The best place to see the Leopards in the world | Yala National Park | Bundala | Udawalawa | Sri Lanka

Yala National Park | Best Leopard Population in the World

Sri Lanka possesses 21 national parks and sites, but Yala National Park is unquestionably one of the most popular.

Yala is a protected naturalist haven. And it is separated into five different sections. The park covers 989 square kilometers and is made up of light forests, tanks and grasslands. In 1900, it was declared as a wildlife refuge, and in 1938, it became a National Park. This reign was used as a hunting ground during the British rule.

Yala is 270 kilometers from Colombo, and the best route to get there is via the Southern Expressway. It takes 4 to 5 hours to drive from Colombo.

Blocks in Yala

Block 1 contains 14101 hectares.

Block 2 contains 9931 hectares.

Block 3 contains 40775 hectares.

Block 4 contains 26418 hectares.

Block 5 contains 6656 hectares.

Entrance 1

Once you arrive at Thissamaharama, the closest major town to Yala, continue towards Kirinda. The Block 1 entrance, commonly known as ‘Palatupana’ entrance, is only 12 kilometres away from Kirinda and it is the busy and the popular entrance among other entrances. Accommodations are available immediately outside the Park, including hotels and even motels also there in just a few minutes away from Block 1.

Entrance 2 and 3

Katagamuwa and Galge are the other two entrances. Katagamuwa entrance is about 12 kilometres from Kataragama town while Galge entrance is about 27 kilometres from Buttala town.

What is more?

The Park is covered in several ways. Kataragama from the Northern end. Panama and Kumana National Park from Eastern end. Sea from the Southern end. Kirinda, Thissamaharama and Lunugamwehera National park from the Western end.

The terrain is flat, and the temperature ranges from 26 to 32 degrees Celsius. A Sri Lankan endemic leopard, Panthera Pardus Kotiya can be seen here.

The park is home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds. There are a variety of reptiles, amphibians and fish within the park’s boundary. The elephants, spotted deer, peacocks and crocodiles are among the animals that can be observed here.

Yala is one of the best places to see the Leopards in the world. This Park boasts the world’s highest leopard population density. The leopard population in Sri Lanka is estimated to be between 750 to 950 individuals.

The best season to visit Yala is February to July. Sometimes the Park is closed during September. During the dry season, Kumbukkan oya in the east and Manik River that flows through the park provide vital water sources. There are a limited number of Park bungalows available for those who want to be in touch with nature. These can be arranged through the wildlife department in Colombo.

There are various camping areas within the park that are close to streams. Hundreds of pilgrims visit  Sithulpawwa temple, which is located within the park’s boundary.     

Udawalawe National Park

This expands two provinces, Sabaragamuwa and Uva. This is the best place to see wild elephants. The elephants can be easily seen in the daylight at Udawalawe National Park. There were several villages in this area before the park was established in 1972, including Muwanpelessa and Senuggala. As a source of income, they farmed here. Then they proceeded to a different locations.

Inter-regional forests and dry mixed evergreen forests are featured in here. We may also see various sub-ecosystems in this national park. These environments include riverine ecosystems, wetland ecosystems and grass lands. As a result, the park is home to a wide range of animals and plants.

Sometimes during the summer, the officers of the National Park are responsible for firing on some limited grasslands within the park. They do this because after the fire, the land grows seeds well for the animals to eat during the next season.

The park contains Udawalawe and Mauaara reservoirs. The majority of the visitors arrive in the evening to watch the elephants near Udawalawe reservoir. Early in the morning, there is a good chance of spotting the birds.

Bamunu Piyakussa (Brahminy kite) is an endemic Sri Lanka bird that is usually spotted in down-south of the country especially here. Perali Kondakussa (Changeable Hawk Eagle) rarely flies but occasionally does. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and can be found almost anyplace. Raja AluHis Masukussa (Grey headed fish eagle) is one of the birds that can be found in here, does not fly. Also it is endemic for Sri Lanka. Rarely seen in the country.

Udawalawe National Park has 03 camping sites.

1.       Pansadara

2.       Alimankada

3.       Pilimaddara

The authority provides all of the necessary amenities for guests who choose to camp, including land and sanitary facilities. Visitors must bring their own camping equipment when visiting. They will not be able to choose their own camping spot. They must assemble their tent in the location assigned by the authorities. They are only allowed to stay in the park for a maximum of three days.

Pansadara camping site can be reserved through the headquarters of Department of Wildlife in Colombo, while the other two sites can be reserved directly through the park. Alimankada camping site is near Walawe River. The responsible wildlife officers are staying here with the visitors within the camping site. Another circuit bungalow is located near the lake Thimbiriyagasmankada within the park. There are a maximum of ten people that can stay on the bungalow.

Bundala National Park

This is a wetland in the south-eastern part of the country. All visitors must purchase a ticket at the counter. The information centre is also located near the office. Visitors have to go a short distance to get to the main entrance of the Park. 

There is a lagoon within the park. Fishermen are permitted to fish in the area, but they must first obtain formal approval from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Travelling birds are frequently seen in the park. Every year at the end of August, they moved to Sri Lanka. They have all come to obtain food and endure the winter in their homelands. They arrive in three different ways.

Those are Western, Eastern and Andaman island pathways. Birds that are accustomed to being near water are migrating from the western and eastern beaches to the southern dry-zone regions. The remainder of them are heading to the country side of Sri Lanka to feel the cold. They goes to their native countries in April and May.

The park is home to both endemic and migrating birds.

The percentage of fresh-water in the lagoon within the park has increased due to the construction of Lunugamwehera dam project. As a result of such incident, the proportion of the travelling birds has decreased. Thousands of flamingos used to flock to this location, but they no longer do.

This area is considered a dry zone and the land consists of a low population of plants. Predator birds are frequently seen in this area and we only observe a few elephants because this is a small national park. Two species of crocodile ever in Sri Lanka and both can be found here. 

Sea swallow can be seen in the neighborhood because the park is adjacent to the ocean. The historians found that the area known as Pathirajaya within the park had prehistoric settlements. They also discovered stone implements in this location. Turtles can be found on the shore in Bundala National Park. They lay eggs on the sand during the night.