Yala National Park

Yala National Park is located in the South East of Sri Lanka and is a huge area forest, grasslands and lagoons bordered by the Indian Ocean. It is home to majestic wildlife such as the famous Asian Elephant and Sri Lankan Leopard. There are also plenty of Crocodiles, though you’ll be safe if you stay within the confines of your safari jeep! There are also hundreds of bird species in Yala and more so during the migratory periods, they account for some of the most magnificent and memorable sights in this fabulous, world class national park of Sri Lanka.

Yala is also an ancient site of pilgrimage. Sithulpawwa, an ancient Buddhist monastery, is located within the national park. There are also pre-historic caves within the jungle which are said to have been occupied by mendicant monks, hermits and other reclusive, spiritual types from the dawn of time. The thick jungle envelopes everything, and human civilization fades into nothingness within its vast terrain. Yala is the perfect place to gain a glimpse of Sri Lanka as it would have been thousands of years ago, in all its wild, mystical glory.

Yala is unsurprisingly the most visited national park in Sri Lanka. It was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and a national park in 1938. During British rule it was also used as a hunting grounds for the elite. Thankfully, the only shooting within the park permitted is by a camera, Yala offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife photography in Sri Lanka

It is located roughly 190 kilometres from Colombo very close to the coastal city of Hambantota, which would provide an excellent base from which to set .off for your safari. Hambantota, a city in South Sri Lanka which suffered a growth spurt during the post-war years is a strange sight. With huge, empty four lane highways, a cricket stadium, port, conference center and airport all largely unused, Hambantota belies the utopian promise of post-war Sri Lanka and is worth a safari of its own.

Yala is divided into five blocks which are open to the public. Within driving distance of Yala, there are also six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries, which makes the area a must visit for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Sri Lanka. Close to the national park you can also find every type of hotel and lodging choices such as Leopard Nest, Wild Coast, Tented Coast, The Sanctuary Yala, Leopard trails Camp Yala, Mahoora Tented Safari Camping, Jetwing Yala, Cinnamon Wild Yala and Kithala Resort.