Yala National Park

Yala National Park (යාල) in southeastern Sri Lanka is the country's most visited wildlife park and one of the best places in the world to see leopards. Its landscape of dry scrub jungle, open grassland, lagoons, rocky outcrops and long beaches stretches to the shore of the Indian Ocean.

Most safaris explore Block I near the Palatupana entrance, where the density of leopards is particularly high and the animals are often seen resting on rocks or crossing tracks. Elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles and wild boar are also common, along with a rich birdlife including peafowl, hornbills, eagles and many water birds. Quieter blocks further east offer a different, less crowded experience. Show more

The park also has a cultural side. Ancient Buddhist sites such as the rock temple of Sithulpawwa, a monastic centre for more than two thousand years, and the ruins of Magul Maha Viharaya lie within or beside the park. Patangala rock on the coast is a viewpoint and a memorial to the tsunami, and the park's beaches are wild and unspoilt.

Yala is reached from Tissamaharama or Kirinda, where guesthouses and safari camps are found. Morning and afternoon jeep safaris are usual, and sightings are never guaranteed. Block I is usually closed for some weeks during the driest part of the year, around September and October, so it is worth checking before planning.