Anyone who doesn't know better would think they've landed in Africa. After all, a visit to Yala National Park offers the chance to spot leopards, elephants can stand in the middle of the road, and you might even see dozens of other animal species during a game drive.
Yala National Park was established in 1900 as a wildlife sanctuary. It received official national park status in 1938. The landscape is mainly flat, with occasional rock formations rising no higher than 250 meters. There is riverine forest, mangroves, beautiful beaches, sand dunes, and the sea. The Menik Ganga and four streams drain the monsoon waters. Water is a vital lifeline for the animals that live here. All mammals found in Sri Lanka live in this park. These include leopard, sloth bear, chital, wild boar, jackal, sambar, buffalo, marsh crocodile, mongoose, langur, and toque monkey. Over 140 species of birds have also been observed, including the Lafayette grouse, the woodchuck shrike, swallow, toucans, storks, and eagles. But Yala National Park is most famous for its elephants and peacocks. There are five sectors, one of which is accessible to visitors.
In 2004, Yala National Park was hit by the tsunami. Park staff and tourists were killed. There are no reports of any significant animal deaths. It is therefore suspected that the animals sensed the disaster and migrated to higher ground.
Because the park is so well-known and offers so many animals to spot, it's also very popular. The only way to explore the park is by 4x4 with a driver. Arrange a driver at your hotel. Safaris begin early in the morning and last until mid-afternoon. Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of tourists, you may find yourself in a long queue of vehicles.
