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Yala National Park

Sri Lanka, The Deep South

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      • Bundala National Park
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Situated in the south-eastern corner of the island, Yala National Park is Sri Lankas most popular wildlife-spotting destination. Designated as a national park in 1938, the park covers a huge 979 square kilometres and is home to the highest density of leopards in Sri Lanka and possibly the world.

During a visit to Yala you are also sure to see elephants grumpy bachelor males during the dry season and large herds in the wet season. The park is also home to mammals such as wild boar, wild buffalo and several species of deer. As is common throughout Sri Lanka, Yala National Park boasts a fantastic array of birdlife including flamingos and hornbills among others. The park is also one of the few places in the world where it is possible to see the endangered Black-necked Stork.

Aside from the abundant wildlife and high chances of spotting a Sri Lankan Leopard, the draw of Yala National Park lies in its sheer diversity of the habitat, with dense jungles suddenly giving way to isolated lagoons and open plain areas. The park also has a beautiful sea front. Huge stark boulders dominate the horizon and the elegant, languorous leopards can often be seen basking atop the sun-baked rock.

It is possible to do morning and afternoon drives here, with most visitors opting to do both in order to get the most out of their stay in this area.

Safari was very interesting although quite taxing because of the very rough ride - it might be a good idea to mention that this is not for the faint hearted or elderly, as it was over two hours duration.

Pam, April 2013

A few hick-ups to start but then things just got better and better and better. Staying in Yala was a good idea as we could stay in the park longer after the day trippers had left. I was pleased we had a guide from the Reserve as well as our guide, as the reserve guide had a much better knowledge and "spotting" ability.

Gary, September 2012

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Map centered on Yala National Park. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.

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  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Borneo
      • Indochina
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Classic Sri Lanka Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Ultimate Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Off the Beaten Track
    • Slow Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Why choose Sri Lanka
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Free Country Guide Download
  • Info on Sri Lanka
    • Nature and Wildlife
      • Overview
      • Bundala National Park
      • Flood Plains National Park
      • Gal Oya National Park
      • Horton Plains National Park
      • Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
      • Kumana National Park (Yala East)
      • Lahugala National Park
      • Lunugamvehera National Park
      • Maduru Oya National Park
      • Minneriya National Park
      • Somawathiya National Park
      • The Knuckles Range
      • The Sinharaja Rainforest
      • Udawalawe National Park
      • Wasgamuwa National Park
      • Wilpattu National Park
      • Yala National Park
    • Getting Around in Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • Chauffeur Guides & Transportation
      • Vehicles in Sri Lanka
      • Internal Flights
      • Helicopter in Sri Lanka
    • Honeymoons in Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Weddings
  • Regions of Sri Lanka
    • Overview
    • The Cultural Triangle
    • Colombo, Negombo & Around
    • Kandy and Around
    • The Hill Country
    • West Coast Beaches
    • Galle and Around
    • The South Coast
    • Puttalam & the North West
    • The East Coast
    • Jaffna & The North
  • About us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Reviews
    • Our Press
    • Our brochure
    • Our Blog
  • How it works
    • Why choose us?
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Trip planning process
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Contact Us
  • Holiday Types
    • The Revitalise Collection
    • Immersive Escapes
    • Honeymoons
    • Family Travel
  • Inspiration
    • Inspire me
    • Travel Soon
    • Plan Ahead
    • Month by month weather guide
    • Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
    • Giving Back
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