The first decision you need to make when visiting Yala National Park is where to enter the park. There are three entrances. The main entrance is Palatupana, located in the southern part of the park. This is the busiest entrance, and if you enter through here, you will typically stay in the town of Tissamaharama. There is also the Katagamuwa entrance, near the town of Kataragama. This entrance is quieter than the main one and still close to many accommodations. We deliberately chose this entrance and were able to enter the park during our afternoon safari without having to wait in line. The third entrance is Galge, located much further north of Katagamuwa. This entrance is the least used, mainly because it is farther from the villages and accommodations.

The cheapest way to travel from Ella to Katagamuwa/Tissamaharama is by public bus. Keep in mind that the journey time is long, as there is no direct bus connection. The total travel time can quickly be 4-6 hours, depending on traffic and the number of stops. We recommend taking a taxi or tuktuk from Ella to Yala National Park.

From coastal places like Tangalle, Mirissa, Galle, or Unawatuna, you can travel directly by bus via Tissamaharama to Kataragama. The journey takes about 4 to 6 hours, depending on your starting point. Of course, you can also take a taxi or tuktuk.

There are plenty of options in Sri Lanka to take a taxi to places around Yala National Park. This is more expensive than the bus, but you will reach your destination faster without having to transfer. The PickMe app is widely used in Sri Lanka and is essentially the local Uber. Uber is also used in Sri Lanka. One advantage of these apps is that the price is clear in advance. Our experience with PickMe and Uber is that you sometimes have to wait until you find a good driver. We have had cases where the driver stopped and didn’t drive towards us, or where the driver went in the wrong direction. It can also happen that the driver calls you and asks for a higher price. In such cases, it’s important to make clear agreements and possibly book a different driver.

You don't visit Yala National Park on your own, but always go on a safari tour by jeep through the park. The majority of accommodations around Yala National Park offer private and/or group tours. A tour through the park costs around $50 per person, but this varies depending on the accommodation and type of tour. Since Yala is the most famous and popular park in Sri Lanka, the prices are higher than those of other national parks.

Yala National Park is open daily from approximately 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The park is sometimes closed in September and October because the animals become too aggressive after a long drought. However, if enough rain falls during these months, the park remains open.

The best time to visit Sri Lanka is between February and July. During the dry season, the water level in the national park is low. As a result, there are relatively few drinking spots where animals can go, making it easier to spot them when they come to drink.

There are an incredible variety of animals to see in Yala National Park. You can find elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks, crocodiles, and the world's largest concentration of leopards. Additionally, you can spot many species of birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians here.

There are several options to visit Yala National Park. You can go on a safari in the morning or afternoon, or choose to spend a full day in the park. Jeeps are only allowed to enter the park at two times per day: at 6:00 AM in the morning and 2:00 PM in the afternoon. A morning or afternoon safari lasts about 4 hours, and if you go on a full-day safari, you will have lunch between the two safaris in the park. There is a mandatory lunch break from 12:00 to 2:00 PM for all vehicles staying in the park.

There are several options for staying overnight in Yala National Park. You have the park all to yourself, as all the jeeps with day visitors leave before dark. You are truly in the middle of nature, and in the early morning, you can spot animals before all the other people enter the park. A unique experience! Keep in mind that accommodation prices inside the park are significantly higher than outside.