari feeling at all, but were able to see many animals. There were another mini park inside the park which required another ticket to buy in case you want to feed an elephant or pet a rabbit.

You can safely watch animals. Kids are safer to watch on the bus they provide. Only concerned was the lion in the photo , look like it was starving or Sick. There were good number of different animals

You have to buy entrance tickets (LKR or USD depending on your nationality) and then buy separate tickets to go through the park by bus (with other visitors) for a fee of LKR 100/person or by safari truck (privately) LKR 4500 for the truck which can usually carry at least 6 adults and perhaps even a few small children. The tour will last approximately an hour and you'll get a chance to see lions, tigers, elephants, pygmy hippos, deer, wild boar and many other animals. There's also a petting zone where you will be able to pet/feed animals for a small fee.

Really worth it. Its concept is very good. People have a lot of new experiences. Birds are also given the opportunity to feed.

Nice place to see a variety of wild life in a short time. Buses are arranged inside safari with reasonable rates. Maintenance of the place needs more attention i.e.Roads, washrooms, canteen, etc.

Its a new experience for the Sri Lankan people. It has only four zones at the moment and few more zones will be added later. Lion, Tiger, Elephant & Vegans are those four zones. Bengal Tigers & African Elephant is the highlight in among all.

Ridiyagama Safari Park in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, is a fantastic wildlife destination that promises an exhilarating safari experience. This sprawling park is a testament to Sri Lanka's commitment to wildlife conservation and provides a unique opportunity to observe animals in a semi-natural environment. The safari park is home to a wide range of animals, including elephants, leopards, bears, giraffes, zebras, and various bird species. The highlight of the park is undoubtedly the safari jeep tours, which allow visitors to get remarkably close to these magnificent creatures in their spacious enclosures. It's a thrilling experience for both wildlife enthusiasts and families. The park's layout is well-designed, with large enclosures that mimic the animals' natural habitats as closely as possible. This enhances the overall experience and provides ample space for the animals to roam freely. In addition to the safari tours, Ridiyagama Safari Park offers other attractions like a beautiful aviary, a butterfly garden, and a playground for kids. There are also informative exhibits that educate visitors about Sri Lanka's diverse wildlife and the importance of conservation. Overall, Ridiyagama Safari Park is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in wildlife and nature. It offers a unique chance to witness animals up close while promoting conservation efforts, making it a memorable and educational experience for all ages.

Lions, Bangla Tigers, Elephants, Hippos, Deers, Stags, Zebras are a few of the animals you can see here. Better than a zoo but always the feeling of artificial makes the tours a bit less exiting. But worth a money spent here. Safari guides are helpful in explaining things going around here.

We went there on sunday. They have bus services, AC bus services and jeep services. The ticket price is 500 for adults. we need to buy Separate tickets for bird watching and fish spa, pets area and feeding the elephants. Normal bus ticket 100 AC bus ticket price 150 per each.