Your safari never ends here.

We had a wonderful stay at The Wildcat Hostel Yala and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Yala. It's very family-friendly with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made us feel right at home. The location is excellent, only about 15 minutes to the Katagamuwa entrance of Yala National Park, making it very convenient for safaris.’ The property itself is beautiful, with stunning views, making it perfect for photography with many bird sightings. We especially loved the swimming pool, which was clean, relaxing, and a great place to unwind after a day of exploring. The food was absolutely delicious, with every meal being fresh and full of flavour. A thoughtful touch we really appreciated was the beautifully designed mosquito nets over the beds, they were both elegant and practical. A special thank you to Siva for the outstanding hospitality and friendly service throughout our stay. He went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. Overall, this was a memorable experience, and we would definitely love to stay here again. A perfect choice for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a peaceful getaway near Yala.

Exceeded all expectations. We had the most incredible stay at Wildcat hostel. Our hosts were so welcoming and couldn’t have been more helpful. They organized our safari and provided delicious breakfast lunch and dinner. Couldn’t recommend more, a highlight of our trip. The hostel is so tranquil and peaceful, a perfect recharge and detox. 15 minute drive to yala safari so we were one of the first jeeps in the park at 6am

I had the most incredible time at Wildcat Yala. The location is beautiful, and you can see many animals there such as monkeys or if you’re lucky, the baby crocodile. I was also able to organise an affordable morning safari through the hostel and was provided with breakfast and water to take with me. The hostel was clean and the beds were comfortable. Sleeping in the open air is a great experience. There are also 2 toilets and 2 showers in each dorm, making it easy to get ready quickly with an early start. The manager, Siva, went above and beyond in every aspect. Driving me in the tuktuk to/from the main road and taking a few of us into the local town. Overall, this was one of the best hostel stays I’ve had. Thank you Siva!

Came here about two weeks back and had a nice time. The location is super chill as it's right next to Block 1 which gives you a feel of being in the park and being constantly surrounded by wildlife. The rooms on either side were comfortable and overall the experience was great. Will definitely come here again!

Had such an amazing stay at Wild Cat Hostel Yala. I highly recommend it if you’re visiting Yala National Park. The location is incredible: just metres from the park boundary, so it feels like a real jungle experience. Falling asleep to the sounds of nature and waking up surrounded by wildlife was so special. We even saw elephants near the property during the afternoon walk. The hostel itself is brand new, really clean, and has everything you need: comfortable open air rooms with mosquito nets, clean bathrooms, lockers, hangout spaces and a beautiful pool overlooking a natural dam (perfect after a long safari day). The owners were one of the best parts of staying here. They are so kind, welcoming, and genuinely care about making your stay amazing. They helped organise my safari, arranged pickup from the bus station and cooked some of the best local food I’ve had in Sri Lanka. My safari experience through them was incredible too — we saw 3 leopards in one day! If you’re planning to visit Yala and want something immersive, peaceful and unique while still having that social hostel feel, this is the perfect place.