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About Sri Lanka
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About Sri Lanka - Yala National Park
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Regions: south-coast
Main Article: Sri Lanka National Parks | | Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the second largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is well recognised as one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards. The park covers an area of over 100,000 hectares and is divided into five blocks. Block one is the most visited area for Leopard Spotting in Sri Lanka since it contains the highest density of leopards. However other areas of Yala such as Yala East had been open to visitors only in 2009 and it will take time to research leopard numbers in these areas. Yala West consists of scrub jungle, brackish lagoons and stunning rock monoliths scattered throughout the park, its eastern edge is bounded by the South East coast.
Yala is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. It had originally had been designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu National Park it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of its wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds. | Nature at Yala National Park | The park is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. The national park hosts a variety of ecosystems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. The vegetation in the park comprises predominantly of semi-arid thorny scrub, interspersed with pockets of fairly dense secondary forest. Small patches of mangrove vegetation also occur along the coastal lagoons. The park is renowned for the variety of its Wildlife (most notably its many elephants) and its fine coastline (with associated coral reefs). It also boasts a large number of important cultural ruins, bearing testimony to earlier civilizations and indicating that much of the area used to be populated and well developed.
Kumbukkan Oya in the North East and Menik Ganga and tributaries on the West, flow through the Park providing a source of water to the animals even during the driest months of the year.
Yala plays a very significant role in conservation of a large number of flora and fauna in the country. Historical and religious sites such as Kataragama, Sithulpahuwa and Magul Maha Vihara and many archaeologically important places add additional significance to the area. |
| Wildlife at Yala National Park | | Undoubtedly, Yala is famous for its Leopards. Yala has one of the highest Leopard density found anywhere in the world. It is estimated over 30 Leopards are roaming the Block one (measuring 141 sq KM) of Yala. There is also a substantial elephant population along in Yala. The elephant herd of Yala contains between 300–350 individuals. However, the elephant population of the park varies seasonally. There is also Spotted deer, Sambar, Wild buffalo, Sloth bear, Jackal, Mongoose, Pangolins and Crocodiles. Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Leopard, Sri Lankan Elephant, Wild water buffalo are threatened species that Yala is harbouring. Although water buffaloes are indigenous to Sri Lanka, most populations contain genes of the domestic stock or are descended from feral stock. |
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| More on this article - Yala National Park ☟ Bird Watching at Yala National Park | |
The bird life comprises over 215 species, and ranges from Lesser Flamingos to Paradise Flycatchers, Crested Hawk Eagles, and Black Bitterns. Yala is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. There are six birds in Yala are endemic to Sri Lanka. They are Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, and Brown-capped Babbler.
The number of waterbirds inhabiting wetlands of Yala is 90 and half of them are migrants. Waterfowls, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill and Painted Stork are among the common waterbirds. Black-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant are the rare birds that can be seen in the park. The migrant Great White Pelican and resident Spot-billed Pelican are also have been recorded. |
| Flora at Yala National Park | |
Yala National Park has a variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, fresh water and marine wetlands, and sandy beaches. The forest area is restricted to around the Menik River while rangelands are found towards the sea side. Other habitat types found in Yala are tanks and water holes, lagoons and mangroves and chena lands. The mangrove vegetation in the Buthuwa lagoon is largely Rhizophora mucronata while Avicennia spp. and Aegiceras spp. are less abundant. The vegetation of Block two of Yala was once a fertile paddy field and today represents Pitiya grasslands. The mangroves of Block two occur around the estuary of Menik River, which extent to 100 hectares (0.39 sq mi). The common mangrove plants are Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia caseolaris, Avicennia spp., and Aegiceras corniculatum. The lagoons of Pilinnawa, Mahapothana, and Pahalapothana are also located in the block two. The other common mangrove species are Sonneratia caseolaris, Acanthus ilicifolius, Excoecaria agallocha, and Lumnitzera racemosa. In the bare sand Crinum zeylanicum is found.
In the Blocks three, four and five, forests are more widespread. The canopy of the forest manly contains Drypetes sepiaria and Manilkara hexandra plant species. The Pitiya grasslands are important for grazing animals. The Cynodon barberi is the common grass in Pitiya grasslands while Zoysia matrella becomes dominant near the beach. Among 300 odd floral species are Manilkara hexandra, Drypetes sepiaria, Ceylon Satinwood, Terminalia arjuna, Limonia, Berrya cordifolia, Randia dumetorum, Pleurostylia opposita, Gymnema sylvestre, Bell mimosa, Neem, Banyan, Toothbrush tree, Schleichera oleosa, Vitex pinnata, Indian blackberry, Gmelina asiatica, Carissa spinarum, Euphorbia antiquorum, and Acacia eburnea. In the seasonally flooded areas of Block two, a wild species of rice (Oryza sp.) is found. The Glenniea unijuga is an endemic plant species found around the wetlands of the park. The Munronia pumila, Salacia reticulata, and Asparagus racemosus medicinal plants can also be found in Yala. |
| History of Yala National Park | |
On March 23, 1900 the government proclaimed Yala and Wilpattu reserves under the Forest Ordinance. Initially the extent of the reserve was 389 square kilometres (150 sq mi) between the Menik and Kumbukkan Rivers. At that time the reserve did not bear the name Yala. The Game Protection Society (now the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society) was instrumental in establishing the reserve. The forest area between Palatupana and Yala was declared a hunting site reserved only for the resident sportsmen in early part of 1900.
On 1 March 1938 Yala became a national park when the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance was passed into law by the minister of agriculture. The park consists of five blocks. Subsequently four other blocks were incorporated to the park. There are six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Yala. Kumana National Park, Yala Strict Nature Reserve and Kataragama, Katagamuwa, and Nimalawa sanctuaries are continuous with the park. |
| Things To See at Yala National Park | |
Yala is one of the most visited National Parks in Sri Lanka mainly because of the leopards. There is also a substantial elephant population along with Spotted deer, Sambar, Wild buffalo, Sloth bear, Jackal, Mongoose, Pangolins and Crocodiles. The bird life comprises over 215 species. Block one is get the most visited out of all the blocks since it contains the highest density of leopards.
There are many archaeological sites within the park and the ancient monastery of Sithulpahuwa situated at a beautiful rocky platform is among it's most visited sites.
Salt pans at Palatupana is a popular location for bird watching. |
| Jeep Safaris at Yala National Park | |
Hiring of four wheel drive jeep with a guide is a must for those who want to wonder in to its many trails to explore the Yala. It is possible to take full day jeep safaris or to split your day into morning and afternoon drives. If you are keen mainly for the Leopards Safari in Yala, your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning and then again at dusk. You can stay until just after dark inside the park, thus maximizing your chances of a leopard encounter. Find out more about Leopard Spotting with travelSrilanka.co.uk by clicking here.
During the safari, there's a experienced and knowledgeable government Wild Life Department Tracker (Ranger) with you at all times, not only to take care of you, but to impart his knowledge of the local area and its attractions.
For large groups, we also provide a Naturalist. The presence of a qualified Naturalist further ensures that our guests are provided with detailed knowledge about the environment & everything from mammals to trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc. For some of our specialist tours such as Leopard Safari and Leopard Photography in the parks, we always provide a Naturalist who specialise in the tour subject.
The drier season falls between May and August and the park may closes for a short time during September and October. Please check with one of the travelSrilanka.co.uk advisors before booking a safari tour in Yala. |
| Camping at Yala National Park | |
| Enjoyment of Yala can be heightened by our stylish luxury canvas camping accommodation, which is incredibly romantic where we treat you the luxury of real beds, hot showers and excellent cuisine. The tents have living area both inside and out. Find out more about Luxury Tented Camping in Sri Lanka by clicking here. |
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| Related Life Styles |  | Adventure | | | | Sri Lanka's diversity of topography and climate results in the island being the perfect year-round location for activity and adventure. More... |
|  | Nature | | | | Sri Lanka is one of the smallest, but biologically diverse countries in Asia. More... |
|  | Trekking | | | | Trekking and hiking are excellent ways to not only explore Sri Lanka but also gin an insight into her people, their traditions and beliefs. More... |
|  | Wildlife | | | | Influenced by Buddhist respect for all living beings, Sri Lanka has a well-entrenched conservation ethic. More... |
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Yala National Park Tours |  | Sri Lanka Mini Cultural Triangle and Wildlife Tour and Beach Holiday | from £989 | | Discover the world renowned Cultural Triangle and the wild life of Sri Lanka in this tour while staying at some of the finest hotels. Tour includes Anuradhapura Ancient City Tour, Polonnaruwa Ancient City Tour, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Caves, The Royal City of Kandy Tour, Peradeniya Botantical Gardens, Minneriya National Park, Negombo Village Tour, and Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage plus time on the beach to relax at the end of your trip. |
|  | Sri Lanka T20 Colombo Finale Tour Holiday | from £1109 | | This package gives you the opportunity to watch the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup SEMI-FINALE matches and the FINAL in Sri Lanka. Come and watch whether England can defend its champion title. Book early and reserve this T20 cricket tour with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 Super Eight Kandy Tour Holiday | from £1569 | | This package gives you the opportunity to watch the six of the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup Super-Eight games played in Pallekelle, Kandy in Sri Lanka. This could be the most thrilling encounters for the defending champions England. Book early and reserve this T20 cricket tour with a small deposit. Hurry! |
|  | Sri Lanka T20 England Qualifier Tour Holiday | from £999 | | Come and watch one of the most thrilling encounters of the ICC T20 2012 World Cup, the qualifier matches. The package includes 2 England qualifier matches. Book early, reserve your hotels, tickets, transfers and tours with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 World Cup England Full Tour Holiday | from £2239 | | Come and support the current champion, England to defend title at the ICC T20 2012 World Cup. The package includes England qualifier matches played in Colombo, the Supper Eights matches in Pallekelle, Kandy, two semi-final matches and the final. Book early, reserve your hotels, tickets, transfers and tours with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 Super Eight Colombo Tour Holiday | from £1609 | | This package gives you the opportunity to watch the six of the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup Super-Eight games played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This could be the most thrilling encounters for the defending champions England. Book early and reserve this T20 cricket tour with a small deposit. Hurry! |
|  | Sri Lanka T20 Sri Lanka Qualifier Tour Holiday | from £1009 | | Come and watch ICC T20 2012 World Cup qualifier matches that include Sri Lanka. The package includes 3 qualifier matches played in Hambantota to watch Sri Lanka to grab the top position in their group to qualify as Supper Eight Team. Book early, reserve your hotels, tickets, transfers and tours with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 World Cup Sri Lanka Full Tour Holiday | from £2219 | | Come and support the host country, Sri Lanka at the ICC T20 2012 World Cup. The package includes Sri Lanka qualifier matches played in Colombo, the Supper Eights matches in Pallekelle, Kandy, two semi-final matches and the final. Book early, reserve your hotels, tickets, transfers and tours with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 Colombo Finale Beach Stay Holiday | from £939 | | This package gives you the opportunity to watch the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup SEMI-FINALE matches and the FINAL in Sri Lanka. Come and watch whether England can defend its champion title. Book early and reserve this T20 cricket beach stay with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 Super Eight Colombo Beach Stay Holiday | from £1529 | | This package gives you the opportunity to watch the six of the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup Super-Eight games played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This could be the most thrilling encounters for the defending champions England. Book early and reserve this T20 cricket beach stay with a small deposit. Hurry! |
| | Sri Lanka T20 England Qualifier Beach Stay Holiday | from £929 | | Come and watch one of the most thrilling encounters of the ICC T20 2012 World Cup, the qualifier matches. The package includes 2 England qualifier matches. Book early, reserve your hotels, tickets and transfers with a small deposit. Hurry! |
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Excursions of Yala National Park, Sri Lanka |  | Peradeniya Botanical Gardens | Kandy | hill country | | Peradeniya Botanical Gardens is the foremost of its kind in Sri Lanka in both size and splendour. It was created by the Kandyan King for the enjoyment of the aristocracy. Today the gardens have an orchid house, spice garden, Japanese garden, picturesque lake filled with water lilies and more. | | |
|  | Muthurajawela Marsh | Negombo | capital colombo | | Muthurajawela Marsh is a distinctive wetland habitat on the Negombo lagoon in the south of the town of Negombo. | | |
| | Negombo Fishing Harbour | Negombo | capital colombo | | Despite this fact Negombo has become a popular tourist destination, Negombo has still managed to maintain its traditional fishing heritage. Visit the Negombo harbour to see the fisherman who are still trying to earn their daily living through long established fishing practices. | | |
|  | Anuradhapura Ancient City Tour | Anuradhapura | ancient cities | | Anuradhapura ancient city in Sri Lanka is a magical place. Anuradhapura features some of the most ancient archaeological treasures in Sri Lanka dating back to the 4th century BC. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites that must be missed. | | |
|  | Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage | Kegalle | hill country | | Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is home for nearly 84 young and old orphaned elephants. Feed the baby elephants and watch them play and plod down to the river for their daily bath. | | |
|  | Uda Walawe National Park Safari | Udawalawe | south coast | | The Uda Walawe National Park has around 500 wild elephants populating the area in large herds, it is an ideal place to see these majestic pachyderms in their natural surroundings. | | |
|  | Yala National Park Tour | Yala | south coast | | Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the second largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka. It is one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards. | | |
|  | Minneriya National Park Safari | Polonnaruwa | ancient cities | | Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank, Minneriya National Park has plenty of scrub and light forest in its 8890 hectares to provide shelter for its toque macaques, sambar deer, leopards and elephants – to name a few. | | |
|  | Horton Plains | Nuwara Eliya | hill country | | Horton Plains is one of the most popular and a unique natural attraction in Sri Lanka. It is located 2000m high plateau 28km south of Nuwara Eliya and its known for its beautiful landscapes, rare plants, animal life and World’s End where the plains comes suddenly to an end. | | |
|  | Adams peak | Ratnapura | hill country | | The 2,243 m (7,360-ft) high summit is situated in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary called Peak Wilderness. According to Buddhist history the footprint at the summit of the mountain is of Lord Buddha, left during his third visit to Sri Lanka. | | |
|  | Singharaja Rain Forest | Sinharaja | hill country | | Sinharaja Rain Forest’s biodiversity makes it one of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Sinharaja Rain Forest is a great location for general wildlife enthusiasts and a must for bird watchers. | | |
| | Ella Adventure Park | | | | | | |
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 | Udawalawe National Park | | The Uda Walawe National Park has around 500 wild elephants populating the area in large herds, it is an ideal place to see these majestic pachyderms in their natural surroundings.More... |
|  | Yala National Park | | Yala National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the second largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is well recognised as one of the best parks in the world to observe and photograph leopards.More... |
|  | Wilpattu National Park | | Covering an impressive 425 sq miles, Wilpattu National Park is Sri Lanka’s largest. Having reopened in March, 2010 it is just a matter of time before it becomes a popular eco-tourism destination.More... |
|  | Somawathie Chaittiya National Park | | The Somawathi Chaithya National Park located on the bank of the Mahaveli River close to Polonnaruwa is home to large number of wild animals ranging from elephants, wild buffalo, deer and other grass-eating animals.More... |
|  | Flood Plains National Park | | Flood Plains National Park is in Polonnaruwa district and it is part of Mahaweli system of protected areas, both for its unique villus and as a corridor for wildlife migration between grazing lands in Wasgamuwa.More... |
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Other Articles |  | Active | | There is no better or more exhilarating way to discover Sri Lank’s spectacular scenery and nature than through white water rafting down a majestic river, trekking & hiking in Horton Plains National Park, rock-climbing and caving of the Knuckles mountain range, mountain biking in the Hill Country, horse riding, camping, jeep safaris – the options are endless. More... | | Adventure | | Sri Lanka's diversity of topography and climate results in the island being the perfect year-round location for activity and adventure. More... |  | Anniversary | | Going on a romantic holiday to a tropical paradise such as Sri Lanka can be a great way to celebrate your anniversary. More... |  | Ayurvedic | | Sri Lanka's ancient history has a page devoted to the world of "Ayurveda" meaning the science of life and is the most scientific and complete system of preventative and curative medical care known to mankind. More... |  | Culture | | The culture of Sri Lanka has been influenced by many things in the past, but Sri Lanka has managed to retain much of its ancient, rich aspects. More... |  | Golf | | . More... |
| Sri Lanka Weather | | Sri Lanka weather is slightly complicated by having two monsoons and an inter-monsoonal period when rain can occur in many parts of the island. As a result, Sri Lanka has become an all year around travel destination. More... |
| Best Time to Travel to Sri Lanka | | Visitors come to Sri Lanka all year around. Sri Lanka’s climate means that it is always the ‘right’ beach season somewhere on the coast. More... |
| Sri Lanka Visa Requirements | | Sri Lanka tourists visa regulations are simple. USA and most European countries receive 30 days tourist visa on arrival. More... |
| Foreign Embassies in Sri Lanka | | As a tourist, it is always important to know where the foreign embassy is in Sri Lanka and what they can and cannot do to help you. More... |
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