Spotting a Sloth bear

As soon as we entered the park, we began spotting some of Yala’s more common residents—spotted deer, peacocks, water buffalo, and plenty of birdlife. It was a beautiful start to the morning.

But then, we got incredibly lucky. Not long into the drive, we spotted a sloth bear—one of the rarest and most elusive animals in the park. These shy creatures are usually hard to find, so seeing one early on made the entire experience even more special. Our guide was just as excited as we were!