By air
Bandaranaike (CMB), ~5 h by expressway
Indian Ocean Islands · Sri Lanka
Yala, Sri Lanka
Leopards among the scrub and rocks
Getting there
Best time to visit
February to July (the park closes for a spell around September)
Don't miss
Yala's Block 1
The lagoons
The Sithulpawwa rock temple
Kataragama
Things to do
Leopard safaris at dawn
Birdwatching
The Kataragama temple nearby
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Adbar · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Neutral-coloured clothes, binoculars, a sun hat
A quieter corner
Kumana National Park, Yala's quieter, bird-rich neighbour
Questions travellers ask
Which months are good for a Yala safari?
February to July. The park closes for a spell around September, so check before you plan.
What should I wear on safari in Yala?
Neutral-coloured clothes and a sun hat, and bring binoculars for the leopard safaris at dawn.
Is there more to Yala than the safari?
Yes: the lagoons, the Sithulpawwa rock temple and the Kataragama temple nearby. For birds, Kumana National Park is Yala's quieter, bird-rich neighbour.
What local treat should I try around Yala?
Curd and treacle: buffalo curd with palm syrup.
About Yala
- Forest
- Coastal
Where it is
Yala National Park lies in the south-east of Sri Lanka, spanning Southern, Uva and Eastern provinces along the Indian Ocean coast, a dry-zone landscape of scrub forest, rocky outcrops and lagoons near the towns of Tissamaharama and Kataragama.
History
The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and became one of Sri Lanka's first two national parks in 1938. Ruins of ancient Buddhist monasteries lie within it, among them Sithulpawwa, an ancient rock temple, and in 2004 the Indian Ocean tsunami struck its coast.
People
The towns around Yala, such as Tissamaharama and Kirinda, are home to Sinhala-speaking farmers and fishermen, and many families work as safari drivers, trackers and guesthouse hosts. Nearby Kataragama draws Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Vedda pilgrims to its shrines, especially during the Esala festival.
Known for
- Leopards in Block 1
- Elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles
- Birdwatching at the lagoons
- The Sithulpawwa rock temple
- The Kataragama shrine nearby
Did you know?
Yala has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.