Yala National Park

Yala, situated in the south-east corner of the island, is home to the greatest variety of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Its varying habitats which consists of scrub plains, jungles, rocky outcrops, fresh water lakes, rivers and beaches are home to many species of animals including sloth bear, herds of elephants, sambar, deer, crocodiles and the endangered leopard subspecies – Panthera Pardus Kotiya, which is only found in Sri Lanka. As per a study produced by National Geographic, Yala National Park has the highest density of leopard in the world. Early-morning or dusk safaris with an expert guide are the ideal times to visit the park when the animals come out to the waterholes. Yala closes for 30 days in the dry season, usually in August or early September to provide the animals with a much needed respite.