Yala
See the animal kingdom in full glory at Yala, Sri Lanka's premier national park and one of Asia's finest sanctuaries for mammals. It is the second largest National Park in the tropical country and the most visited nature site because of the high density of leopards - its top draw. These menacing predators (Panthera Pardus Kotiya) prowl like lords of the jungle during the day, usually from January to July, offering visitors exciting photographic opportunities at a close range.
Yala National Park is also home to painted storks, crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys, water buffalo, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar and golden jackal.
In June and July, the fuzzy sloth bears lope around the park's dry wooden areas in search of food - their favorite berries from the palu tree. Compared to leopards and elephants, sloth bears are much more rare because of their nocturnal quality. However, with a bit of luck, you might still see them cross the road, rest on trees or hunt small prey.
Yala National Park is also a great spot for bird watching, hosting around 90 bird species - roughly half of them are migrant birds. Rare species like Night Heron, Egrets and Oriental Darter are attracted to the lagoons, while waterfowls like Northern Pintail and white-winged tern visit the park during northeast monsoon.
Rich in wildlife and natural environs, Yala offers visitors an extensive list of nature-activities to choose from, aside from wildlife safari.
You can spend a night immersed in nature in a wildlife bungalow or take a stroll in a primary beach spot framed by golden sand. You can go on a sightseeing adventure to discover its vast environs and historic remnants, including the ancient rock temple Sithulpauwwa, and Magul Maha Viharaya which is said to be where the marriage of King KavanTissa to Vihara Maha Devi took place.
What to bring for your Yala adventure:
- Water to drink
- Scarf or buff for cover against dust
- Sunscreen
- Hat
Helpful Information
Going on a safari at dawn and at dusk offer the best viewing opportunities for sloth bears and leopards. It can get busy during these golden hours but you may enjoy some quiet time in the afternoon from which you may see male leopards walking along the tracks usually from January to July.
The period from March to October is also a great time to see the wildlife as water tables plunge and the magnificent creatures come out to lakes to drink.
Sloth bears are much rarer than the leopards because of their nocturnal quality but they are often seen during June and July - when they need to feed on the delicious berries of the palu trees.
In the dry season of May to August, elephants make a splash at the waterhole, along with wild buffalos, mash crocodiles and saltwater crocodiles.
Bird watching is at its prime between November and April when there's less rainfall. The park is visited by plenty of migrant birds, such as Cormorants, Garganey, Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis and Eurasian Spoonbill.
