Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Initially, it was a hunting ground for the elite when the country was under British rule. It was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and a national park in 1938. Yala has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares divided in to five blocks two of which are open to the public. 44 species of mammals including the worlds biggest concentration of leopards and 215 bird species are found in the park. The best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are low, bringing animals into the open.

We got to Yala before gates opened at 6 am. The yard in front of the ticket office was already packed with safari vehicles, all waiting to storm the park as soon as the gate opened. Many, including us, had to do without…