In my travels to beautiful Sri Lanka, I have visited Yala National Park a few times. And if you ask me, “Will I really make another visit there?”, I would probably think twice.
It is easy for me to say that as someone who has already been there a few times. But of course, if I were a first-time visitor to Sri Lanka, I would say yes, definitely.
Yala is famous for having one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. Sri Lanka Tourism even describes Yala as having the world’s highest leopard density. Yet, despite visiting several times, I did not see a leopard on every visit.
Of course, there are better times to visit. The drier months, generally from around February to June or July, can offer better opportunities for wildlife sightings, and early morning and late afternoon are considered good times to look for leopards. But the truth is, nothing guarantees a sighting.
And then came the day I finally saw one.
The feeling I had? I was absolutely gobsmacked.
The leopard walked literally parallel to our jeep for a few minutes before crossing directly in front of us. I remember thinking how incredibly lucky I was to see this magnificent cat so close.
The rhythm of its walk, the spectacular pattern on its skin, those sharp, glistening eyes — I will never forget it.
It was, without a doubt, a very special moment in my life.
So, was it worth it?
A million times yes.
Of course, I know many people will still enjoy seeing the other wildlife that Yala has to offer. There are elephants, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild buffalo, wild boar, sloth bears, crocodiles, jackals, mongooses and, if you are very lucky, even the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. Yala is also home to an incredible variety of birds, reptiles, butterflies and other wildlife. Official records list around 44 species of mammals and 215 bird species in the park.
But for me, I have to be honest — if I couldn't spot a leopard during my Yala trip, I would probably feel that the trip wasn't worth it.
That may sound a little unfair to all the other wonderful wildlife in Yala, but I think many people who visit Yala for the first time will understand exactly what I mean.
And that brings me to the real question:
How would you know whether you are going to be lucky enough to see a leopard?
Well… you can't.
You can choose the right season. You can go on an early morning safari. You can have an experienced tracker. You can spend hours driving through the park.
But at the end of the day, the leopard decides whether you see it or not.
And perhaps that is exactly why Yala is worth giving a try.