Yala National Park holidays in Sri Lanka

Yala National Park, located in Sri Lanka’s dry zone on the south east and hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and became a national park in 1938. The park is divided into five sectors, of which two are currently open to visitors on guided 4x4 jeep safaris which give the opportunity to view wildlife.

Yala's terrain is very diverse ranging from dense jungle to grasslands, lakes, wetlands, flat plains, rocky outcrops and sandy beaches (although these are not recommended for swimming). This varied environment supports one of the richest and most varied collections of wildlife in the country, with 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species, including storks, kingfishers, flamingos and peacocks.

Among its more famous residents...