Yala, Sri Lanka

Yala National Park covers close to a thousand square kilometres of scrub jungle, lagoons, rock outcrops and coastline in the dry southeast. Block One, the section open to most visitors, has an exceptional density of leopards, and sightings are common on early morning drives.

Beyond the leopards there are wild elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, water buffalo, mugger crocodiles, peacocks and well over two hundred bird species. Drives run at dawn and mid-afternoon in open jeeps; the dawn drive is worth the alarm clock.

Getting there and when to go: Yala is about 270 km from Colombo, five to six hours by road, and most people stay in or near Tissamaharama. Safaris run in the early morning and late afternoon, when the animals are most active, and Block 1 has the park's highest density of leopards. The park usually closes for several weeks in September and October during the driest period, so check dates before travelling; February to July is a popular time to visit.

Highlights of Yala

Yala National Park
Elephant Sightings
Lakes & Lagoons
Wildlife & Bird Watching
Coastal Nature Scenery

Things to do

Sri Lanka’s most popular national park, famous for having one of the highest leopard populations in the world
Yala is one of the best places to see wild elephants roaming freely in their natural habitat
Explore beautiful lagoons and waterholes filled with crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife species
The park is home to hundreds of bird species, making it a paradise for bird watchers and photographers
Yala combines jungle landscapes with coastal scenery, offering unique safari experiences near the Indian Ocean

Plan your visit

Build a trip around Yala

Tell us roughly when you are coming and how long you have. We will put Yala into a private itinerary with your own vehicle and chauffeur guide, and send back a firm price.