Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Yala National Park Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park is made up of five sections, two of which are now open to the public, as well as adjoining parks. These sections have their own names such as, Ruhuna National Park and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It's located in the southeast region of the country, and is part of both the Southern Province and Uva Province. The park spans 979 square kilometres and is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu, was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is most famous for its variety of wild animals. It plays a crucial role in the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.
Recommended airport
Mattala Rajapaksa Intl. (HRI)
Nearby destinations
  • Hambantota a 38.55 km
  • Tissamaharama a 14.65 km
  • Kataragama a 16.73 km