Yala National Park

 Yala National Park

Due to the abundance of leopards there, Yala National Park is the most visited wildlife park in Sri Lanka. Only a few nations in the world allow people to coexist with wild animals, including Sri Lanka. Elephants frequently cross streets or enter hotel lobbies, which is a fascinating and lovely way of life. Parks like Yala offer a safe haven for the animals because unfortunate encounters sometimes occur. Here is all the information you require about Sri Lanka's Yala National Park.

Yala National Park facts

Yala National Park occupies a sizable portion of Sri Lanka's southeast corner. There are five blocks in the park. They extend from the interior woods to the Indian Ocean beaches. To maintain the natural habitat as much as possible, only blocks one and five are accessible to the public.

Animal species found in Yala National Park

Elephants, crocodiles, deer, birds, monkeys, buffaloes, sloth bears, leopards, and many more animals roam in herds. There are more than 20 national parks in Sri Lanka, but Yala National Park in particular draws a lot of tourists because of the wide variety of species.

Sri Lanka has an abundance of animals. You will thus see a lot of animals if you take a vehicle safari over the grassy plains and along the lagoons.

Yala National Park is located where?

Yala National Park is situated around 5 hours' drive from Colombo in the southeast of Sri Lanka. It is therefore recommended to include the national park in your three-week Sri Lanka itinerary.

Where is Yala National Park located?

The only entry to the wildlife park is in Tissamaharama City. Car or bus travel is the quickest way to reach this place. In order to have enough time to explore the park, most visitors spend the night in Tissamaharama or Yala.

Safari tour in Yala National Park

The majority of Yala's hotels provide either private or group tours. An average guided tour in the park costs 65 USD per person. If you're fortunate enough to see a leopard, the price is far greater than that of other Sri Lankan national parks, but it will be well worth it.

Two times each day, at 6 AM and 2 PM, Jeeps are permitted entry into Yala National Park. The rangers assert that there isn't a perfect period of time to pick from. About 4 hours are spent on a Yala tour.

Does Yala merit a trip?

Yala is a must-see in Sri Lanka because of its diverse flora and fauna and offers a singular experience. All seasons of the year are worthwhile for visiting the park, however peak season (December to April) is advised.

You should be aware that seeing leopards is not certain during peak leopard season (Feb and Mar), and that there may likely be other jeeps nearby. On the other hand, it is simple to observe vast herds of baby elephants in the park.

When to go to Yala is best

The dry season, which lasts from February to June, is the ideal time to visit Yala National Park. It is simpler to see animals coming out to drink when there is less water in the ponds. Leopards are most active in February and March.

Fortunately, the park is open all year round, and rates are significantly lower then. The park is closed for maintenance in September.