This national park, which is located on the southeast coast of the island, is well-known for its leopard safaris. Although they are extremely uncommon, leopards are abundant in the park, making it feasible to see one even on a day trip. Asian elephants, a species native to Sri Lanka, have a sizable population in the park.
The park is home to several amazing, diverse landscapes and ecosystems in addition to the fauna. You can explore tropical rainforests, follow leopards across wide grasslands, and visit coastal regions’ sea and beach environments.
Yala, a city close to Hambantota, is also home to some significant Buddhist temples and shrines.
The dry-zone terrain is particularly wild and untamed when viewed from the vantage points provided by the unusual rock outcrops that dot the park. It is beautiful from Situlpahuwa, where you can view a seemingly infinite area of low scrub and trees studded with brackish lakes adjacent to the dune-covered beach.
The park’s wildlife also has its unique charm, such as the groups of vibrant storks perched on the edge of lagoons between the supine forms of sleeping crocodiles and the fan-tailed peacocks kicking up clouds of dust. At the same time, monkeys chatter in the treetops or the oddly combined sight of elephants marching sedately through the bush while rabbits scamper through the underbrush.