How to Experience Yala National Park

Wildlife and nature lovers visiting Sri Lanka should undoubtedly take the opportunity to visit the renowned Yala National Park, one of the island nation’s outstanding nature reserves. At Yala, you would encounter forests, dunes, lovely lagoons and open plains that would entrance those looking for outdoor adventures in a natural setting. You would also find as many as 44 species of mammals and more than 215 kinds of birds here as well. Read on to find out more about this amazing national park.

Hire a guide and know the animals to spot

Although it wouldn’t be mandatory to avail yourself of the services of a guide for your safari at Yala, it would be very advisable to do so. Having the services of a knowledgeable guide would greatly increase the likelihood of spotting interesting kinds of wildlife on your safari. A guide would know the optimal routes to follow and the best locations to visit. They would also point out the different kinds of plants and animals which you may well miss out on if you were at the park unaided. 

You would have the opportunity to spot a variety of engrossing kinds of wildlife on your safari at Yala. Taking pride of place here would be the majestic Sri Lankan leopard and spotting one of these felines would be a highlight of your safari experience. However, there would also be many other interesting varieties of wildlife to be encountered such as elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, deer and more in addition to an array of different bird species. 

Take note of what to expect 

As you might expect, a safari at Yala National Park would be an entrancing experience. If you have chosen a morning safari you would typically leave for the park before the break of dawn and join your guide and driver in your safari jeep. Once you enter the park, you would notice that the local flora would be rather like that of the plains of Africa, with flat terrain featuring slender trees interspersed with patches of grassland. You are sure to be captivated by the varied kinds of wildlife to be seen within the park. 

If your guide and driver receive word that a leopard could be spotted within the park, they would quickly take you to the relevant location so that you could admire this sleek and elusive predator. Naturally, spotting elephants would be another noteworthy aspect of your Yala National Park safari; your driver would take you to the localities where these magnificent creatures could be seen. 

Understand the time to visit and how long to spend 

Whilst you could enjoy a rewarding safari at Yala at many different times of the year, the optimal period would probably be the dry season extending from February through July. This would be because the scarcity of water would make the wildlife congregate near the reservoirs. However, the park could be somewhat crowded from December through April. Whilst you could experience some of the attractions of the park during a morning or afternoon safari, you could explore it more fully if you spend a couple of days here. An accommodation choice to consider from which you could head off on such Yala safaris would be Kithala Resort an ideal base for your escapades into the wild.

Keep attractions and tips in mind 

Yala National Park would be a must-visit sanctuary for those who desire to observe leopards and elephants in a natural setting. The varied natural scenery at Yala including flourishing green forests, gleaming rivers and lakes as well as pristine coastal area would also capture the imagination of the nature lover. If you happen to have selected a morning safari, take the opportunity to arrive early so that you would be first in line to enter the park. If you expect to take photographs, make sure to take along a telephoto lens so that you could focus on the animals more clearly. Don’t forget to take water and snacks, and apply insect repellent and sunscreen. Finally, remember not to litter or disturb the animals in any way.