If your mornings start with a jeep pickup, sleeping near the gate is often smarter than a fancy hotel an hour away. You gain an earlier start, less transfer fatigue, and a quieter evening after the drive.
Yala and Udawalawe get busy at first light. Staying close means you are ready when the private Yala jeep safari window opens, instead of watching dawn from a highway. The same logic applies for a Udawalawe jeep safari built around elephant herds near water.
Wilpattu is a longer haul from Colombo. If you are already committed to the northwest parks, camping near the entrance beats back-and-forth hotel transfers — see the Wilpattu jeep safari page for how private 4x4 days are usually structured.
A practical middle path is one night of safari camping in Sri Lanka next to the park you care about most, then hotels for the rest of the circuit.
Local operators such as Go4Safari typically bundle the 4x4, driver-guide, park tickets, and nearby pickup so you are not negotiating three vendors at the gate. Confirm meals, camping gear, and exact pickup point in writing before you pay.
Camp for the park you came to see. Hotel for the nights that are really about rest.