About

Discover Yala National Park

Yala National Park (also known as Ruhunu National Park) is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public; and also adjoining parks. It is in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 km (378 sq mi) and is about 300 km (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants and aquatic birds. The western part of Yala (block one) is named as the area with highest leopard concentration in the world.

Explore

What to Experience in Yala National Park

Leopard quenching thirst at Wilpaththu National Park, Sri Lanka

Cuisine

Taste of Yala National Park...

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History

A Rich Past

Explore the historical roots that shaped Yala National Park into what it is today.

Yala is in the lowest peneplain of Sri Lanka, which extends from Trincomalee to Hambantota. Topographically the area is a flat and mildly undulating plain that runs to the coast with elevation is 30 metres (98 ft) close to the coast while rising in the interior to 100–125 metres (330–410 ft). The national park is in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. The mean annual rainfall ranges between 500–775 millimetres (20–30.5 in) while the mean temperature ranges between 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in January to 30 °C (86 °F) in April. It is windier in Yala, during the southwest monsoon compared to the wind during the northeast monsoon with wind speeds from 23 km/h (14 mph) to 15 km/h (9.3 mph). Yala National Park has a variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, fresh water and marine wetlands, and sandy beaches. The area under forest cover mainly consists of Block I and rangelands of open parkland (Pelessa grasslands) including some extensive grasslands. The forest area is restricted to around the Menik River while rangelands are found towards the sea side. Other habitat types of the Block I are tanks and water holes, lagoons and mangroves and chena lands. The mangrove vegetation in the Buthuwa lagoon is largely Rhizophora mucronata while Avicennia spp. and Aegiceras spp. are less abundant....

Weather

Climate

You can book a tour from any number of guest houses and hotels in the nearby town of Tissa (Tissamaharama). Most leave at 05:00 or 14:30, but it depends on if you are going for half, full day or overnight. The entrance to the park is about Rs 3,500, but it changes often. The tours should cost Rs 4,000 to 6,000 on top of the admission ticket. It is usually split between the people in the truck, but you should negotiate this. It can be expensive to do alone, so it is best to try to partner with others to increase bargaining power. The tour guides often will use you as bait for people coming off buses. It makes both your lives easier to meet the people off the buses right away, as it gets competitive and most drivers will call their friends to tell them you are coming. They all know what travellers are coming here for. It is also possible to stay at a bungalow more near the park, but it may cost more and is a little more difficult to reach alone.

Plan Your Trip

Essential Information

Getting There

Multiple Options

You can book a tour from any number of guest houses and hotels in the nearby town of Tissa (Tissamaharama). Most leave at 05:00 or 14:30, but it depends on if you are going for half, full day or overnight. The entrance to the park is about Rs 3,500, but it changes often. The tours should cost Rs 4,000 to 6,000 on top of the admission ticket. It is usually split between the people in the truck, but you should negotiate this. It can be expensive to do alone, so it is best to try to partner with others to increase bargaining power. The tour guides often will use you as bait for people coming off buses. It makes both your lives easier to meet the people off the buses right away, as it gets competitive and most drivers will call their friends to tell them you are coming. They all know what travellers are coming here for. It is also possible to stay at a bungalow more near the park, but it may cost more and is a little more difficult to reach alone....

Travel Tips

Getting Around & Staying

Getting Around

Yala National Park is one of the best places for sightings of wild elephants in the park is home to many animals including buffaloes, leopards, monkeys, crocodiles, wild boars and bears. The cat's purr can be heard from a distance and is so soporific. They love to bask in the sun at the top of 30 ft (9.1 m) rocks and it's breathtaking, so take a zoom/telephoto lens. February–June/July is the optimum time to visit when water tables are low. Leopard, elephant and many smaller animals are competing for the same drinking supply. You are likely also to see sloth bears, deer, wild boar, buffaloes, crocodiles and monkeys. Birds are in profusion – up to 130 species. The park also contains a monastic settlement, Situlpahuwa and other important centres of pilgrimage There is a small and store at the entrance but it mostly has chips and sodas. It's best to bring your own snacks for the duration of your trip.

Where to Stay

There are no lodges or camping inside the park, For accommodations see the Tissa Tissamaharama sections. Just stay in the vehicle. These are wild animals. There are crocodiles hidden everywhere, dangerous lizards, and heaps of other troublesome critters. Do not feed any animals within the sanctuary.

Stay Safe

Safety Information

Safety Overview

Just stay in the vehicle. These are wild animals. There are crocodiles hidden everywhere, dangerous lizards, and heaps of other troublesome critters. Do not feed any animals within the sanctuary.

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