Pristine natural beaches, billowing sand dunes, prickly scrub jungle and towering rocky outcrops add a novel dimension to the considerable wildlife nurtured by the range of habitats in the Yala National Park. Situated 290 kilometers south east of Colombo, Yala covers 250,820 hectares and is famed for having the highest leopard densities per square kilometer in the world, making it one of the best places on the planet to observe these beautiful cats, a Sri Lankan subspecies, in the wild.

Yala is home to around 32 species of mammals, 125 species of birds and many other reptile and lagoon fauna species. On a typical game drive you are likely to see mammals such as Asian Elephants, Crocodiles, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Grey Langur monkeys and Spotted Deer. Bears are also resident in the park although are typically difficult to spot due to their nocturnal activities. The open landscape of the park also attracts birds of prey such as the White-bellied Sea Eagle whilst the wetlands are home to Waders, Painted Storks, and the very rare Black-necked Stork. Land birds are also in abundance and include the Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Peafowl and Sri Lanka Jungle fowl.