Yala National Park

Last updated on 27 Apr 2023Show location

Yala National Park is a popular wildlife safari destination in Sri Lanka, known for its wide variety of plant and animal species. It is the second-largest national park in the country and attracts a large number of visitors each year. Situated in the southeast of Sri Lanka, the park covers around 1,300 square kilometers. It is spread across the Southern and Uva provinces, with the Indian Ocean forming its southern border.

With a range of ecosystems, such as moist and dry monsoon forests, thorn forests, savannah grasslands, and freshwater and saltwater wetlands, the Yala National Park provides the perfect habitats for many endemic plant and animal species found only in Sri Lanka. The park is home to forty-four species of recorded mammals, including the Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear, and Sri Lankan elephant, as well as 215 species of birds, forty-six species of reptiles, and twenty-one species of amphibians. Yala National Park is often referred to as Ruhuna National Park and is well known as one of the best places in the world to observe and photograph leopards in the wild. It has the highest density of leopards to be found anywhere in the world, with one leopard per square kilometer. However, observing these elusive big cats in action requires a well-trained eye and the guidance of experienced guides.

The best time to observe these impressive animals is early morning and again at dusk. Visitors can make a full-day safari or stay until just after dark inside the park with the Mahoora-tented safari camps. The male leopards often walk the tracks during the day and display sleek confidence. Young male leopards, in particular, seem to have no fear of the jeeps, providing excellent photographic opportunities. Visitors can have an up-close and privileged view of these magnificent creatures, just like in the best National Parks in India for photographing tigers. The Yala National Park is also a great birdwatching location, with over 215 bird species, including six that are endemic to Sri Lanka. The bird life in the park ranges from the flamboyant lesser flamingos to paradise flycatchers, crested hawk eagles, and black bitterns. Visitors can also explore other fascinating birding locations outside the park, such as the ancient hermitage of Sithulpahuwa, Debarawewa wetlands, and Palatupana salt pans.