Sri Lanka is a country with so much possibilities... exotic beaches, surf, scuba diving, mountains hikking, tea plantations, but did you know you could also enjoy safaris and try to observe lepards ? Sri Lanka has several national parks and Yala is one with the most important variety of animals. Have a tour with me !
Safaris are late in the afternoon or very early in the morning, our meeting point at the hotel was at 4.15am. It is better go for the morning one to avoid the heat and you get more chances to see animals. Yala National Park has the most important variety of animals in Sri Lanka. If you are lucky, you might have a chance to see some leopards as there are 40 of them in the park. We chose a company specialised in leopards safaris, Janaka Jeep Safari Tours. Drivers are well experimented and know how to find them (they talk to each others and look for footprints). However, we saw a leopard from very far in the trees, a yellow spot, that is to say we did not have the feeling to see a leopard at all.
But don't worry, you will see plenty of other animals in their natural element : bambies, monkeys, buffalos, elephants, chameleons, iguanas, crocodiles, birds, peacocks, flamingos and wild boars. By the way, did you know crocodiles can remain motionless during hours with the mouth wide opened to cooler their body ?!
Unfortunatly, our camera broke down at the beginning of the trip, this is why we do not have amazing pictures or the safari but we managed to do some correct shots of few animals with our smartphone.
Where to stay ?
If you decide to do only one safari in the morning, which I think is enough, you do not need to spend too much in a hotel room as your night will be quite short ! Lots of hotels are located in Tissamaharama, twenty minutes drive from Yala National Park.
We decided to stay at Gaga Bees Yala for 60 euros the night in July. The director is very kind and will be at the gate a 4am to give you your breakfast box for your morning safari. It is better to book through booking.com as their mailbox is full if you try to contact them directly. Rooms are safari style :)
Janaka Jeep Safari Tours :
http://www.srilankayalasafaris.com
Unfortunatly, our camera broke down at the beginning of the trip, this is why we do not have amazing pictures or the safari but we managed to do some correct shots of few animals with our smartphone.
The safari is a bit long, lasting until 11am / 12am, especially considering that the road is quite bombing. However, the ride makes you discover beautiful landscapes and the break is on a very wild beach, nothing compared to southern Sri Lankan beaches. Yala National Park is open all year excepted in September.
If you decide to do only one safari in the morning, which I think is enough, you do not need to spend too much in a hotel room as your night will be quite short ! Lots of hotels are located in Tissamaharama, twenty minutes drive from Yala National Park.
We decided to stay at Gaga Bees Yala for 60 euros the night in July. The director is very kind and will be at the gate a 4am to give you your breakfast box for your morning safari. It is better to book through booking.com as their mailbox is full if you try to contact them directly. Rooms are safari style :)
http://www.srilankayalasafaris.com
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