Why visit
Yala is Sri Lanka's best-known national park: a mosaic of dry forest, scrub, lagoons and rocky outcrops on the south-east coast. It is famous for leopards, and you may also see Asian elephants, sloth bears, mugger crocodiles, water buffalo, spotted deer and hundreds of bird species.
How a visit works
You explore the park on a guided drive in a licensed open jeep — private cars cannot enter. Most visitors take a half-day safari in the early morning or late afternoon, when animals are most active. The main entrance is Palatupana, about 14 km from the resort; the Katagamuwa entrance is further north.
Getting there from Diyadahara
The drive to Palatupana takes around half an hour along the Kirinda–Palatupana road. Your jeep collects you from the resort, so there is nothing to organise on the day.
Plan your safari
Read our Yala safari guide for morning vs evening drives, jeeps, the best months to go and what to bring.
Tips for your visit
- Book your jeep at least a day ahead in busy months
- Bring binoculars, water and a light layer for the cool early morning
- Stay inside the jeep and keep noise down near animals
- Two drives (morning and evening) give you the best chance of seeing a leopard
