YALA
Sri Lanka
YALA
Sri Lanka
Yala National Park (otherwise known as Ruhuna National Park) is one of Sri Lanka’s must-sees. Located to the south east of the island, this exceptional game reserve is Sri Lanka’s most popular for very good reason. Thought to be home to the greatest density of leopards per square kilometre in the world, Yala covers an area of 1,260 square kilometres and is divided into five blocks. Block I is the most visited portion of the reserve and the most rewarding destination for a leopard safari. Leopards are usually elusive, though in Yala, sightings of them are extremely good – you might see them basking in the sun atop rocky outcrops, in trees, crossing tracks and beside waterholes. Alongside leopards, there are also sloth bears, Asian elephants, deer, monkeys, buffalo and many species of birds. If you’re really set on seeing leopards, Yala will offer you Sri Lanka’s best opportunity.
Yala is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest national parks and was designated a wildlife sanctuary as far back as 1900 though it wasn’t until 1938 that it was established as a national park. Right in the heart of Yala sits the Buddhist temple Sithulpawa, and this former monastery is thought to date back 2,000 years. At one time, the monastery is thought to have housed 12,000 inhabitants, and today, it remains an important temple visited by pilgrims across Sri Lanka. Other significant cultural sites in the vicinity include Kataragama and Magul Maha Vihara.
Yala is located in the dry zone of the island and is dominated by scrubby bush and monsoon forests. The reserve is predominantly flat yet punctuated by brackish lakes, grasslands and vast granite outcrops whilst sand dunes characterise its coastal boundary. The park sits in the semi dry zone of the island and receives rainfall from the north easterly monsoon.
Yala comprises five blocks, and while most game drives take place in Block I (where wildlife sightings are arguably the most rewarding), game drives can and do occur in other blocks within the reserve. This is much more likely in September and October (at the height of the dry season) when Block I is often closed to visitors for around six weeks to allow animals unrestricted freedom of movement. Chena Huts is very conveniently located near the main Palutapana entrance of Yala, and it takes just minutes to reach the ticket desk from the hotel. Once inside, the network of tracks within the reserve are extensive, and our drivers are experienced in seeking out some of the more off-beat areas that avoid the crowds.
Sri Lanka’s 26 national parks are exceptional places for wildlife spotting and offer very different wildlife experiences. Two standout national parks in Sri Lanka are Yala and Wilpattu due to the sheer variety of resident wildlife. You can tick off Sri Lanka’s Big Three – leopards, elephants and sloth bears in one game drive. Yala’s dense leopard population has made it a world standout, however sightings of leopards in Wilpattu are also very strong throughout the year. Sloth bears may also be seen in both reserves, particularly in May and June. Elephants are resident in all of Sri Lanka’s national parks, however, Minneriya and Uda Walawe are two of the best reserves for sighting large herds of elephants. Birding enthusiasts will be drawn to Wilpattu National Park, as well as Yala and Bundala.
Chena Huts offers superb game drives into Wilpattu National Park hosted by an in-house naturalist. Packages include a tracker, Yala National Park entrance fees, on-board snacks and refreshments, wildlife viewing equipment, and a seafront post-safari drinks reception. The location of the hotel so close to Yala’s main entrance and within the buffer zone of the reserve, means that it takes next to no time to enter the park. Since this is Sri Lanka’s most popular game reserve, it can get very busy, particularly on weekends. However, our team of naturalists are experienced in taking guests on lesser-visited routes around the reserve.
Wear comfortable, breathable clothing in neutral, khaki and brown hues. It’s also a good idea to layer up since it can be cool in the early hours of the morning and then very hot and humid later in the day. We would also recommend applying sun cream and wearing hats.