Yala is the oldest National Park covering 650 sq km. It comprises of three blocks. Block 1, with about 193 sq km, is open to the public. It is to this park that the visitors come to see wild elephants, buffaloes, deer, samber, wild boar, jackals, crocodiles, monitor, dung beetles, peafowl, ibis and various plover, bittern, sand piper and duck. Bears and leopards are not common and it provides an animated shop window for this jungle beast.

The main road running through the park separates the landscape. Dense forest and upheavals of rock are on the higher ground on the left with picturesque plains and seacoast on the right. As the drought sets-in from June to September the elephants start moving towards the river and to large waterfalls to the North of the plains.

Elephants and Buffaloes are the two commonly seen animals in this park. But in the recent past the elephants have either declined or stayed static in number the buffalo population has rapidly multiplied. This is causing some concern because the buffaloes are beginning to wallow muddying the water in all the water holes. They are also competing for grass with the elephants and deer’s.

The best time to visit Yala National park is during the North -East monsoon, from the end of October to May. But wild life can be seen at any time. There are seven bungalows within the park which can accommodate self-catering guests.

Back to the Hotel in Galle/Bentota in late Evening.

End of Excursion …………