Although we were literally run off the road by safari drivers who just couldn’t believe that we would come to Tissa and NOT do a safari, we didn’t do one. Nor did we ever plan on doing one. The main highlights of the Yala safari are elephants – tick, and leopards – wow.. 
But, unfortunately, as so often happens in suddenly touristy areas, the drive to sell a safari tour and show a leopard and in turn make a quick buck, has taken precedent over the safety and wellbeing of the animal. We have heard from people who did the safaris of the drivers calling each other and of 20+ jeeps surrounding the one leopard.. poor thing. As much as we would have LOVED to have seen one, that just isn’t a practice we can condone..

According to both the LP and the rough guide, Tissa is nothing more than a convenient place from which to explore the nearby areas of Kirinda, Kataragama and Yala National Park. We had also heard similar stories from some travellers we had given a ride to, so we originally hadn't planned on even staying at all. But by the time we arrived, we were simply too tired to carry on to the coastal village of Kirinda, and so decided to stop for just one night...