The diversity that Sri Lanka upholds, despite being so tiny, is unfathomable. This tear-shaped island country on the Indian Ocean is home to various species of birds, animals, insects, plants, and flowers and is a great example of wildlife conservation for the entire world. This is proven in the large number of national parks that Sri Lanka has - as many as 21.
Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is approximately 260 km from the country’s capital. Colombo is as big as 26 Colombo cities when put together. Situated near Hambantota city, Yala National Park is on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, having almost 215 species of birds and 44 kinds of mammals and boasting one of the highest rates of endemism and leopard density in the world. First recognized as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, it was in 1938 that Yala Wildlife Sanctuary got the name of Yala National Park, consisting of 5 blocks in 130,000 hectares of land. Yala National Park is rightly conserved, and tourists and locals can witness the excellent ecological balance between wildlife and nature.
Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is approximately 260 km from the country’s capital. Colombo is as big as 26 Colombo cities when put together. Situated near Hambantota city, Yala National Park is on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, having almost 215 species of birds and 44 kinds of mammals and boasting one of the highest rates of endemism and leopard density in the world. First recognized as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, it was in 1938 that Yala Wildlife Sanctuary got the name of Yala National Park, consisting of 5 blocks in 130,000 hectares of land. Yala National Park is rightly conserved, and tourists and locals can witness the excellent ecological balance between wildlife and nature.
Yala National Park - Safari Timings
Yala National Park opens from 06:00 AM up to 06:00 PM. The authorities are strict about timings with no prior delay. Consistent traffic can be observed as hundreds of jeeps carrying tourists and travelers roam around the roads leading to Yale National Park. It is better to keep in hand 1 hour before the planned timings of the safari.
Yala offers a variety of safari slots throughout the day, allowing visitors to choose the time that best suits their needs. The safari options available are:
Morning Safari in Yala: from 5:00 AM to 9:30 AM
Evening Safari in Yala: from 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Full Day Safari in Yala: from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Special Five-Twelve Leopards Safari*: from 4:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Special 6-11 (Six-Eleven) Birds Safari: from 5:30 AM to 11:00 AM
*The Special Five-Twelve Leopards Safari begins early in the morning, allowing visitors to explore the park before any other safari jeep. This increases the likelihood of spotting these majestic creatures in their natural habitat since early morning is the time when leopards are most active. Moreover, there are fewer jeeps and less human interference in the park at this time, which provides a calm environment for the leopards to roam freely.
Yala National Park Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Safari in Yala National Park - Cost
The fees for different durations and areas of the Yala National Park are as follows:
For Block 1 at Palatupana, a half-day tour costs USD 55, while a full-day tour costs USD 85. For Block 1 at Katagamuwa, a half-day tour costs USD 60, and a full-day tour costs USD 90.
For Blocks 4 and 5 at Galge, a half-day tour costs USD 60, and a full-day tour costs USD 90
Ticket prices vary for foreign adults, children, and visitors from SAARC nations. These are base ticket prices for entering the park. There are separate rates for tour plans. Along with the ticket prices, service charges for jeep usage will be used, and VAT must be paid, too. The jeep service charge reduces with the number of individuals using the jeep.
Best Time to Visit Yala National Park
Yala National Park, located in the southeastern coastal region, is dry most of the year except during the monsoon. As Sri Lanka experiences two monsoon seasons in the country at two different periods, tourist preferences for visiting the place as per monsoon also change. The southeast region experiences rainfall from October to January, so February to July is preferable for the visit. The water level is low during this time because of the heat. This also ensures experiencing more of aquatic animals.
How to reach Yala National Park
Yala National Park can be reached by air, train, and car. But there is no direct transportation to Yala National Park. The nearest town which heads to Yala National Park is Kataragama. Tourists can also travel from Tissamaharama Town. From there on, jeeps of Yala National Park are available to carry forward the journey.
By Air: One can either first reach Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo city. From there, one can fly to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, followed by a jeep to Yala National Park.
By Rail: One can also avail train from Colombo to Haputale and then take a car.
By Road: Otherwise, buses from Colombo are also available which might take 9 hours of the day.
By Road: Otherwise, buses from Colombo are also available which might take 9 hours of the day.
Gate access in Yala National Park
The entire area entitled under Yala National Park is divided into five blocks. Neither the blocks are accessible to the public, nor is there a single gate for all the blocks. There are five different blocks in 5 different regions. Only blocks 1, 4 and 5 of Yala National Park are accessible to visitors, while the remaining blocks are designated as strict natural reserves.
Block I and II have gates in the Palatupana and Katagamuwa, however, Block II is to be entered via Block I, itself. Block III and V have gates in Galge, whereas Block IV has its gate closed to the public. It is better if tourists pre-decide their gate of preference for the entrance inside the park.
Block 1: Palatupana Gate:
The most popular Yala National Park safari area is Block 1, which is accessed through the Palatupana gate. Here, visitors have the best chance of observing leopards, other wildlife, and many species of water birds.
Block 2: Off-Road Adventure:
Block 2 is for the more adventurous visitors. It involves several river crossings and requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle with all-terrain capabilities. Wildlife in this area is less disturbed but shy of noises.
Block 3: Two Entry Points:
Block 3 can be accessed through two main gates: the Galge area gate on the Buttala-Kataragama road and the Kumana Park or 'Yala East' main gate at Okanda on the east coast. Visitors come here to see wild animals, with elephants being the most preferred.
Block 4 & 5: Private Safari
Blocks 4 and 5 adjoin Blocks 3 and 4 in the northern area of Yala National Park. With fewer jeeps, visitors can enjoy a private safari here. While sightings are lower than in Block 1, there are still opportunities to spot leopards, elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, and many birds.
Wildlife in Yala National Park
The wildlife in Yala is incredibly diverse, boasting over 200 bird species and 40 mammal species, with a particular abundance of leopards. Yala is known to have one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, making it a prime destination for those hoping to spot these majestic creatures. For the best chances of spotting them, visiting between January and July is recommended.
While elephants are also present in Yala, their sightings are more unpredictable as they use the Lunugamvehera National Park as a natural corridor between Yala and Udawalawe National Park. The dry season, between May and August, provides the best opportunity to spot these gentle giants.
Other animals found in Yala include crocodiles, monitor lizards, peacocks, monkeys, sloth bears, water buffalo, wild boar, deer, and golden jackals. The park is also a haven for bird enthusiasts, with over 130 bird species recorded, including pelicans, storks, herons, flamingos, grey hornbills, and black-capped bulbul. The lagoons of Yala are not vacant as well. Filled with crabs and prawns, the other water areas have more than 20 varieties of fish, like a stone sucker, olive barb, orange chromite, and many others. In the shabby water areas, crocodiles yawning in the sunshine are a very common scene spotted in Yala National Park.
Turtles and other endangered species like hawksbill, green, olive ridley, and others frequently visit the park's coastline. Indian Cobra and Russell, two extremely dangerous snakes carrying the most venom, can also be found loitering around. Two hundred fifteen species of birds can be heard chirping around Yale National Park. There are Sri Lankan endemic birds like the hornbill, jungle fowl, and wood pigeon, and also migrating birds of different areas like egrets, painted storks, Asian Hornbills, little cormorants, and more.
Things to do in Yala National Park
1. Safari Rides in Yala National Park
The first and foremost thing that nobody can miss when at Yala National Park is the Safari ride. A safari ride is a point of attraction for visiting here and thinking of witnessing wildlife at its best. There are authorized companies that conduct safari tours. There are provisions inside Yala National Park where one can book safari tours. A pre-booking facility is also available. There are two types of Safari tours - half-day and full-day tours; individuals can choose their tour depending on budget, time, and other constraints.
2. Beach Walks in Yala National Park
The coastline that faces Yala National Park is not open to the public for recreational purposes. There are assigned areas with proper safety measures which can be visited. One can take a quick walk around the beach. Also, the Tsunami hit location, which killed many innocents, can also be visited.
3. Birdwatching in Yala National Park
Around 215 bird species are found in Yale National Park. There are both endemic and migrant birds. Even if not interested in bird watching, the birds are varied in colours that will amaze the visitors.. There are birds like the orange-breasted green pigeon, hornbills, Ruddy turnstone, Eurasian Curlew, and many others. Witnessing so many birds together will be an exhaustive experience.
4. Camping in Yala National Park
Campsite accommodation is available inside the park. A family of ten with two kids below age 6 is allowed for a single site with not more than three days of living. Under the sky, with wildlife at its best and nature encircling one, camping gets a whole new definition in Yala National Park. However, strict camping rules must be followed, such as no alcohol consumption, no smoking, no loitering around, no littering of food, keeping the campsite and tent clean, and so on.
5. Night in Yala National Park
Nature enthusiasts can also get hands-on experience by spending a night in Yala National Park itself in the park-provided bungalow. One can also pre-reserve the bungalow. The bungalow isn’t anything luxurious but provides a more rustic and rural experience. No wonder one can hear leopards gently yawning or the trumpeting elephants’ slow walk. Waking up in the morning amidst nature, surrounded by wildlife, will be an overwhelming and unforgettable experience.
6. Sightseeing in Yala National Park
One can see the 2200-year-old Buddhist monastery on their visit to Yala National Park. This monastery, named Sithulpawwa, is an ancient rock temple with a rich history lineage and is heard to be the home of 12,000 monks. Buddha and Bodhisattva images can be found here. This monastery is worth visiting for those with an affinity for history and archaeology.
Tips for visiting Yala National Park
While visiting Yala National Park, a few things must always be considered. These are :
- While venturing into the wildlife, one should strictly not come out of the jeep for any activity. It might lead to unwanted and dangerous situations.
- While on a tour to venture into the wildlife of Yala National Park, one should not click pictures with flashlights. This irritates the animals, and as animal behaviors are not pre-decided and unpredictable, it may lead to problems.
- No alcohol, drugs, or smoking is allowed inside the Yala National Park premises.
- It is preferable to keep mobile phones on silent or on vibrate. The sudden upbeat sound might create unwanted movement within the animals.
- One should not start eating anywhere and everywhere. There are restrictions to that which the guide or the driver is aware of. Consultation on what the eating norms are must be known.
- No strong odor of food must be carried inside.
- Nobody should attempt to throw food or feed any animal inside Yala National Park. This might cause unwanted problems.
- Guns, knives, matches, lighters - everything that might harm animals and wildlife should not be carried.
- Unnecessary honking of the jeeps should be avoided. It disrupts the normalcy of the wildlife ecosystem.
- Nobody should take or touch anything that belongs to the wildlife, be it stones, sand, or any remains.
- In an emergency, keep each other calm and try not to make noise because it may further worsen the situation. The trekker who is with the jeep can take care of the situation.