This pre-dawn adventure takes you south to Yala National Park for an early morning jeep safari in one of Asia’s most celebrated wildlife reserves, departing Colombo or Negombo in the early hours to arrive at the park gates for the opening at 6 am when animal activity is at its peak. Yala is home to one of the world’s highest densities of leopards, and the scrub forest, rocky outcrops, and coastal lagoons of Block 1 provide the perfect terrain for sightings of these cats in the golden light of morning. Elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, water buffalo, and over 200 bird species are also regularly encountered during game drives led by experienced park trackers and naturalists. After the safari, a relaxed breakfast is taken before the drive back north along the scenic southern coast highway.