Yala National Park, renowned for its leopard population, faces increasing pressure from overtourism and poorly regulated safari practices.
In the park’s most visited area, Block One, sightings can quickly turn into a melee of jeeps, with drivers jostling for position. This not only harasses wildlife but also results in a diminished experience for visitors. In response, from January 2024, new legislation was introduced requiring all jeep drivers entering Yala to complete a day’s training and be licensed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) or be accompanied by a certified DWC tracker. This marks an important step towards improving standards and encouraging more respectful wildlife viewing.
However, training alone cannot address the more fundamental challenge: the sheer volume of vehicles in the park. Long-term solutions must include a cap on daily visitor numbers, improved monitoring of guide behaviour, and the introduction of clearly defined zones to spread the impact of tourism more evenly.
Fortunately, a handful of camps and lodges – such as Kulu Safaris and Leopard Trails – are already leading by example, adhering to a strict code of conduct and promoting responsible, small-group safaris. By entering Yala Block 1 through the quieter Katagamuwa Gate, our clients benefit from easier, more discreet access to the park. This approach avoids the congestion often seen at the main entrance, reducing pressure on wildlife and creating a more peaceful experience for both animals and our clients.
In addition to Block 1, our partner, Kulu, explores the lesser-visited areas of Yala – Blocks 3, 4 and 5 – as well as Lunugamvehera National Park, offering a more exclusive and rewarding alternative to the busier sectors.
Kula works in close collaboration with the Forest Department to help protect and manage the surrounding wilderness, including forest areas adjoining our campsite. Conservation is central to every safari experience.
Kulu’s guides, drivers and spotters are all highly trained in local flora and fauna, with a deep understanding of the ecosystems they work in. Passionate and experienced, they are committed to responsible tourism and to ensuring that wildlife encounters are both meaningful and respectful.
I spent two unforgettable nights in Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s most extraordinary landscapes. My early morning safari drive revealed a place unlike any other, where the wilderness meets the edge of the Indian Ocean. Soft white sandy beaches melt into vast plains and scrubland, and it’s not unusual to see wild elephants wandering against a backdrop of sea and sky.
The park is rich with life, especially herds of wild elephants and hundreds of bird species that fill the air with colour and movement. Yala is also known for its high density of leopards, but I wouldn’t recommend going solely for that reason. Leopard sightings often draw crowds of jeeps, and unless you’re incredibly lucky to have one stroll quietly across your path, the experience can feel over shared rather than special.
For me, Yala is best appreciated by steering away from the busiest zones and embracing its wide-open spaces: tranquil lakes, scattered waterholes, families of wild boar, jackals moving through the grass and more birds than you can imagine. It’s a place to soak in dramatic landscapes and raw, untamed beauty rather than to chase a single sighting. It’s a wilderness experience, best enjoyed while staying at Wild Chalet or Uga Chena Huts. – Charlotte, Sri Lanka Specialist
Ethical tourism in Yala is essential not only for conservation but also for ensuring local communities continue to benefit from a well-managed and viable park. But unless numbers are restricted, safaris are monitored and unethical operators are held to account, what should be the jewel in Sri Lanka’s wildlife tourism crown, will become a symbol of tourism’s worst excesses.
Interested in exploring Sri Lanka ethically? Take a look at our Wildlife of Sri Lanka holiday idea.
