I saw a leopard while at Yala National Park! Yes! The few of us who managed to enter the park early saw a leopard as our first animal of the full-day safari. I’m sure the main intention of any visitor to Yala National Park is to see the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. The park has the highest density of leopards on the island and probably in the world. But to spot one still takes luck, especially when the big cats are sensitive to sound and there’s a horde of jeeps around. Nonetheless, there are plenty of other incredible animals to see in Yala – my second safari experience after spotting the elephants at Hurulu Eco Park. Here’s my experience and tips on the logistics if you want to see leopards and other animals in the wild yourself. Logistics to Yala National Park I’d like to dive right into what I saw in Yala National Park, but first, we have to cover the logistics required to arrange a safari. Skip this section and move on to the next if you’re going on a tour. We travelled to  Tissamaharama, the nearest town to Yala National Park, and booked our tour through our accommodation. If planning nauseates you and you just want to enjoy your trip, leave the logistics to others. Book your accommodation and a tour beforehand, such as this one with excellent reviews. Best Time to Visit There are five blocks in Yala National Park, and Block 1 has the highest density of leopards. Most jeeps go to Block 1 unless requested otherwise.Best vacation packages Each month brings different views and experiences to the park. However, the most popular area, Block 1, is closed during the dry season from September to October for park restoration. During these months, other blocks are visited instead. That is not to say the chances of spotting leopards are non-existent in other blocks, as these big cats roam freely. Migratory birds, elephant herds, and different species of deer, as well as smaller animals like pangolins and mongooses, also call the park home. You might even spot the equally rare Sri Lankan sloth bear, which ventures out to feast on a certain berry between May and June. Our visit in December risked rain from the North-East Monsoon (Maha), which runs from November to March. We had rain the day we travelled to Tissamaharama, but it was sunny for the majority of our full-day safari, except for a short downpour in the early afternoon. Getting to Tissamaharama We took public bus #31 from Ella and transferred to bus #535/2 to Weerawila for Tissamaharama. The total cost was LKR 400 per person, and the journey took 2.5 hours.Travel guides Tissamaharama isn’t a transport hub like Kandy. Those who go there are likely doing so solely for the national park. As such, transport choices are limited to the public buses I took, or private shuttles and taxis. There are no train stations in Tissamaharama. You can find private options on GetYourGuide. Some offer half-day safaris as part of a day shuttle from Ella to Mirissa or Galle. There’s even one ambitious operator that departs from Colombo. Did you know you can rent a tuk-tuk for a road trip around Sri Lanka? Ensure you have an international driving licence, and they can assist with the local licence application. Use my link to receive a 5% discount on your booking. Always ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance. Traffic can be chaotic in parts of Sri Lanka, and adequate coverage is essential. For this, I’d recommend SafetyWing.

Logistics to Yala National Park Best Time to Visit Getting to Tissamaharama Accommodations near the Park Tour and Cost of My Experience Sights of the Full-Day Safari Early Morning Start

Ceylon Yala Safari