A Safari In Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park
Going on a safari in the Yala National Park, in Sri Lanka, is a unique experience, one of the most incredible that you can live in this beautiful Asian country. For this reason, we tell you everything that awaits you if you decide to live the adventure, as well as what is necessary for you to organize it in detail. Can you come with us?
On safari through Yala National Park
In this fabulous natural space live 44 species of mammals, 46 of reptiles and 215 of birds. Some of them are endemic. 21 different species of freshwater fish have also been found in Yala’s waterways.
You will be able to contemplate many of the animals during the safari, which is carried out in comfortable off-road vehicles with capacity for several people. They usually start very early, around five in the morning, and last until twelve in the morning.
Regarding the price of the safari, it usually costs around 5000 rupees, double if you decide to take the full day excursion. Of course, the adventure includes the entrance to the park, the services of a guide and the picnic.
The inhabitants of the park
Once the adventure has begun, it is time to enjoy the natural life that Yala National Park offers. You will see water buffalo bathing in a pond, spoonbills pecking at the ground or how crocodiles watch over their prey before attacking them. To this are added wild boars, iguanas and a long etcetera.
And, if you are lucky, you will even be able to admire the true kings of this park: the leopards. About 60 specimens live here. They hunt at night, so during the day they look for cool shelters in which to rest. Therefore, it is best to be patient and put all your hope in the early hours of the day.
It is also not easy to observe elephants. The reason? They live in more humid and wooded interior lands, such as in Minneriya and its surroundings. But that does not mean that they can approach the southern parts of the Yala National Park.
What else to see in Yala National Park
This space not only stands out for the possibility of seeing animals in their natural habitat, but also for the environment in which they live and which are landscapes of great beauty. And it is that the variety of ecosystems encompassed by the Yala National Park is astonishing.
How to get to Yala National Park?
The entrance to the Yala National Park is located about 20 kilometers from the city of Tissamaharana. Here you can find a good accommodation offer. In addition, it is the place where more agencies are concentrated in which to hire the excursion that interests us and that takes us to the nature reserve.
You can also get there from Haputale and from there take a train to Ella. The journey is one hour and the price is 25 rupees per person. Then it is time to get on a bus to go to Wellawaya, to which we must add another hour of travel and 60 rupees. Finally, it only remains to take a bus to our destination: Tissamaharana.
Already in place, a good accommodation option is Yala Eco Tree House. It is near Yoda Lake and consists of several tree houses, each with a fan to counter the heat or a private bathroom. Food is also served on request, offering all possible comforts.
As you may have seen, it is not necessary to travel to Africa to go on safari. It is also possible in other parts of the world, such as in this Yala National Park, located in the southeast of Sri Lanka. What are you waiting to visit it? Of course, you will not regret it and you will treasure a unique experience.
