Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Discover Yala National Park

Located in Sri Lanka’s southeast bordering the magnificent Indian Ocean is Yala National Park. Designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and a national park in 1938, the Park was ironically a former hunting ground for the elite under British rule. Forest, grasslands, lakes, lagoons and rocky outcrops make up a tapestry of terrain over 377-sq-miles.

The Park is known for its wide variety of wild animals, including Sri Lankan elephants and leopards, along with spotted deer, sloth bears and aquatic birds. In total, the Park is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species.

The Park has one of the highest populations of leopards in the world, with around 40 leopards currently in residence. However, sightings cannot be guaranteed, so our top tip is a safari/tour in the late afternoon when it’s also less busy. The leopards are more active around dusk during new moon days. The best time to visit Yala National Park is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals out into the open.

The best way to see Yala National Park

If you would like to visit Yala National Park, why not take a look at one of our wonderful ATOL and ABTA protected holidays?  Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and the tours mentioned are just examples to help inspire you.

Contact our travel experts on 01792 315499 or email info@aitholidays.com for more information.