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Most people come to Yala for one thing, a jeep safari, and leave after a single drive. That is a shame, because the area around the park has much more going on: ancient temples, a pilgrimage town, a bird-filled wetland, quiet beaches and some of the best sunsets in the south. If you have two days here, this is how to fill them.
1. Go on a morning leopard safari
This is the main event. Enter Block 1 through the Palatupana gate at opening time, around 6:00 am, when leopards are most active and the light is soft. You will almost certainly see elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer and peafowl, and in the dry season your chances of a leopard are good. Read our Yala leopard safari guide before you go.
2. Do an afternoon drive for golden light
If you have time for two drives, make the second one in the afternoon. Leopards come out onto the rocks as the heat drops, elephants head for water and the light turns warm. It is the best time for photography, and often a little less crowded. Our safari photography tips will help you make the most of it.
3. Look for sloth bears in palu season
From late May to July, palu trees fruit across the park and sloth bears come out to feed, sometimes in broad daylight. Let your driver know you want to look for bears. See our sloth bear safari guide.
4. Try the quieter Block 5
If you have already done Block 1, or want to avoid the crowds, a drive in Block 5 on the park's northern side feels completely different. It is greener, wilder and has far fewer jeeps. See Block 1 vs Block 5.
5. Stop at the tsunami memorial at Patanangala
Most morning safaris include a break at Patanangala beach, inside the park, where you can stretch your legs on the sand and look out over the Indian Ocean. There is a memorial here to the people who died when the 2004 tsunami struck the area. It is a quiet, moving place.
6. Visit Sithulpawwa rock temple
Sithulpawwa is an ancient Buddhist monastery spread over huge rock outcrops on the edge of the Yala wilderness. Its history goes back more than two thousand years, and it was once home to thousands of monks. Climb to the top of the main rock for a view over the forest, and look out for monkeys and the occasional elephant. Dress modestly and remove your shoes at the shrines.
7. See flamingos at Bundala National Park
About 30 minutes from Tissa, Bundala is a wetland park of lagoons, salt pans and scrub. It is one of the best birding spots in Sri Lanka, with greater flamingos often present from around November to March, plus pelicans, storks, herons and crocodiles all year. It makes a relaxed half day between Yala drives. See our Bundala safari guide.
8. Watch the evening puja at Kataragama
Kataragama, about 30 minutes north of Tissa, is one of Sri Lanka's most sacred sites, revered by Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims and also by the indigenous Vedda people. The evening puja at the main shrine, with drums, fire and crowds of devotees carrying fruit platters, is an intense and unforgettable sight. The Kiri Vehera stupa nearby is beautifully lit at night. In July or August, the town hosts the Esala festival and the end of the long Pada Yatra pilgrimage.
9. Watch the sunset at Tissa Wewa
Tissa Wewa is an ancient reservoir on the edge of Tissamaharama town. In the late afternoon, fishermen come out on the water, egrets and cormorants fly in to roost and the sun sets behind the palms. It is a lovely, easy end to a safari day, and the huge white Tissamaharama stupa is close by.
10. Spend time in Kirinda
Kirinda is a small fishing village on the coast south of Tissa, with a temple perched on a rocky hill above the sea and a long, empty beach. The sea is usually too rough to swim, but the view from the temple at sunrise or sunset is beautiful.
11. Explore further: Kumana and Lunugamvehera
If you have extra days, Kumana National Park east of Yala is excellent for birds and very quiet, though it is easiest to visit from Arugam Bay. Lunugamvehera, north of Yala, is a small park with a large reservoir and good elephant sightings.
A sample two-day plan
- Day 1 afternoon: Arrive in Tissa, afternoon safari in Block 1, sunset at Tissa Wewa.
- Day 2 morning: Dawn safari in Block 1, with a break at Patanangala.
- Day 2 afternoon: Bundala for birds, or Sithulpawwa for history.
- Day 2 evening: Kataragama for the evening puja.
For where to base yourself, see where to stay near Yala.
Practical tips
- Book your safari jeep the evening before through your hotel or a trusted operator.
- Carry cash. Some small places do not take cards and ATMs are limited outside Tissa.
- Bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for temple visits.
- Try the local curd and treacle, a speciality of the south, made from buffalo milk and kithul palm syrup.
