Yala is Sri Lanka’s crown jewel of wildlife, a vast wilderness of dry-zone forest, ancient tank reservoirs, coastal lagoons, and rocky outcrops spanning over 1,400 square kilometres along the island’s southeastern shore. Home to the world’s highest density of wild leopards, Yala offers an exceptional opportunity to encounter these magnificent and elusive big cats in their natural habitat, alongside an extraordinary cast of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, sambar deer, and over 200 bird species. Game drives take place in the golden light of early morning and late afternoon, when wildlife is most active, and the park’s landscapes are at their most dramatic.