Travellers in search of well-situated hotels in Yala should look to The Secret Yala for all their accommodation needs. Offering guests a breathtaking base from which to explore Yala National Park this stylish rest offers modern luxuries in the heart of the wilderness.
Renowned as the most popular national park in the island Yala National Park is the second largest parkland of its kind in Sri Lanka. Spread out over 979km2 this sprawling enclosure is one of the country’s most coveted wildlife sanctuaries that were declared protected reserved as early as 1900. Located within 190 miles of the capital Colombo the vast expanse of forested landscapes is a hotbed of activity all year round as tourists and locals visit to explore its verdant confines and catch glimpses of its most famed inhabitants.
Well-known as a hub to witness the majestic Asian elephants and leopards, one of the must-have experiences on a tour of Yala is a safari excursion along its leopard trails. Available through a variety of tour operators leopard safaris in Yala are typically two day or 3 day excursions that also includes camping out within the wilderness at designated campsites. Equipped with modern necessities and comforts the camp sites offer cozy accommodation, with tour packages also including barbeque fare, traditional Sri Lankan meals and camp fires.
Setting off in the morning hours and then once more at the hour of dusk the leopard safaris offer once in a lifetime opportunities to witness one of the most fearsomely majestic big cats in the world. The male leopards of Yala National Park are known to be a confident group that often walks the leopard trails during various times of the day. Unfettered by the safari jeeps that scour the parkland all year long visitors will have plenty of opportunities to snap close range photographs of the creatures. Other highlights along the Yala leopard trails include spotting elephant herds, spotted deer, sloth bears and bird species the likes of Paradise Flycatchers, Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters, Rose Starlings and Crested Hawk Eagles.
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.