Yala National Park is probably the most popular wildlife park in Sri Lanka, partly because of the many leopards. Alongside India, Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world where the population lives side by side with wild animals. It is therefore not uncommon to see elephants crossing the road or simply standing in the hotel garden.
Unfortunately, there can also be unwanted and dangerous encounters with wild animals.
Here you will find everything you need to know about Yala National Park in Sri Lanka.
Yala National Park
A huge part of the south-eastern corner of Sri Lanka is the Yala National Park. The park is divided into five blocks. They stretch from the jungles inland to the beaches on the Indian Ocean. Only blocks one and five are open to the public in order to preserve the natural habitat for the animals as much as possible.
The animals in the national park
Leopards in Yala National Park
Yala National Park is one of the best places in the world to see leopards up close and in the wild. There are around 40 to 50 leopards in Yala National Park, but this does not mean that you will spot one on your safari. Firstly, the cats are a little shy and secondly, you have to bear in mind the size of the safari park. The park is huge! The chance of spotting a leopard is probably around 30%.
However, if, like us, you are one of the lucky ones to have seen a leopard, you can look forward to the envious reactions of other park visitors. The leopard is the undisputed No. 1 photo motif
Where is Yala National Park actually located?
Yala National Park is located in the southeast of Sri Lanka, a good 5-hour drive from Colombo. It is therefore advisable to make the national park part of your 3-week Sri Lanka itinerary.
How do I get to Yala National Park?
The only access to the park is in the town of Tissamaharama. The easiest way to reach the town is by car or bus. Visitors to the park usually stay overnight in Tissamaharama or in Yala in order to have enough time to visit the park.
Yala National Park - Safari Tour
Most accommodations in Yala offer either a private or a group tour of the park. The average price for a guided tour of the park is 60 euros per person. The price is slightly higher than in other national parks in Sri Lanka, but it is definitely worth it!
Jeeps are only allowed to enter Yala National Park twice a day; at 6am in the morning and 2pm in the afternoon.
We spent a whole day in the park, got up at 4am and were already at the park entrance at 5am. We spotted the leopards early in the morning, the leopards in the afternoon and the elephants every now and then in between. There is no perfect time to be able to see certain animals. A one-way tour takes about 4 hours, the whole day about 6-8 hours.
Please note: Yala National Park usually closes every year in September for maintenance work and to give the animals some rest.
Do I need a guide?
A guide is not absolutely necessary, but we do recommend it. A guide can help you choose the best route and is also a wonderful tracker and knows exactly which way to go. Of course, like us, you can also ask a hundred thousand questions and learn more about the animals and their way of life. Another advantage is of course the safari jeep, in which you sit much higher than in a BMW 3 Series.
Is Yala worth a visit?
Yala with all its flora and fauna is a unique experience and one of the must-sees in Sri Lanka. The park is worth a visit at any time of the year (except September), but we recommend planning a visit during the high season (December to April).
The chances of seeing a leopard are highest in February and March. However, you should bear in mind that you are not the only jeep driving up and down the park. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of a leopard sighting. The probability of seeing elephants with babies is higher.
Our opinion on Yala National Park
Unfortunately, Yala has developed very negatively, which is why we do not recommend a visit. Due to its fame, the park is overcrowded with jeeps that literally chase bears and leopards across the park. The jeeps also approach the herds of elephants with young animals far too closely, which can quickly lead to the jeeps being attacked. In our eyes, animal welfare looks different. Please do not visit Yala. There are nicer, more relaxed parks for a safari.
We can recommend Udawalawe National Park, for example.
When is the best time to visit Yala
The best time to visit Yala National Park is from February to June during the dry season. Dry season means that the animals have to come to the ponds to drink. Here you can wait comfortably in your safari jeep for elephants while you watch the water buffalo and crocodiles.
Information about the best time to travel to Sri Lanka can be found here: Best time to visit Sri Lanka
Overnight stay in Yala National Park
There are numerous places to stay near the park. In Tissamaharama you will find cheap options with prices ranging from 5 to 50 euros. If your budget is a little higher, you can also stay within the park. The prices for a luxury stay in a jungle chalet significantly exceed 500 euros, depending on the day of arrival.
During our stay in Yala, we spent the night in a tree house. You can find out why these were ultimately not restful nights in our travel stories about Sri Lanka.
What should I bear in mind when going on safari?
Mother Nature welcomes you with open arms. Just like a visit to a museum or a friend's dinner, a few rules of etiquette are expected here too.
Unlike open forests, where the animals' habitat is increasingly threatened by humans, Yala National Park is a protected safari park where the animals can roam freely.
However, if the animals had a choice, they would probably not want human visitors in their habitat.
The rule of thumb on a safari is: make yourself invisible. Sure, you can't hide, but you can do a lot to be ignored by the animals. Avoid any kind of interaction, be it verbal or through gestures. Every animal "ticks" differently, and what doesn't bother an elephant can be extremely disturbing to another animal. In the worst case scenario, you will end up attacking in defense.
What you should definitely bring to the safari
What you'd rather not do on a safari
- Let drones fly
- Listen to music
- Taking photos with flash
- Smoking
- Speak out loud
- Racing through the park by car
- Getting out of the car
- Feeding animals
Useful links:
Official website of the Yala National Park: https://www.yalasrilanka.lk/
Three years ago we visited Yala Park again and spent a few hours there. As we are "old Sri Lankan hands" and had already got to know Yala Park in 1968 and visited it for many years, we were totally horrified this time. We were met by a large number of jeeps, far too many, speeding like crazy, unbelievable, ruthless overtaking. It was impossible to relax and look around. None of this has anything to do with a "safari". Animals, if you had the chance to see some at all, fled from the speeding cars, the traffic, the noise, catastrophic. If you want to see this magnificent... Read more "