Yala National Park sprawls across Sri Lanka’s southeast, where dry plains meet lagoons and the Indian Ocean’s shoreline. It is one of the country’s oldest protected areas, first set aside as a wildlife reserve in 1900 and later declared a national park in 1938, and today invites travelers to see life thrive in a wide range of landscapes, from scrubland to sandy beaches.

The park is most famous for its leopards. Yala has one of the world’s highest densities of these sleek big cats, and sightings during early morning or late afternoon safaris are among the most sought-after wildlife experiences here. But the story doesn’t stop with leopards. Massive Asian elephants wander the park in family groups, while marsh crocodiles soak up the sun along waterholes and spotted deer, sambar, jackals, and even shy sloth bears add to the cast of residents that make every safari drive a new adventure.