Yala National Park

Best Leopard Spotting At Yala National Park

Yala has become Sri Lanka’s most visited national park mainly due to the number of leopards that can be spotted during a jungle safari.

Image Credit - jetwingeco — Image Credit – jetwingeco

Important things to remember

As you will be stepping in to wild life territory, do keep in mind that you are the guests here and refrain from polluting or feeding any animals.

Why choose Yala

If you’re planning a leopard safari in Sri Lanka, then Yala National Park is definitely the place to go, as there it is one of the only parks on the island with a large number of leopards.

Safe and Responsible tourism

For those looking for a reputable service, tour agencies such as Jetwing Eco Holidays will be able to provide you with a safe and responsible safari tour, as some of the safari jeeps are known to create havoc inside the park, putting the animals’ lives at risk simply for a picture.

Other animals

While you may be keen to see leopards, these wild animals may not always be around when and where you want them to. Appreciate the chance of seeing other animals of the park like deer, sloth bears, elephants, crocodiles, birds and so much more!

Things to remember

You are not permitted to get off the vehicle at any point during the safari. The park will provide a tracker for every safari jeep. The park opens at 6am and closes at 6pm.

Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.

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The Yala National Park is the second largest National Park in Sri Lanka and lies in the south eastern part of the island and stretches from the Southern Province to the Eastern Province. Yala consists of five blocks including Ruhuna National Park (block 1) and the Kumana National Park (Yala East). Yala was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1900 and then a National Park in 1938. This is also a historic area and the ancient sites of Sithulpauwa (once home to 12,000 Arahaths) and the Magul Maha Viharaya (associated with Queen Vihara Maha Devi) is within the area. Two of the earliest mentions of Yala is made by a Spanish cartographer Cipriano Sanchez (1560). A big attraction of Yala is that it is leopard country and has one of the world’s highest densities for leopards. This and the other attractions of Yala make it a prime destination for Sri Lanka tour packages and if you are looking for adrenaline rush wildlife experiences with comfort and convenience then Jetwing Eco Holidays would be a good choice.

The variety of eco systems within Yala including moist, monsoon, semi-deciduous and thorn forests, grasslands, marine wetlands and sandy beaches. Forty four species of mammals roam this vast sanctuary including elephants, sloth bear, wild boar,monkeys, red slender loris, golden palm civet and deer. Yala is one of the 70 important bird areas in Sri Lanka with Kumana (Yala East) being a bird watchers’ paradise. Of the 215 bird species recorded at Yala 07 are endemic to Sri Lanka and include the Sri Lanka grey hornbill and Sri Lanka jungle fowl. Many migrants fly here including the white billed pelican. The grey heron and black headed ibis are among the common water birds while rare species include the black necked stork.

All five of the globally endangered turtles (leather back, Olive Ridley, logger head, hawks bill and green turtle) nest along the Yala coastline. The mugger crocodile is another inhabitant of Yala. Eighteen species of amphibians and 21 species of fresh water fishes also inhabit Yala.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

Yala National Park

The Yala National Park is the most visited wild life park in Sri Lanka. It has a variety of ecosystems, including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, fresh water and marine wetlands, sandy beaches and plenty of wild life. Safari in Yala Sri Lanka is best served, staying in Deep South beachfront hotels, like the Cantaloupe Aqua which is situated at Talpe.

Among the 44 species of mammals that reside in Yala National Park, elephants, Sri Lankan Leopards, Sri Lankan sloth bears, wild water buffalos, Toque macaques, golden palm civets, red slender Lories, and fishing cats are some of the most prominent. Yala is one of the great national parks of Asia and the best location in the world to spot Leopards in the wild. It has about 350 Sri Lankan wild elephants and the highest leopard density in the world. Yala is an important bird watching area in Sri Lanka. Among 215 bird species of the park, six are endemic to Sri Lanka like the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Sri Lanka jungle fowl the National Bird of Sri Lanka and many migrant wetland water birds.

Among the 47 reptiles seen in Yala, the Sri Lankan krait, Sri Lankan flying snake, painted-lip lizard, fan-throated lizard are some of the endemic species. The coastal line is visited by the all five globally endangered sea turtles for laying eggs- a wondrous sight that can be seen in the night. The two crocodile species found in Sri Lanka inhabit the park, these being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.

There are 18 amphibians species seen in Yala, while, two buffalo species are endemic to Sri Lanka; crabs and prawns are found in the lagoons with many fish species as well. A variety of butterfly species such as the common bluebottle, common lime butterfly, crimson rose, common Jezebel, and common Mormon are also found here.

Yala is closed in September each year to give the wild animals some respite from the large amount of vehicles entering the reserve. Thus it can be said that, a Yala safari during other months is a must for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Sri Lanka.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Yala National Park

A traveller looking to be based at a Sri Lanka beach resort should look to none other than Ranna 212, one of the finest Tangalle hotels. The island’s second largest and most visited national park, Yala consists of five blocks with individual names. Located in the country’s southeast region, the park is well known for its wildlife and plays a major role in the conservation of aquatic birds and Sri Lankan elephants. Within the vicinity of Yala itself are three wildlife sanctuaries and six national parks. Playing host to a diverse array of ecosystems from marine wetlands and freshwater to moist monsoon forests, Yala has long been among the country’s main tourist attractions.

Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Yala National Park

Known to be the 2nd largest national park in the country, the Yala National Park comes across as a fascinating trek through dense jungle that holds a wealth of colourful species that warrant a visit. If you so wish to go on such a holiday in Sri Lanka, talk to Sri Lanka Holiday Travel known to offer similar holiday travel Sri Lanka is famed for.

Located in the southeast section of Sri Lanka, Yala covers 979 square kilometres and is decorated by beautiful fresh water lagoons. For the passionate nature lover, the park is home to the famous Sri Lanka leopard while there are over 130 species of birds that call at Yala. From elephants, sloth bears to wild buffaloes, the area is just filled with an abundance of life waiting to be explored. For those wanting to catch a glimpse of the national bird of the country which is the jungle fowl, Yala would be your go-to place.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Google+

Yala National Park

One of the best places in the world for a thrilling leopard safari, the Yala National Park in Sri Lanka offers an unforgettable adventure in the wilds of this enchanting island. Those planning tours to Sri Lanka and looking to explore this national park can sign up for a wildlife tour offered by Sri Lankan Dreams. This tour company also has a variety of other Sri Lanka tour packages that take you to the island’s many famed sites of interest.

Spanning an area of more than 100,000 hectares, the Yala National Park is divided into five separate blocks, with block one being the most visited due to the high number of Sri Lankan leopards found in the area. The sight of leopards roaming free in this stunning natural sanctuary is truly a sight worth seeing, though there is much more to witness in the park as well. Home to Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, toque macaques, wild water buffalo and not forgetting a large variety of endemic birds, the Yala National Park is the perfect spot for an exciting wildlife safari in Sri Lanka.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

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