The Sri Lankan leopard is an absolutely beautiful creature and is endemic to the island nation. Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards in all the national parks in Sri Lanka and is thus a popular location for locals and tourists alike when they want to come face to face with the big cat.
Yala Basic Facts
Yala spreads across an area of 978.8 square kilometres and is located in between the Southern and Uva provinces at an elevation of 98 to 410 feet above sea level. The region is a dry semi-arid area that is a mostly flat land with many water sources in the forms of streams, waterholes, tanks, pools and lagoons.
Best Time to Visit
You can visit Yala all through the year, but it would be most approachable around the months of June to September when there is a higher chance of coming across leopards. The average temperature in Yala is about 26.4 Celsius degrees so dress accordingly.
How to Get to Yala
You can get to Yala by air, rail or road. If you are taking a domestic flight you can take a seaplane to the Tissa Lake and drive for about 30 minutes to get to the national park. Domestic flights are a very quick way of getting around the island and thus quite popular.
But if you want to really experience the country, consider travelling by train or road. You can rest at a Yala hotel and be up bright an early for a safari. Some resorts like Cinnamon Wild Yala will offer packages, which would be much more convenient.
