Sri Lanka is renowned for its wildlife and natural beauty. From golden sandy beaches in the coasts to the tranquil misty hills towards the center of the island, Sri Lanka is a paradise for nature lovers. The country outliving its size offers a variety of activities to indulge in. For wildlife enthusiasts it is the place to be, the country has several national parks and sanctuaries that provide a memorable experience.

The Yala National Park, located in the Southern part of Sri Lanka is one such destination. Located just 300 kms from the capital city of Colombo, the park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. This nature reserve provides great opportunity for the visitor to witness and observe many types of wild animals such as Asian elephants, sloth bear, wild boar, mouse deer, and most notably Sri Lankan leopard. The park is home to over 30 species of mammals, 125 species of birds, and many other reptiles.

For those who are planning a trip to the yala safari can easily do so by bringing a four-wheel drive vehicle or renting one from the park itself. It is advisable however to rent out a park vehicle along with a guide to enjoy the best of the safari as the rough four-wheel drives at the park provide guests the ability to clearly observe and enjoy flora and fauna of the sanctuary.

The park is renowned for its diversity, and is considered to be one of the best parks in the world to observe leopards. This natural haven is considered to have the highest density of leopards in the world, and is also regarded to have a subspecies of leopard native to Sri Lanka known as Sri Lanka leopard. Though you would have to put in much effort to come across a leopard, wild Asian elephants are a common sight to observe while at the park.