During our journey to Sri Lanka, after visiting the city of Ella, we made a quick stop of a couple of days in Tissamaharama to visit the Yala National Park.
Tissamaharama is the town where the gateway to the Park is located .Here I will tell you everything you need to know to visit the park, get a fair price at the Safari and not to miss anything.
📸 All pictures you are going to see in this post were taken from my camera during my visit to the park on 2 different occasions.
About Yala National Park
Yala National Park is an extensive conservation area and one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Sri Lanka. This park is especially well known because of its diversity and ecosystems. The area includes dry monsoon forests, savannahs, wetlands and beaches.
Its biodiversity is impressive, with a wide variety of animals, including elephants, crocodiles, water buffaloes and one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, which makes it an exceptional place for sightings of these felines.
Extension
Yala National Park has an approximate extension of 979 square kilometers, making it the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is divided into six blocks, only three of them are open to the public and safari tourism.
Location
Yala is located about 300 kilometers from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The main entrance to the park is located near the town of Tissamaharama, which serves as a convenient starting point for day trips and safaris to the park.
Essential Information before visiting Yala National Park
If you are reading this article is because you are interested in doing a safari and you are in the right place, I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about booking a Safari succesfully.
Safaris in Yala National Park
It is crucial to choose the right company to avoid overpricing. I recommend booking through reliable platforms such as Viator to guarantee fair prices and quality services. It is important to check the details of the safari, such as if it includes pick-up at your accommodation, park entrance, meals, or transportation. In many occasions, locals will try to sell you anything for twice the price.
The Best Tours in Yala National Park
- Full safari from 4:30am to 6pm: Includes pick up, park entrance, jeep safari, water, fruits, breakfast, lunch and driver. All for 90€.
- Half day safari 6am to 2pm: Includes pick up, jeep safari, and driver for 27€. But in this case the food and the entrance fee, which is around 35€ per person, are not included.
In our case, we were able to get an all-inclusive package for approximately 70€. This allowed us to enjoy a complete experience without any worries. This package included park entrance, morning and afternoon safaris, food, transportation and guide.
I recommend you to book the half day package, a full day's safari often becomes tiresome. With half a day you will have more than enough to see everything and if you are lucky enough, even take a good picture of the elusive leopard.
Later in this article, I will tell you about the accommodation where we stayed, which helped to make our experience in Yala even more incredible.
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Best time to visit Yala National Park
The best time to visit Yala National Park is during the dry season, which is taking place from February to June. During these months, the animals congregate around the remaining water sources, which facilitates their sighting.
Which animals can you find in the Safari of Yala?
Yala National Park is a refuge for an impressive variety of wildlife, making it a privileged destination for nature and photography lovers. Among the animals that you will be able to see in Yala, the following stand out:
- Leopards: Yala is famous for having one of the biggest densities of leopards in the world. The truth is despite this, the probability of finding them is low, they are extremely elusive. In our case, we were able to spot one from afar moving through the bushes.
- Asian Elephants: Elephants are a common sight in the park, and it is possible to observe them in groups, especially near the water holes. You will have no problem to find them, in fact they are probably the animals you will encounter the most.
- Sloth Bears: Although more difficult to spot due to their solitary nature and predominantly nocturnal habits, sloths are another of the large mammals present in the park. We did not see any, although we did not expect to encounter them during the day either.
- Water buffalo: Buffalo are frequently seen cooling off in the ponds and lagoons of the park. In fact, during our visit, all the ones we saw were enjoying bathing in the ponds.
- Spotted deer (Axis axis): They are abundant in Yala and can be easily found in groups grazing in the grasslands. You will have no problem spotting them, besides these deer are like bambi's deer, with white dots on their backs.
- Langur Monkeys and Macaques: Primates are quite common in Yala, often seen in the trees or near the picnic areas, looking for food. Be careful with your food at picnic time, the monkeys show no mercy when it comes to appeasing their hunger.
- Variety of Birds: With more than 215 recorded bird species, Yala is a birdwatcher's paradise. Among them are the peacock, serpent eagle and various species of waterfowl and raptors.
- Crocodiles: Crocodiles are commonly spotted in the rivers and lagoons. They are easy to find, I am sure you will encounter several on your visit as well.
☀️ The cars are covered from above, but keep in mind that you will be exposed to the sun for many hours. Don't forget to bring sunscreen, cap and some snacks. Water is included in the safari.
Where to stay to visit the national park
During our visit to Yala National Park, we were fortunate enough to stay at "Lake Tree House" in Tissamaharama, located near the lagoon. We discovered this place by chance, but quickly realized that it was a perfect choice.
It is a family-run guesthouse where hospitality goes beyond the conventional. The family has built three tree houses on the grounds, where they also live with their two daughters. The warmth and treatment received from this charming family was incomparable; they took care of cooking for us and welcomed us as if we were one of them.
Top 3 Accommodations in Yala National Park
- Lake View Tree House: For an authentic but economical experience.
- Wild Culture Yala: The best resort for a more premium experience but at the same time true to the environment.
- Saffron Lake Yala: It is a complex of individual cabins in the middle of nature. If you are looking for a more romantic setting Saffron is your place 😉.
I highly recommend this accommodation option not only for the price, which turned out to be quite affordable at 7$ per person, but also for the hospitality and personalized treatment we received. The location is ideal for those planning to visit Yala National Park. The experience of living in a tree house adds a unique and memorable touch to the stay.
For those looking for more luxurious options, it is possible to find accommodations within Yala National Park itself. However, if you are looking for an authentic experience that combines comfort, economy and a warm welcome, "Lake Tree House" in Tissamaharama is an option you should definitely consider.
Is Yala National Park worth visiting?
I highly recommend a visit to Yala National Park, it is considered one of the best safari destinations outside of Africa. The park stands out not only for its impressive biodiversity and the possibility of spotting a wide range of wildlife in its natural habitat, but also for being a fairly inexpensive safari experience.
Additionally, the park offers different safari options, from luxurious camps to more accessible options. The ease of organization and the availability of all-inclusive packages, covering everything from transportation to park entrance fees and meals, make planning your visit to Yala simple and hassle-free.
Where to go after your visit to Yala National Park
Everything will depend on whether you are heading to the southwest or north of the island, taking this into account there are several options:
Central Sri Lanka
The first major city in central Sri Lanka is Ella, the city of mountains and waterfalls. This city is one of my favorites in the country, here you can do epic routes like Little Adams Peak or visit the second largest waterfall in Sri Lanka, Diyaluma falls.
After visiting Ella you can take the famous train from Ella to Kandy, which takes approximately 7 hours and stay in Kandy about two or three days at the least. When you finish watching Kandy don't forget to go to Sigiriya to see Lion's Rock.
South West Sri Lanka
The southwest of the island is full of paradisiacal beaches where you can surf and relax. If you go through this area, your next stop should be Hiriketiya beach followed by Mirissa, Weligama, Midigama, Ahangama and Unawatuna.
My Experience in Yala National Park
When we decided to visit Yala National Park, we really had little idea of what we were going to find. It was our first safari and our expectations were uncertain. However, we were pleasantly surprised by what we experienced there. For the price we paid, we had the opportunity to see a lot of local wildlife, which was incredibly rewarding. Personally, I would recommend visiting Yala National Park without hesitation; it is an experience that I feel should be on your itinerary at 100%.
In addition, staying in a family-run guesthouse, "Lake Tree House", contributed significantly to making our experience even more authentic and allowing us to get closer to the local culture in a way that we probably would not have been able to otherwise.
However, not everything was perfect. One of the negative aspects I would highlight from our visit to the park is the amount of visitors it attracts on a daily basis. Despite this, the overall experience at Yala was unforgettable and the positive moments far outweighed any crowd-related drawbacks.
