What are the safety rules during wildlife safaris and how close do vehicles get to animals?

All reputable safaris follow strict safety rules: you must stay seated in the vehicle at all times, keep noise to a minimum, and follow your guide's instructions. Vehicles usually keep a respectful distance from animals, though curious elephants or leopards may come closer. Guides are trained to read animal behavior and position the vehicle safely. Never stand up, make sudden movements, or try to feed or call to animals. Flash photography is often restricted near wildlife. The experience is exciting but well-managed in Sri Lanka's national parks. Choosing a reputable operator with experienced trackers makes a big difference to both safety and sighting quality.