Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Rank : 9.0 (average on 7 votes)

If you know this place, give your vote: 1 (Worst)2345678910 (Best) 

Coordinates : 6.464740, 81.471760 (Open in Google Maps)

Subjects : wild animals,lagoons,tanks.tropical scrub jungle ; elephants,buffaloes, sloth bear,jackals ,leopards, spotted dear. sambhar dear, wild boar,are frequently seen, all year around. supposed to be the place with the highest leopard density in the world! BBC and the wild cat diary of national geography has ongoing filming projects here. About 150 different bird species resident and seasonal migrants from cooler climes visit during winter time. mugger crocs, pythons ,cobras and other assorted reptiles; lots of butterfly species and other insects, myriads of them ideal for macro. Several types of bats. Typical scrub jungle interspersed with thick jungle; lots of water bodies, natural and man made, where water birds abound ; large rocky outcrops where sloth bear live

Recommended equipment : a good zoom lens and one for landscapes, macro lens

Best months : all year round better to avoid rainy season

How to get there : 200km south of Colombo. Motorable up to the park gate, need to hire four wheal safari jeeps available at the gates Public transport available

Visits : day visits morning/ evening fee applies; Bungalows inside the park, need to pre- book

Notes : my favourite place for leopards