Yala National Park (යාල)
Yala, or Yala West, covers nearly 1000 km² (380 sq mi) of scrub, lagoons and rocky outcrops in the southeast of Sri Lanka. Animals that roam the park include bears, buffalo, crocodiles, deer, leopards, monkeys, wild boar and wild peacocks. Yala is a particularly good place to see (wild) elephants. It has the highest density of leopard in the world and there are 215 bird species in Yala. The best chance of spotting animals is near a waterhole at dawn or dusk.
Yala is closed between August and October. The best way to get there is to take a bus to the coastal town of Tissamaharama, where a jeep plus driver can be rented. You can also enter with your own four-wheel drive if you have one. At the gate you will have to pay the entrance, insurance and tracker fees.
Yala has 2 adjoining parks: Kumana National Park, or 'Yala East' and Lunugamvehera National Park. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900.
The two important Buddhist pilgrim sites of Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara are located within the Yala National Park.
Accommodation is available in Tissamaharama. Yala National Park is 300 km (190 mi) southeast of Colombo.
Not far from Yala is Bundala National Park, which is excellent for bird watching.
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; "Image 6 - Yala National Park ©Geoff Brooks [80kB]")
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