Yala national park or Ruhunu national park is situated in the boarder of Southern Province and Uva province. It is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka with about 980 square kilometers in size and it is located about 300 kilometers from Colombo. You can reach there from Colombo via Avissawella, Rathnapura, Pelmadulla, Embilipitiya, Hambanthota, Thissamaharama, Yala. If you like to come across sea boarder you can come via Galle,Mathara, Hambanthota, Thissamaharama, Yala. Below is the location map of the Yala national park.
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Yala has divided in to five blocks. Actually it is not divided, those blocks are added to Yala national park in different times and the collection of those five blocks creates Yala national park.
From those 5 blocks block one is most popular, because it consists of highest density of leopards. You can see also a significant number of Elephants in Yala. The other animals you can see are
Spotted deer, Sambar, Wild buffalo, Sloth bear, Jackal, Mongoose, Pangolins and Crocodiles. Below are some images of the animals that you can see in the Yala national park.
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| Leopard at Yala |
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| Elephants at Yala |
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| Wild Buffalo |
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| Deer |
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There are also over 120 species of birds in Yala. There are Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, and Brown-capped Babbler. Outside the national park you can also see birds in places such as Debarawewa wetland, Palatupana saltpans and Sithulpawwa. Below are few types of birds that you can see in the Yala national park.
There are many bungalows inside the national parks and also there are many hotels in that area too. You have almost all the facilities there. If you wish to stay a bungalow inside the park you may better book it before you come to the park.
