Yala National Park is the second largest and the most popular national park in Sri Lanka. This national park is an attraction that well and truly deserves a visit! Within its rugged terrains, fearsome predators roam. A safari tour in this sensational destination will indeed be an experience that you will never forget!
Dry season which starts in month of February and lasts until end of June is best time to visit Yala. Many of the animals in the park venture out of the shelter of the thick jungle in search of water, giving tourists great opportunities to spot them. You can get in touch with Green Holiday Centre and find out how you can arrange an exhilarating safari tour in the national park during your visit to the island.
Mighty Leopard in Yala National Park
There are 44 species of mammals to be found in Yala National Park. Among these the Sri Lanka elephant, Sri Lankan sloth bear, wild water buffalo and fishing cats are quite prominent. But of course, many visit Yala National Park hoping to catch a glimpse of the majestic Sri Lankan leopard. Yala has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. In Block 1 alone, 25 individual leopards have been recorded. They truly create a spectacular sight to behold as they tread stealthily amongst the underbrush or lounge lazily upon giant rocks, regally dominating the surroundings.
Yala National Park is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. Here you will find 215 species of birds, out of which seven are endemic to Sri Lanka. Be sure to have your camera ready when traversing through the winding trails of the national park as you will quite often come across large flocks of gorgeous birds!
The beautiful national park has immense cultural significance too. Many believe that King Ravana had established his kingdom in this area, many many centuries ago. As you explore park you will get the chance to visit the two important pilgrimage sites of Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara as well.