ridiyagama safari park ticket price for locals

Ridiyagama Safari Park: Timings, Tickets and Activities

Arabiers Digital

25 October 2024 | 12 min

Ridiyagama Safari Park Overview

Ridiyagama Safari Park is home to distinct wildlife species from all over the world. Unlike other national parks, it is the only location in Sri Lanka where you can watch animals from across the globe. It is also a kind of zoo where non-native species can also be traced.

The park is spread across 500 acres and situated in the Ridiyagama area of Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. There are several zones inside the safari park separating carnivorous from herbivorous animal species.

Ridiyagama Safari Zoo was opened in 2016 to the public with the primary aim of housing rare and endangered animals and bird species from around the world. It was later developed to provide free space to the animals to move and roam and visitors to be caged.

In Ridiyagama safari, there is a 35-acre separate zone for the African Lion and a 54-acre is dedicated to the Sri Lankan Elephant. There is also an 80-acre mammal zone comprising a variety of endemic and migrant bird species and mammals such as Cape Buffalos, Zebras, camels, antelopes guanacos, ostriches etc.

You should come Sri Lanka and checkout these amazing parks, for that you will need  Sri Lanka tourist visa , and we will help you in this process.

Table of Contents

Activities at ridiyagama safari park, best time to visit ridiyagama safari park, ticket prices of ridiyagama safari park, how to reach ridiyagama safari park, sri lanka.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

As spread in the wide area of flora and fauna, Ridiyagama Safari offers an array of engaging activities to be experienced by the visitors: Wildlife enthusiasts can spend their treasured time enjoying the attraction of the park. Check the list of activities to participate in at this famous site:

1. Go for an open zoo experience

The best thing about the site is that it allows you to witness the wildlife creators in an open area. Whether it's birds, animals or large reptiles, you can view them in their natural habitat. It makes the sight astonishing and more captivating when you come across endangered species such as "Balali Tigers," or encounter an elephant group while sitting on the tour vehicle along with the guide. You also get to witness the colourful parrots, Zebras, Crocodiles and different rare mammal species from all over the world.

2. Birds Observation

For bird lovers, the place is heaven where there is a variety of avian species having their habitat in the Safari Zoo. The 80-acre mammal zone of the park comprises a variety of flightless birds from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Colorful parrots, stately peafowls, and beautiful peacocks are amazing to see at the place and their melodious calls are wonderful to hear.

3. Jeep Safari experience

Like other national parks in Sri Lanka, Jeep Safari is a common activity at the Ridiyagama. Your trip to the open zoo is incomplete with exploring it in a shielded safari. These rides offer you the opportunity to see wildlife up close. This is done in the presence of the guide who also provide important information about the inhabitants and environments of the park's wildlife.

4. Education on wildlife conservation and preservation

Beyond the safari ride and other activities, Ridiyagama Safari Park regularly participates in educational initiatives and conservation efforts. By paying a visit to the place, travellers will be able to seek information on the preservation of natural habitats of wildlife, their conservation and protection and environmental sustainability. The management of the park persistently raises awareness about the significance of wildlife to the environment and humans.

You can visit the place throughout the year as there is no specific time for the visit to this destination. For the best experience, you can go in early morning or in evening to escape the sunny atmosphere.

Also, in afternoon time the bird and animal species tend to live in their shade and in morning they are quite active. If you love to visit the attractions in tranquil surroundings or prefer peaceful sightseeing then do visit it in weekdays.

At weekends there may be a huge rush or crowd paying visits from across the country and overseas.

Check the details of the entry fee for the per-person visit:

1. For Overseas Visitors

• The entry cost to the safari park for an International traveller aged above 12 is 3000 LKR.
• The entry charge for children aged less than 12 is 1500 LKR.

2. For a SAARC Country Visitor

• The entry fee for an SAARC country visitor is 800 KLR per adult.
• The entry fee for a child SAARC country visitor below 12 years is 400 KLR.

3. For locals

• For the locals, residing in Sri Lanka the entry cost is 300 LKR.
• For local children below 12 years, the charge is 150 LKR.

You can reach Ridiyagama Safari Park, Sri Lanka through different transportation modes from the capital city Colombo. Here are the ways to reach the destination.

The distance of Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport from the zoo is approximately 250 km. You can board a bus from Colombo Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal which will drop you at the nearby location to the park. It will be a 4 to 5 hours of journey.

To reach the destination via train, you need to catch the train from the fort station and arrive at the Beliatta station. From there you can hire a taxi to reach the sanctuary zoo. It will again take 4 to 5 hours to reach the location via train.

You can also hire a rented taxi which will directly drop you at the park. It is the most convenient way to reach the location which will barely take 3 hours of ride to reach the stop.

You can also check out another amazing park that is  Udawalawe National Park

Ridiyagama Safari Park is one of the most visited open zoos in Sri Lanka famous for its wildlife adventure. You can view a distinct mammal species at the stop including the endangered and rare animals and birds from around the world. Jeep safari is a very common activity at the location where you can witness this wonderful zoo's creatures at a very close range.

The best time to visit the park is year-round. However, early morning or late afternoon visits are considered to be idle to escape the scorching and explore the place in a moderate climate. You may also choose to visit the location during the weekdays to avoid the crowds.

If you hire a safari park jeep at the Ridiyagama Safari Zoo, the cost will be 2000 to 4000 LKR. However, the park also provides a safari bus to travel inside which is included in the park's entry fee.

The entry fee is different for foreign travellers and locals. If you are a foreigner visiting the zoo on your Sri Lankan tour, you will need to pay 3000 KLR per person to enter the venue. The entry cost for a SAARC citizen is 800 KLR For a local citizen, the cost of entering the venue is 300 LKR per person.