Yala National Park Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise! From majestic elephants to elusive leopards, the park offers a thrilling safari experience. The lush landscapes and diverse flora make it a must-visit for nature lovers. However, it can get crowded during peak seasons, so plan accordingly. Overall, an unforgettable adventure awaits at Yala National Park!

One of my best experiences was during my trip to Sri Lanka. Journey to the heart of nature We saw many elephants. We also saw crocodiles, bears, pelicans, peacocks, and hyenas, but unfortunately, it is very difficult to see leopards. If you see, you are really among the luckiest people

The next point is to try to go very early in the morning and go at a time when there are not many safaris because if it is crowded, most of the animals will not be seen.

This is the national park that I like the most and visited the most times in Sri Lanka and the park where the largest number of animals have been observed in a national park. There are two main access roads to this park which is divided into 05 zones.Visitors Bungalows and camp sites for accommodation in the park can be pre-booked through the website www.dwc.gov.lk.

Truly wonderful day with such a variety of wildlife an flora. Fantastic effort by Sri Lanka to preserve this for humanity. However also time to reflect on the monstrous Tsunami of 2004 struck the park on that fateful day of December 26. According to the website some 250 people in and around the park were consumed by the rampaging waves, also forever changing the land features of Yala’s coastal belt. But amazingly no animals were in harm’s way, prompting a theory that ‘sixth sense’ of animals took them out of the path of on-coming waves. We went to the Tsunami memorial is constructed at Patanangala. Hard to imagine the carnage.

We were crossing the National park from Katharagama to Ella. Looks very scary with wild elephants blocking the road asking for food

After a night of monsoon rains we had a 4.15am start for a safari In Yala National park. The highlight was seeing a crocodile take its morning kill into the lake. We saw many other animals and birds, amongst them, families of deer and wild boar, iguana, Komodo dragons, kingfishers and fly catchers. No leopard for us though. Our driver said it’s 50/50 chance.

What a lovely experience this was. We saw peacocks, elephants, birds, crocodiles, loads of deer and finally a beautiful leopard

Excellent experience, morning safari is really nice. Fantastic place. We saw 2 leopards.

Visited Yala National Park with DarkGreen Adventures during my trip to Sri Lanka. It was an amazing experience. The safari was well planned with provisions for breakfast and coconut water.

“La Safari Inn” Hotel organized for us the whole day safari tour with the Jeep driver Prisala who is for sure the fastest driver in this area (hope I write the name correct :)) which was fantastic. We had really the feeling that he tried to provide us the best experience we can get. We saw many many elephants incl groups of elephants, 2 leopards, many crocodiles, birds etc.) price was also good. Food (breakfast & lunch) was fantastic which was prepared by the hotel La Safari Inn.
I would only book the tour with La Safari Inn if you are down there.
You can also do half day tours. But we had the feeling that after lunch (there is a break from 12-2pm and nobody can drive through the park in that time) that you see many more animals incl elephants in the afternoon.
It’s only crowded when you go inside at the beginning at 6am and then it’s OK. When they see a leopard then the driver call each other and then it can be crowded again haha but that’s OK

Cool safari, we took the whole day and we were in a jeep just the two of us. A bear, wild pigs, and elephants passed by our car. Somewhere in the distance there was a leopard, but it was almost impossible to see it, only a silhouette))) If you plan to go to Sri Lanka, this place is a must to visit.

Wonderful experience in a safari! Rode in a jeep through the golden sands watching the various animals in the wild. I.e. crocodiles, elephants, water buffalos, peacocks, monkeys, birds & leopards!

The jeep ride was awsome and thrilling at some point. Couldn't see some animals but enjoyed the whole time. There were beautiful lagoons and lakes there.

Yala National Park truly stands out as the superstar among all the national parks in Sri Lanka, boasting the highest ratings and garnering the most visitors. Once you step foot in this magnificent park, you'll find yourself immersed in a world teeming with diverse wildlife and lush flora. From the tiniest wild geckos to the mightiest and most awe-inspiring mammals, the park is a haven for a wide range of animal and plant species.

If you're a nature enthusiast, Yala National Park is an absolute must-visit destination. The sheer beauty of the park is awe-inspiring, and the opportunity to witness such a rich array of wildlife in their natural habitat is a truly unforgettable experience. Don't miss the chance to explore this breathtaking park and create memories that will last a lifetime.

If you are looking for an experience of serenity in the midst of a wild forest then this is the place. The rooms have old world charm with their buffet for both breakfast, lunch & dinner is world class. The staff is so good & polite & they really take good care of their guest. With the bonus of a walk to beach.

A great day trip, gates open at 7am then there is a massive rush of safari trucks all rushing to get the best view of the animals. That's by far the worst bit actually, and it happens constantly through the day. The safari drivers keep in touch with "someone, or each other" as to where the leopards are, then the jeeps all rush to that area, scare the leopards (or what ever animal it is) away and the whole process starts again. It's absolutely horrid what they do and needs to be controlled. That's the negative side of the park, the elephants, buffalo, wild pigs & deer are quite common, foxes also but a little less, mongoose were scattered around, crocodiles are relatively plentiful but nothing much bigger than 3 metres. Birds are everywhere.

Yala Safari - First time in Yala 😁
Mammals & Reptiles 🐆🐘🐇🐢🦊🦌🐮
Birds 🦚🐓🐦🦃🦉🦅🦜

Nice place to watch birds, to see behaviours of various Mammals and Reptiles.
There are plenty high luxury eco friendly resorts inside Yala National park. You can enjoy both the jungle and the beach.
The yala beach is picturesque.
My first yala Safari was an amazing experience.

We have observed Night Heron, Golden Jackal, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, parrots, peacocks, leopards, elephants, deers etc..

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If you get a good driver and guide it makes a world of difference - look around and pre book with a reputable company - bring binoculars.

Such a blissful day. Don’t miss the Yala National Park. You can spot all the animals in abundance. Each second is a thrill. We saw leopards, crocodiles, different species of birds, peacocks matting, wild pigs, dears, elephants, butterflies, beautiful open lands, rich nature! Totally worth the full day safari trip. Make sure you take the pick up at 4:30am and enjoy the sunrise in the park.

It's worth the experience. Entered the forest reserve around 3 pm and exited around 6. All vehicles should exit by 6 pm or will be banned for a week from entering the forest. Vehicles take too much time to take photos if leopard is spotted causing jam and preventing others from getting the chance. We were advised to take the early morning journey which starts at 5:30. Overall a must experience.