Introduction of Yala National Park

Spanning 378 square miles, Yala National Park is one of the most iconic Sri Lankan landmarks. Some even refer to it as the home of the Sri Lankan leopard and Yala incidentally also has one of the highest concentrations of leopards in the world. For over 100 years, Yala national park has been a wildlife sanctuary which has allowed it to flourish as a diverse landmass comprised of myriad species of fauna as well as flora, making it the perfect destination for the adventurous tourist. The natural diversity of Yala includes brackish lagoons, grassy plains, and dense forests, while the fauna consists of elephants, crocodiles, and many other species in between, including some endemic to Sri Lanka.

The diversity of Yala National Park doesn’t stop at its wildlife. Once home to a thriving civilization dating back to the ancient Kings of Sri Lanka, a part of the tourist appeal of Yala is a series of well-preserved ancient temples, the most popular of which is Sithulpawwa – an ancient monastic settlement that is considered sacred by Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Traces of old irrigation tanks also hint at a once flourishing civilization that used to exist in ancient Sri Lanka and incidentally, these same tanks are now used by Yala’s animals as sources of water, making them tourist hot spots within Yala and the best places to spot Yala’s most elusive animals.

History of Yala National Park

Legends surrounding Yala predate established historical facts by centuries. Some say that the legendary King Ravana imprisoned Rama’s wife Sita in Sri Lanka on many sites including the landmass which is now known as Yala.

In prehistoric times, it is said that a race of primitive humans called “Nittaewo” lived in Yala, and Sri Lankan Veddahs (the indigenous tribe of Sri Lankans) have a lot of folklore surrounding them. While Nittaewo is not said to only have resided in Yala, there is much debate about their origins, race, and characteristics. Some say that they might have gotten their name from the characteristic long claws they are said to have possessed, which they used in place of primitive tools when consuming food. They are also said to have had reddish fur and been short in stature. Veddhas are said to be sworn enemies of Nittaewo because they apparently were known to attack Veddhas in their sleep. Certain places in Yala are rumored to have artifacts thought to have been used by the Nittaewo of Yala such as hollowed-out tortoise shells. The Bambaragasthalawa Cave inside Yala is said to be the site of the final battle between the Veddhas and Nittaewo, which was won by the Veddhas.

Moving back to well-established facts, in ancient times, Sithulpawwa, or Chiththala Pabbatha (the hill of the quiet mind) was an ancient Buddhist monastery that can trace its history dating back to the 2nd century BC, during the reign of King Kavantissa. Sithulpawwa consists of many historic sites which include a cave with paintings over 2000 years old, as well as a temple atop a resident rock that rises above the surrounding wilderness, all of which can be visited when visiting Yala. In fact, Sithulpawwa has a separate direct entrance that Buddhist devotees use.

Located closeby is the famed Magul Maha Viharaya which is said to be the famed site where King Kavantissa married Princess Vihara Maha Devi after she was sacrificed to the ocean by her father King Kelanitissa and landed in King Kavantissa’s Kingdom. It is said that King Kavantissa built the temple on the exact site where he married Princess Vihara Maha Devi. Also of historical significance is Akasa Chaitya, or Elephant Rock, which is another religious site from the same time period. All of these sites have ancient stupas, monasteries, and other similar infrastructure which hints at its once glorious past as the grounds of a thriving human civilization.

Yala national park also has many ancient paddy lands, stone pillars with ancient Brahmi inscriptions, and drip-ledge caves inhabited by arhats (enlightened Buddhist monks) which point to its rich history as part of a thriving ancient civilization.

The Climate and Vibe of Yala National Park

The best time to visit Yala National Park is from February to July when the water levels are low and more animals gather together near the larger sources of water. Safaris, which start at around 6 am when the park opens or around 4 pm when the animals come back out after the harsh afternoon heat, are usually most successful. If done right, tourists will likely encounter buffaloes, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys during their safari.

Sri Lanka considers Yala National Park to be an important wildlife reserve and therefore promotes the concept of eco-tourism within and around the park. The Sri Lankan government advises tourists to leave “little or no impact” on the natural habitat of Yala. This means that Sri Lanka’s eco-tourism policy invites tourists to observe nature without harming it, even encouraging tourists to “spy” on the animals rather than disturb them.

To enter Yala for safari tourism, tourists need to purchase a ticket which also includes the trekkers who tourists need to travel through the park with. Trekkers have experienced guides who understand the wildlife and how best to ensure the safety of the tourists and nature during the safari. Because there are a limited number of trekkers, it is advisable to pre-book a safari to Yala National Park so that tourists ensure the availability of a trekker. Tourists might also want to discuss and find out when it would be best to visit Yala to avoid going when there is a large crowd as this can also affect the quality of their safari.

Along with following the advice of the trekker, the Sri Lankan government advises people to be aware of their surroundings and respect the animals they encounter during their Yala safari to ensure that their peace is not affected, and also to promote the utmost safety of tourists. This means avoiding any actions which may disturb the animals of Yala such as chasing them in a vehicle or on foot, taking photographs with flashing cameras, or being loud in their presence. This also ensures that tourists can observe the maximum number of animals possible because the animals respond well to the minimally invasive tourist.

Yala National Park is bordered by the sea on one side and visitors are allowed to visit the beach near the Tsunami memorial which was erected because Yala National Park was also one of the areas of Sri Lanka affected by the 2004 Tsunami. Miraculously, no animals from Yala are reported to have died during the Tsunami, which some feel is an indication of the presence of a “sixth sense” by animals that allowed them to run to safety – only a part of Yala was affected by the Tsunami.

Yala’s current Inhabitants

Yala is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds. Apart from leopards, some of the most noteworthy species include elephants, peacocks, spotted deer, and jackals. Yala also has around 40 species of reptiles, the most noteworthy among them being the Marsh crocodile, and around 15 species of amphibians.

Some mammals that are found in Yala are endemic to Sri Lanka. Two of the more famous examples would be the Sri Lankan sloth bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus) and the Sri Lankan sambar (Rusa unicolor unicolor). The Sri Lankan sloth bears in Yala are nocturnal and therefore best spotted by safari goers at dusk or early in the morning. Similar to sloths, the Sri Lankan sloth bear is also very reclusive and is rarely seen with other sloth bears except during mating season or if a mother and cubs are spotted together. The only species of bear known to carry cubs on their backs, Sri Lankan sloth bears use a variety of different calls and facial expressions to communicate. Because they cannot go for long periods without water, safari goers who visit watering holes during dawn or dusk are the most likely to spot these shy, interesting bears. Contrary to the Sri Lankan sloth bear, Sri Lankan sambar deer are often seen in large herds at Yala. One of the largest subspecies of deer found in the world, the Sri Lankan sambar deer can easily be recognized by their antlers – the largest antlers in both size and body.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest densities in Asia of Crocodylus baluster, commonly referred to as Mugger or Marsh crocodiles. A literal living dinosaur who has remained unchanged for over 65 million years, although they may seem scary, the crocodiles at Yala play a vital role in the ecosystem of the park by ensuring that there is no overpopulation of other species. While crocodiles are very keen and skilled hunters, they can be safely viewed from a tourist’s safari jeep.

Yala’s VIP – the Sri Lankan Leopard

Yala’s best-known inhabitant, the Sri Lankan leopard, or Panthera pardus Kotiya, roams the grounds freely, much to the delight of safari-goers. Some are even relatively used to humans and are quite happy to roam about even in the presence of safari jeeps! Leopards in Yala also enjoy climbing trees and entire leopard families have been spotted relaxing atop trees in Yala by excited safari goers!

Because of the lack of other large cats in Sri Lanka such as panthers, tigers, lions, etc, this Sri Lankan subspecies of leopard has enjoyed being at top of the food chain and is therefore one of the largest subspecies of leopard found in the world. The Sri Lankan leopard is usually a “straw” yellow, with variations including a bright golden brown and occasionally black. The characteristics of black spots, or rosettes are a key identifying feature of this magnificent beast.

Carnivorous by nature, leopards feed on a range of species including hares and sambur and are even known to eat cats and dogs when necessary. Sri Lankan leopards are also known to eat a large variety of species from frogs to crabs and the loss of habitat of the leopard has made them wander into villages, where they are known to have eaten pets of nearby residents. Mainly nocturnal, leopards can also be spotted during the day, especially early morning and late afternoon. The Sri Lankan leopard is classified as being endangered due to the loss of its natural habitat and poaching.

Flora of Yala National Park

Tourism related to flora is best accomplished in February or March as this is when tourists can see Yala’s flora in full bloom following the rain from the North East Monsoon. Yala is referred to as a “seasonal monsoon forest” for this reason but also because many plants shed their leaves during the dry season.

The “dry” section of Yala is dominated by a few species such as Mountain pomegranate (Catunaregam spins), which is known in Sri Lanka as Kukuruman. They take the form of short trees of less than 5 meters on average, and their rigid, woody branches extend horizontally, with single, short branchlets bearing the plant’s iconic white flowers and globular, yellow fruit. Another dominant tree in the scrub zone of Yala is the Palu tree (Manilkara hexandra), which is commonly used in Sri Lanka for timber. The tree has a heavy, straight trunk and a dark green, compact canopy. The Palu tree has small, oval-shaped berries and whitish flowers.

As tourists move away from the dry scrub zone towards the waterways of Yala, they will encounter iconic Sri Lankan trees such as Kumbuk (Terminalia arjuna), which thrive best on the banks of waterways. Native to Sri Lanka, Kumbuk trees are famous and valued by Sri Lankans for many reasons such as the ample shade they provide and the wood of the tree being used locally to make furniture. Kumbuk trees are quite beautiful because their leaves turn bright red when old and the tree also has small cream-colored flowers and tiny fruits.

Although it might seem much easier to photograph the flora of Yala rather than its fauna, there are a few factors that budding photographers need to be mindful of when taking photographs of the flora of Yala. The first factor they need to consider is that some trees and creepers etc. are intertwined with each other in thickets of dense forest or shrubbery, while the second factor is that harsh afternoon sunlight can make taking photographs of the flora rather difficult. The third-factor tourists need to keep in mind about taking photographs of flora during their Yala safari is that the wind can make it difficult to take good pictures so if tourists want to photograph the flora, perhaps they need to plan how best to overcome these challenges (for example by going in the morning when the sun is less harsh or checking the weather forecast to see how windy it will be) to get the best shots possible.

Kumana National Park

Yala East, also known as Kumana National Park, is a bird sanctuary that is considered to be a “must-visit” place for bird enthusiasts. The most significant feature of this sanctuary is
‘Kumana Villu’ – a 200-hectare natural swamp lake spanning 200 hectares which is the nesting place for many birds in May and June. A half-mile-long narrow channel feeds the lake from the Kumbukkan Oya, thus creating the perfect sanctuary for many birds including herons, pelicans, painted storks, white ibis, little cormorants, spoonbills, and egrets. Kumana National Park has recorded 255 of the 400 species of birds identified to be living in Sri Lanka.

Apart from Kumana Villu, there are also many irrigation tanks and lagoons scattered across Kumana which are also popular among the many migratory birds that use this sanctuary as an important resting stop from April to May. Coming from Siberia are the pintail snipes, who join the purple heron, the common moorhen, black-winged stilt, pheasant-tailed jacana, lesser whistling duck, and waterfowl.

Safety

The rules in place at Yala are for the safety of both safari-goers and the animals who call Yala their home. Tourists are not allowed to feed animals, they are also not allowed to have their cellphones on full volume, take photographs with the flash on, eat everywhere (dedicated eating spaces have been designated), or eat food with strong odors, and smoking is also prohibited at Yala, as is littering and taking back anything from the park such as soil, stones, etc. It is also strictly prohibited for safari-goers to remain inside Yala national park after dark so make sure to leave the park before it closes at 6 pm.

Although one might think that the carnivorous leopard is the most dangerous animal in Yala, it is the herbivorous elephant that tourists have to watch out for even more because elephants tend to travel in herds and get unsettled easily. Therefore, safari-goers are advised to be cautious around elephants to avoid agitating them.

In case of an emergency, safari-goers are advised to stay calm and listen carefully to the instructions of their trekker. If the trekker is not present, they are advised to turn off their engine and stay inside their vehicles at all times. It may be a good idea to list down important phone numbers tourists can contact in case of an emergency, However, it must be noted that trekkers are highly trained and if tourists are with their trekker then it is very unlikely that they will encounter situations where they need any external assistance – another reason why tourists should follow the instructions of their trekker and stay with them at all times!

A Terror-Free Space

Once rarely visited due to terror attacks (which led to the park being closed at times) during Sri Lanka’s 30-year-long civil war, Yala national park was quickly restored to its former glory in 2009 following the end of the war. Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation developed Yala by repairing water holes, using controlled burning to help pave the way for grass that could feed grazing animals such as elephants, and removing all invasive flora that had grown unchecked before the restoration. This helped rebuild Yala into the number one destination for safari tourism in Sri Lanka and Yala has had a very steady avalanche of tourism ever since.

Yala is memorable for many reasons. Depending on whether tourists are most interested in birds, wildlife or archaeology, they can get specialized tours that cater to their specific tourism needs. Tourists just need to remember to book everything early – with the planning out of the way they can enjoy their trip and get the best possible Yala safari experience!