It’s fair to say that Yala National Park offers probably the best game viewing in Sri Lanka.
The total park size is 980km sq, though this is split in 5 ‘blocks’, each with increasingly strict limits of access.
In the South East of the island and bounded by sea and river, Yala is made up of scrub jungle, huge rocky outcrops, and plenty of freshwater ponds, lakes, and brackish lagoons. The eastern limit of the park is formed by the Indian Ocean, made up of high dunes and broad sandy beaches.
The park is famed for both its elephant, and the growing population of leopard. Alongside these signature animals, there is plenty else to see in wet or dry seasons. The 130 species in the park include easy to spot peacocks, water buffalo, white-spotted deer, and birdlife, whilst with a little patience wild boar, monitor lizards, sambur and sloth bear can be seen.
Yala also contains a large number of historic ruins from the Ruhunu culture, and is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

Leopard taking a drink at Yala National Park
Cost:
Entrance fees for the park are $30 for a day’s entry.
Highlights:
The best place in Sri Lanka to try and spot the elusive leopard, though you can also take some time out on a very nice Indian ocean beach, weather permitting.
Activities at Yala National Park:
Game drives are the only thing on the agenda at Yala.
Getting to Yala National Park:
There’s no public transport to Yala, but whoever you arrange a game drive with will pick you up from your hotel as part of the price. If you’re doing a self-drive safari, you’ll need a 4WD to access most areas of the park.
Staying at Yala National Park:
Since the 2004 tsunami, there is no accommodation at Yala National Park, and no camping permitted. Several operators offer an overnight camping expedition in the area surrounding the park, which is still rich in wildlife.
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