The Yala National Park in the south of Sri Lanka is the country's second largest and most popular national park. A diverse landscape is made up of wide-open plains, thick forest and a beautiful coastline with towering sand dunes. The area is an important one for conservation and a visit to Yala National Park offers fantastic opportunities to see some of Sri Lanka's unique wildlife.

Yala National Park is the best place in Sri Lanka to see leopards. The park has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world and though sightings are rare, the park's 30 or so leopard residents are bolder than most and can often be spotted roaming the tracks and open plains. Other wildlife - including elephants, sloth bears and buffalos - is easier to spot and the coastline is frequented by no less than five species of sea turtle.

Yala National Park is also a birdwatchers paradise, with upwards of 200 bird species, six of which are found here alone. All of which make a safari trip of the Yala National Park a real highlight during a Sri Lanka holiday.