Yala Block 1 has the highest recorded density of leopards anywhere on earth. That does not mean you will see one. It means you have good odds if you do a few things right.
Be first at the gate
The park opens at 6:00am. Being in the queue at 5:30 rather than 6:15 is the difference between tracking a fresh animal and following twenty jeeps to a sighting someone else found.
Listen, do not just look
A good tracker spends more time listening than scanning. Spotted deer alarm calls, langur barks and peacock shrieks all tell you a predator is moving. Ask your driver to cut the engine and wait.
Two drives, not one
Book a full-day permit or two half-days. A single morning drive is a coin flip. Two drives across two sessions raises the odds substantially.
Choose a small jeep
Six people in an open jeep photograph better and move quieter than twelve in a converted truck. It matters more than most operators admit.
Season
February to July, as the waterholes shrink and animals concentrate. Block 1 partially closes in September for maintenance.