Journey deep into the Sinharaja Rainforest and keep a lookout for the Sri Lankan White-Eye, Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Brown-Capped Babbler, and Spurfowl.
Sri Lanka’s oldest and second largest national park, Yala sits on the island’s south-eastern corner, roughly 100 miles from Galle.
The park’s USP is its leopards: Yala is possibly the best place on earth to see these majestic cats. A twitcher’s paradise, the vast reserve is also home to hundreds of bird species, huge herds of elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, jackals, fishing cats (yes, really), monkeys, and more.
On the downside, Yala also has an unenviable reputation for over-tourism.
But with careful planning, a safari here will be unforgettable for all the right reasons.
So, here’s what you need to know about Sri Lanka’s most popular national park…
ETG Sample Itineraries in Yala National Park
Showing 8 Featured Itineraries
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Ella
Relaxed Sri Lanka Family Holiday
This itinerary has been crafted specifically for families (with older kids and teens), drawing on our own experiences of travelling with our kids in Sri Lanka. We’ve designed it to include some top spots, both on and off the beaten track, while carefully planning each route to eliminate travel fatigue. The trip begins and ends with a stay along the south coast.
Highlights
Yala National Park
Spot elusive leopards and sloth bears on a private safari in Yala’s quieter Block 5
The Pekoe Trail
Totally immersed in nature and culture on a scenic walk along the Pekoe Trail, meeting local tea pluckers
Udawalawe Elephant Sanctuary
Witness the magic of elephant feeding at Udawalawe’s conservation sanctuary
Mawella Bay
Relax on the tranquil shores of Mawella Bay, ideal for swimming and kayaking
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Colombo & around
Slow Paced Luxury
Travel slowly through the south of Sri Lanka. This itinerary takes in some of the most beautiful locations in the country staying in the best hotels.
Highlights
Amanwella
A stay at Amanwella, one of Sri Lanka’s most refined beach retreats
Yala National Park
The chance to see elephants, leopards, and birdlife in Yala National Park on safari with your naturalist guide
Galle Fort
Explore the charming UNESCO World Heritage Galle Fort
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Cultural Triangle
Nature & Wildlife Explorer
Sri Lanka is extraordinary, with wildlife and nature all around. This holiday is ideal for casual nature and wildlife enthusiasts who want to see the island’s varied landscapes while getting a feel for day-to-day rural life and enjoying a relaxing time.
The hotels selected here are all small and intimate places where you might enjoy discussing wildlife with other guests, away from any of the principal tourist trails.
Highlights
Wildlife experiences
Enjoy some of the best wildlife experiences in the country. Joining expert guides to track elephants, leopards, and more
Knuckles Mountains
Spot rare birds while sipping local tea in the comfort of your villa near the Knuckles Mountains
The Mudhouse
Choose between early morning bird-watching walks, kayaking on the lake, learning to cook local food, or relaxing in a hammock at The Mudhouse.
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Colombo
The Birdlife of Sri Lanka
Spend two weeks travelling through Sri Lanka’s rich and varied natural environments on a quest to encounter some of the 500 bird species that have been recorded here. Your expedition will take you into the lush forests of central Sri Lanka’s hill country and the dry national parks of the south via the lowland rainforest of Sinharaja.
An expert birding guide will be on hand to help you identify some of the rarer endemic and migratory species, and each hotel has been selected to optimise the experience. Though the trip is designed around the island’s birdlife, there is plenty of time to take in many of its other charms, such as its food, culture and warm welcome.
Highlights
Weerawila Bird Sanctuary
Discovering some of the 200 bird species in the Weerawila Bird Sanctuary, including the Majestic Junglefowl, Ceylon Woodshrikes, and Great Cormorants.
Knuckles Mountains
Being surrounded by the deep jungle of the Knuckles Mountain Range while relaxing on the terrace of your remote hillside lodge, looking for parakeets and barbets through the hotel’s telescope.
Sinharaja Rainforest
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Colombo
Sri Lanka for Families & Friends
Sri Lanka is a fantastic destination for groups of friends and family, whether it’s two families travelling together, a multigenerational group, or long-lost relatives reuniting from the UK and the Antipodes! The destination offers something for all ages, complemented by unique accommodations perfect for these gatherings, from private villas to boutique hotels and tea bungalows, small enough to book exclusively.
Villas in Sri Lanka are typically exquisitely designed and offer ample space to unwind and connect. With separate bedrooms, spacious living areas, and outdoor spaces, usually with private pools and lush gardens, they provide privacy and exclusivity, perfect for bonding without interruptions. Most villas also have dedicated staff, including chefs and housekeepers, ensuring tailored dining experiences and excellent service.
Highlights
Scenic train journeys
Travel through Sri Lanka’s lush highlands on one of the world’s most scenic train journeys from Kandy to Haputale.
Yala National Park
Enjoy a private safari in Yala National Park’s quieter Block 5, home to leopards, sloth bears, and crocodiles.
Kalukanda House
Spend several days at Kalukanda House, a private, peaceful retreat within a stone’s throw of an excellent little surf beach, ideal for family relaxation and adventure.
Colombo
Explore the cultural heart of Colombo with a private tuk-tuk tour and walking experience through its historic neighbourhoods.
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Colombo & around
South Coast Discovery
This holiday minimises travel compared to typical Sri Lanka tours, blending wildlife and adventure between two coastal stays in distinct areas of the south coast—each showcasing a different side of the island’s charm.
You’ll explore with your private chauffeur- guide, balancing immersive cultural experiences with plenty of beach relaxation—an easygoing way to discover Sri Lanka’s diversity. Designed to feature both popular highlights and hidden gems, the itinerary is carefully structured to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey without travel fatigue. Your adventure begins and concludes along the stunning southern coastline.
Highlights
Yala National Park
Encounter elusive leopards and sloth bears on a private safari in Yala National Park.
Pekoe Trail
Immerse yourself in local culture on a scenic walk along the Pekoe Trail, meeting tea pluckers along the way.
Udawalawe Elephant Sanctuary
Witness the incredible elephant feeding program at Udawalawe’s conservation sanctuary.
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Colombo & around
Luxury with a Touch of Adventure
Explore Sri Lanka with immersive local experiences, wilderness adventures, and luxury hotel stays.
This itinerary is all about balancing our cultural and outdoor adventures with exceptional hotels. It is ideal for people who love luxury accommodation but don’t like to end up in could-be-anywhere hotels where they feel cut off from their destination. There is plenty of time to enjoy a range of carefully crafted experiences without missing out on the relaxation and quality that each unique hotel offers.
Highlights
Seaplane journey
A scenic seaplane journey into the Cultural Triangle to cut driving times, giving you more time to spend enjoying the area and your hotel
Ahaspokuna
Stay in a luxury tented camp in a rarely visited part of the Sri Lankan wilderness.
South Coast
Spend time relaxing in a boutique hotel on the south coast, spending a day cruising down the Kapu Ela river and exploring this remote area by tuk-tuk.
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Cultural Triangle
Luxury Family Adventure
This family adventure through Sri Lanka is designed to help you uncover the best of the island in style, with minimal travel hassle. From scenic landscapes to unique excursions, every moment is crafted to bring your family together in shared experiences. With chauffeur-guided journeys and a scenic seaplane flight, you’ll minimise travel time and enjoy spectacular aerial views of this beautiful island.
Highlights
Yala National Park
Discover wildlife on thrilling safaris in Yala National Park, from leopards to elephants.
South Coast
Unwind on the south coast at a luxurious beachside resort offering yoga, surfing, and ocean vistas.
Private seaplane transfers
Savour ultimate comfort with private seaplane transfers, luxury lodges, and dedicated service throughout.
Cultural Triangle
Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress at sunrise, soaking in the breathtaking views of the Cultural Triangle.
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The best place in the world to spot leopards?
Yala National Park has one of the highest leopard densities on the planet — and not just any old leopard. As the country’s apex (top) predator, the Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) has evolved into one of the largest leopard sub-species. Yala’s abundant game and water are a dream meal ticket for these big cats, and there are reports of giant males weighing around 220lb (100kg).
Leopards hunt mainly at dawn and dusk, reserving the rest of the day for relaxing. While leopard sightings can’t be guaranteed, Yala’s terrain is perfect for playing spot the spots. The languorous cats love lazing in the forest canopy or on the vast sun-baked boulders that dominate the horizon, so remember to look up. While binoculars are a good idea, keep your ears open for the toque macaque and tufted gray langur monkeys’ alarm calls: a sure-fire sign of a leopard nearby.
Although the Sri Lankan leopard is classified as endangered, the good news is that Yala’s current population remains relatively stable.
The wildlife conservationist group Yala Leopard Diary (YLD) has been identifying Yala’s leopards since 2013. Over that time, YLD’s team has identified 152 individual adults and 20 cubs in Block One alone, at least 77 of which are still roaming the range.
You can learn more about Yala’s star felines, how to put a name to their spots, and how your cat snaps can aid YLD’s vital research here.
Way more than just leopards: Yala’s ‘other’ wildlife
Leopard included, Yala tots up 44 mammal species. You’ll surely see Sri Lankan elephant — 350 or so are here — along with wild water buffalo, wild boar, spotted deer, and sambar (imagine the UK’s red deer, but darker and bigger).
If you’re lucky, you may spot golden palm civet, red slender loris, or Yala’s other big draw, sloth bear. These usually shy, solitary bears throw caution to the wind when Palu fruit is in season; time your visit right, and you’ll enjoy a unique ‘teddy bears’ picnic’.
Birdwatching in Yala
Officially one of Sri Lanka’s 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), Yala’s biodiversity creates a haven for birdlife and birders.
Some 215 bird species have been recorded, including six endemics: the Sri Lankan grey hornbill, Sri Lankan junglefowl, Sri Lankan wood pigeon, black-capped bulbul, brown-capped babbler, and crimson-fronted barbet (listen out for its constant ‘morse code-style’ pips!). And come the winter months, hundreds of migratory species call by, too. From pelicans, peafowls, and peregrine falcons to spoonbills, sunbirds, and serpent eagles, Yala’s avian array is truly astonishing.
If you’ve never been bothered by birds, prepare to be blown away.
Yala’s reptiles
A hotspot for reptiles, Yala writhes with scaly surprises.
From mugger and saltwater crocodiles, Indian cobras, and fan-throated lizards to all five globally endangered types of sea turtle, the park’s 47 known reptile species range from decidedly dangerous to beautifully benign.
And yes, we do sleep easier knowing that the Sri Lankan flying snake — one of Yala’s five endemic species — is only ‘mildly’ venomous.
Yala’s Terrain
Stretching from monkey-riddled shrub jungle to the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean where turtles nest, Yala’s unique blend of ecosystems is found nowhere else in Sri Lanka.
The park’s biodiverse terrain includes riverine, thorn, and monsoon forests; granite outcrops; scrub; savannah grasslands, and marine and freshwater wetlands.
The varied landscape supports a host of fascinating smaller creatures, from 21 fish and 18 amphibian species to a kaleidoscope of butterflies, including the dazzling Crimson Rose swallowtail.
Yala’s Blocks Explained
The size of the City of Los Angeles, Yala’s 469 square miles are divided into six ‘blocks’ — but only blocks one, five, and six are easily accessible to visitors. To enter block two, you need prior permission plus two 4WD jeeps. Block three is currently shut. Block four is a nature reserve and off-limits to the general public.
Given Yala’s size, where you stay will define where you can explore. Each block has pros and cons, so consider these when choosing accommodation.
Yala Block One
+ Best for leopard spotting
– It can get VERY busy
With by far the most leopard sightings, Yala’s main block also gets the most visitors. Access is via one of two gates: Palatupana (the southern and busiest entrance) and Katagamuwa. As most hotels are based around Palatupana, the gate here can get very congested; be prepared for traffic and queues. On the upside, leopards are often spotted in this southern end — just don’t expect a private show. Chances are you’ll be bumper to bumper with other vehicles, especially over weekends and public holidays when local traffic sees visitor numbers soar.
With far less accommodation nearby, the north-eastern gate of Katagamuwa makes for a quieter entrance. Leopard sightings are good here, too, so we think it’s a much better option. (But be warned: stay near Palatupuna and you’ll need an early wake-up call — Katagamuwa is a 45-minute drive.) While this side of the park can be a little busy, over-crowding is less of an issue. The main problems occur when Katagamuwa’s cats’ are spotted while Palatupana’s are playing hard to get. If this happens, jeeps will stream up from the south — but you should get an hour or two’s grace before the hordes arrive.
Yala Blocks Five & Six
+ Much quieter. Great for elephants and birdlife
– Unlikely to see leopards or sloth bears in Block Six
With far fewer visitors (the commute from Palatupana would take hours), these two blocks offer a much more intimate, ‘traditional’ safari experience. Both blocks are accessible via the Galge gate in Buttala (a 45-minute drive from Katagamuwa). Block Six — aka Lunungamwehera National Park/Yala West — also has a main gate on the Hambantota – Wellawaya Road near Thanamalwila. Importantly, there is no direct entry from Block One, so even if Martians land, you’ll have ages before the crowds get wind!
Offering a deep dive into nature, the wildlife here can be spectacular but quite shy. This is especially the case in Block Six — by far the least visited block — where sloth bear and leopard are seldom seen. In Block Five (where the animals are more habituated to traffic), leopard sightings are still fair/good, but having a professional guide/tracker will up your chances of striking lucky.
What you can find here are elephants aplenty (particularly in block six), along with deer, buffalo, giant squirrel, palm cat, and grey, brown, and striped-necked mongoose. Both blocks are rich with amphibians and reptiles, including crocodiles, water and land monitors, Indian python, Russell’s viper, and choruses of croaking frogs. And if it’s birds you’re after, don’t miss Block Six’s reservoir, which attracts countless water and forest birds (184 species and counting), especially over our winter.
When to visit Yala
Situated in Sri Lanka’s semi-arid dry zone, Yala’s average temperature hovers around 27°c, rising to mid-to-late 30s at the height of the dry season.
The park is at its best from late April to August. Rain — when it comes — tends to fall in April, November, December, and January.
Yala's weather throughout the year
The monsoon rains are subsiding, but visitor numbers are peaking, so choose which areas to explore carefully. While the south-western monsoon can bring intermittent rainfall around April, these months are usually relatively, increasingly dry.
March and April are brilliant months to see elephants in large herds. This is the mating season, so expect to find big bull elephants in musth stomping around looking for action. Pumped full of testosterone, they’re at their most volatile, so keep your distance.
Avoid also the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year of April 14th and the Buddhist festival of Vesak Poya (held around May’s Full Moon), when the park will be crammed with celebrating Sri Lankans.
These are our favourite months to visit Yala. The park is still green after the inter-monsoon rains, but vegetation is dying back, and animals are starting to congregate at waterholes, so wildlife viewing is good. The peak nursery months, expect to see rumbunctious elephant calves and even leopard cubs. It’s also the start of Palu season: the best time to see sloth bears. The berries of the ironwood tree, ripe Palu is the bears’ favourite meal. You’ll find the black, shaggy bears in and around the trees, gorging themselves silly or sleeping off their feast.
These are our favourite months to visit Yala. The park is still green after the inter-monsoon rains, but vegetation is dying back, and animals are starting to congregate at waterholes, so wildlife viewing is good. The peak nursery months, expect to see rumbunctious elephant calves and even leopard cubs. It’s also the start of Palu season: the best time to see sloth bears. The berries of the ironwood tree, ripe Palu is the bears’ favourite meal. You’ll find the black, shaggy bears in and around the trees, gorging themselves silly or sleeping off their feast.
While Yala’s rainy season isn’t set in stone, these months typically bear the brunt of it. The north-eastern monsoon’s arrival sees roads harder to navigate, many animals heading for cover, and denser foliage. While not great for general safaris, this is a top time for twitchers, thanks to the influx of thousands of migratory birds. If you’re prepared to get wet, you’ll find the lush park garlanded in wildflowers and (Christmas holidays aside) at its quietest.
Get the right guide
No ifs, no buts: to get the best out of Yala, an experienced naturalist guide (tracker) is a must. But as in Africa, you get what you pay for and need to plan ahead. Countless local operators offer same-day ‘guided safaris’ at seemingly great prices. In truth, most are just ‘jeep taxis’, and complaints of undisciplined drivers harassing wildlife are common. To raise standards, from January 2024, all drivers entering Yala must have completed a day’s training and be licensed with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) OR be accompanied by a DWC tracker. Hopefully, this new legislation will stop the cowboys, but only time will tell.
Regardless, the best option is to book in advance and avoid any bargain basement deal. Having a knowledgeable guide who cares about the wildlife AND your well-being is worth every penny. The top trackers work mainly for the leading luxury safari camps/lodges, which come at a price. But for guests open to accessing the park via Block 5, there are still high-quality options, such as Treetops Jungle Lodge or Flameback Lodge. Both employ superb trackers and don’t cost the earth.
Many of the best guides have their specialisms. Some are leopard gurus, others legendary birders or brilliant photography tutors. There are even a brave few renowned for handling lesser-spotted teenagers. Where you stay will determine the guides available to you. The top guides and camps book up fast, so tell us your wildlife wish list as early into the booking process as possible. While we can’t guarantee the flora and fauna you’ll find (Yala isn’t Whipsnade), we can promise to track down the perfect guide/camp combo for your needs, so the more intel we have up front, the better.
Don’t forget to let your driver and guide in on your wildlife wishes – be it leopard spotting, bird watching, or just exploring Yala’s wild vibes in relative peace and quiet. They’re experts at tracking, not mind reading! Setting expectations directly will help ensure your adventure hits the right notes.
Where to Stay in Yala
Yala offers a bewildering range of accommodation, not all of it good. At ETG, we test all the properties we offer, so whether you dream of nights under canvas, 5* luxury, or a blend of both, you can be sure anywhere we suggest is somewhere we’d happily revisit. To kickstart your journey, here’s a snapshot of some of our favourite escapes. For more options, get in touch, and we’ll find the camp bed or thread count that’s right for you.
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Sri Lanka, The Deep South
Kulu Safaris
Sri Lanka’s original luxury wildlife outfit, Kulu’s responsible, immersive safaris offer an unforgettable rumble in the jungle: the remote camp comprises just four authentic safari tents.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Honeymooners
Wildlife lovers
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The Deep South, Sri Lanka
Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Wild Coast’s cluster of luxury cocoon-shaped tents sit amongst bushland on the edge of Yala National Park and the rugged southern coastline.
Just a 10-minute drive away from the Palatupana park entrance, Wild Coast provides a convenient and unusual base from which to access the most popular areas of the park. The lesser-visited zones can also be reached within 45 minutes or so.
Highlights
Highlights
Luxury tents,
Safari access
Best for
Couples
Families
Wildlife Lovers
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Sri Lanka, The Deep South
Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
A wilderness luxury camping safari experience in one of the remotest corners of Sri Lanka.
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Highlights
Off-grid wilderness,
Jungle walks
Best for
Couples
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The Deep South, Sri Lanka
Flameback Eco Lodge
Gorgeous, luxury tented lodge in the middle of a bird sanctuary with diverse wildlife experiences.
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Highlights
Best for
Couples
Families
Honeymooners
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The Deep South, Sri Lanka
Uga Chena Huts
The first luxury Safari Lodge set between Yala National Park and the ocean – great for wildlife and beach enthusiasts alike.
Highlights
Highlights
Best for
Couples
Honeymooners
Wildlife lovers
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Yala National Park on the map