The Pearl of the Indian Ocean has more than just temples, beaches and spicy food to offer its guests; Sri Lanka also rich in flora and fauna, being a tropical country, is home to some lush rainforests and thick jungles. Yala National Park is one such place where travellers can enjoy wild animals and birds in their natural habitat whilst travelling in an open safari jeep. Being a popular tourist destination, there are a myriad of Yala hotels in the vicinity of the park such as Jetwing Yala.
Yala National Park, known to be the island’s largest national park is open two times during the day; 6 am and 2 pm. Waking up early to get on the 6 am safari ride is an experience that’s not to be missed! Take in the morning sun as it rises and watch as the animals wake up from their slumber and begin their day. The 2 pm safari ride is equally great, especially if beauty sleep is crucial. Spotting a leopard is probably one of the harder tasks during the safari, and only those lucky enough would get a chance to watch this majestic animal; perched up on a tree away from the blistering sun or enjoying a scrumptious meal.
However, visitors are not to be discouraged if there weren’t any leopards around, as Yala is home to countless other animal species. The second popular attraction at Yala is the wild Asian elephants. These magnificent beauties travel in herds so are easier to spot, however be sure to contain the excitement and not make loud noises as it will agitate them. The keen eye will be treated to many other species at the park like sloth bears, wild boars, spotted deer, mongoose, land monitors, wild buffalos and jackals, Sri Lanka’s national bird, the jungle fowl, peacocks, eagles, falcons, kingfishers, snakes and many more!
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
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