Yala National Park
Home to the world's highest concentration of leopards and an extraordinary diversity of wildlife.
Park At a Glance
Everything you need to know before your visit
Location
South-East Sri Lanka, Hambantota District
Established
1938 — one of Sri Lanka's oldest national parks
Area
979 km² spanning five blocks
Famous For
Highest leopard density in the world
Best Time to Visit
February – July (dry season, animals near water holes)
Wildlife
215+ bird species, 44 mammal species
A Wildlife Paradise Like No Other
Yala National Park, located on the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, is the country's most visited and second-largest national park. Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and designated a national park in 1938, it spans nearly 979 square kilometres of diverse ecosystems.
The park is renowned worldwide for hosting the highest density of leopards on Earth. Beyond leopards, visitors can encounter Asian elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, water buffalo, jackals, and more than 215 species of birds.
The landscape is a captivating mix of scrub jungle, open grassland, lagoons, and rocky outcrops against a beautiful coastline — making every game drive a unique visual experience.
Sri Lanka’s Coastal Bird Sanctuary
Bundala is a protected Ramsar wetland sanctuary known for its colorful lagoons, tidal flats, and salt marshes. It is one of the top birding destinations in Sri Lanka, with year-round water birds and a winter influx of migratory species.
Visitors come here for spectacular flamingo flocks, greater and lesser sand plovers, storks, pelicans, and water buffalo grazing beside the coast. The park’s calm wetlands offer a very different atmosphere from Yala, with scenic boat rides and bird hides.
Location
South coast of Sri Lanka, Hambantota District
Established
1990 — protected wetlands for bird habitat
Area
218 km² of lagoons, marshes, and dunes
Famous For
Flamingos, storks, pelicans, and migratory bird flocks
Best Time
December – April (peak birding season)
Wildlife
Water buffalo, crocodiles, and rare coastal birds
A Wild Elephant Wonderland
Lunugamwehera is a quiet dry-zone reserve with open grasslands, evergreen forest patches, and freshwater lakes. It is a trusted destination for elephant watching and offers a more peaceful safari experience.
This park is also home to mugger crocodiles, water buffalo, spotted deer, and a wide variety of birdlife. The lakes and forest edges create beautiful wildlife viewing opportunities, especially in the dry season.
Location
North of Yala, Monaragala District
Established
1993 — reserve for dry-zone wildlife
Area
229 km² of forest, grassland, and lakes
Famous For
Elephant herds and wild buffalo sightings
Best Time
June – September for dry season visibility
Wildlife
Elephants, crocodiles, deer, and rich birdlife
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