Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean, in southeast Sri Lanka. It’s home to wildlife such as leopards, elephants and crocodiles, as well as hundreds of bird species. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks.
Yala National park is the most famous and popular national park in Sri Lanka. The main reason for it is that it has the characteristics of a coastal park mixed with the features of the lowland tropics since it is in the southeast region of the country in Southern Province and Uva Province.
One of the unique features of Yala national park is that it has in its vicinity six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries,Lunugamvehera National Park, being the largest among them.
The Yala park is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region. So this area receives rain mainly during the northeast monsoon which is from December to February. Yala in Sri lanka hosts a variety of ecosystems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands.
There are several easy ways to access the Yala National Park. You can come to Kataragama via Matara via the Southern expressway covering a distance of 284 km. Or can enter Yala via Tissamaharamaya-Kirinda along the same route. Or else can visit Yala via Buththala.
Visits inside the Yala National Park is possible in rented safari vehicles, which costs appr Rs. 3000-5000 for a trip taking about 3-4 hours. The visit is possible in a safari vehicle or a private vehicle. The assistance of a guide provided by the Park authorities is highly recommended.
Accommodation in Yala are plenty by way of hotels, motels, villas etc.
