News | From the wild

Yala in Full Swing!

Yala is dressed in its greenest glory, revealing a wonderfully different side of the wild! Seasonal showers breathe new life into the landscape. Tanks fill, vegetation flourishes and resident and migratory birds add colour and excitement to the wilderness. Wildlife sightings take on a different rhythm, with nature offering surprises at every turn.
It's a fascinating time to discover Yala's extraordinary web of life.

This is leopard country, and they are the Lords of the Jungle! With a leopard density that's higher than anywhere else on this planet, these menacing predators prowl majestically in Yala, while elephants roam in their numbers with cautious deer scampering by their side

Yala National Park reopens on October 16, 2026 – Blocks 1 and 2 reopening announcement, Sri Lanka wildlife safari
Popular tourist attractions and places to visit in Southern Sri Lanka
Area 378 sq miles
Location 260km South East of Colombo
Entry points Gate1: Palatupana Gate 2: Katagamuwa
Aver.Temp 26.4 °C (79.5 °F)
Climate Dry most of the year
Nearest city Kataragama
Distance to nearest city 30km - 40 minutes drive
Best time to visit June to September
Open hours 6am to 6pm
Coordinates 6°22'22N 81°31'01E
Made a Park in 1st March 1938
Distance from Kataragama to: Katagamuwa Entrance: 14Km Palatupana Entrance: 41Km Galge Entrance: 30Km
Nearest Hospital: Debarawewa Government Hospital
Head office: Open from 9am to 6pm

First comprehensive tourist map

Yala National Park Blocks, Safari Entrances, and Zone Highlights