Yala National Park

Yala National Park is home to the largest number of leopards in the world. The park is also home to many elephants and deers that freely roam about in the vicinity of tourists. It is easy to spot them amidst your safari or any other tour. You might even witness the Sri Lankan Sloth bear in its natural habitat if you are lucky.

When it comes to birds, the national park has over 215 species. With a mix of migrating birds, endemic birds, and national park-bred birds, this national park is filled with various colourful and different species of birds. For this reason, Yala National Park is considered to be one of the 70 most Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the world.

In the list of reptiles are a wide variety of snakes (including water snakes) and lizards which are endemic. Yala National park is also very important because it aims to preserve freshwater aquatic life. There are more than 20 types of fish bred here. Crabs and prawns are also seen frequently here.

Here are a few most sought-after restaurants in the area -

1. Orchid Restaurant: This restaurant serves some of the best fish curries in the area! You will love the spread during the buffet, which consists of a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.
2. The Grand Gala Restaurant: If Sri Lankan local cuisine is on your mind, head to this place. Their service is even better than their marvellous food.
3. Smoky Kitchen: A unique way to spend the evening is by spending time in their live cooking session, where they will cook your favourite dish in front of you. The food is reasonably priced, and the atmosphere here is fantastic!

The vast land area of Yala National Park, being home to such a massive number of plants, animals, and birds, also supports several ecosystems on its own. The ecosystems vary over a number of types because the national park is a culmination of different types of lands and water bodies.

Including dry and wet monsoon forests, the national park also has marine wetlands, deciduous forests and thorny forests and even sandy beaches. The trees are, thus, from a variety of species like mangroves and others that support the endemic species of the forests. The Yala National Park has been divided into four blocks - all consisting of different species of plants, trees, and vegetation. Some of these blocks are out of bounds for the common public, while others remain open for safari tours.