Best of Yala National Park

Sri Lanka’s most famous national park harbors an impressive array of wildlife, including elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, and over 200 bird species. Yala is also home to one of the densest concentrations of leopards in the world. Experiencing this 378 square-mile (979 sq-km) reserve isn’t just about animal encounters. The scenery encompasses a variety of unique ecosystems, from wetlands to grassy plains and forests, and the human presence in Yala dates back more than 2,000 years. Ancient temples just outside the park are important pilgrimage sites for many believers. 

One of the best ways to see wildlife in the national park is on a jeep safari. Open-sided vehicles provide excellent vantage points of lumbering herds of elephants, prancing peacocks and agile troops of macaques leaping through the treetops. At Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya, you can explore the remains of an ancient Buddhist monastery built in the 2nd century BCE. It was once a major center of spirituality and housed up to 12,000 monks at its peak. About a 30-minute drive west of the park, Kataragama is a holy place for Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and the indigenous Vedda people, and you can learn all about Sri Lanka’s different religions by visiting the historic temples, shrines and mosque here.