Wildlife in Yala National Park – What You Might See

Yala is a vast and diverse reserve made up of lowland woodland, open grasslands, wetlands, lakes, and lagoons. It’s home to an impressive 44 species of mammals and over 215 species of birds, making it one of the best places for wildlife spotting in Sri Lanka.

Here are some of the biggest wildlife highlights you can expect to see on your safari—and how likely you are to spot them:

Sri Lankan Leopard – Around 50% chance, especially in Block 1. We were lucky to see one!

Sloth Bear – A rare sight, with only 20–30% chance, but it does happen (we saw one!).

Sri Lankan Elephants – Almost a guarantee, especially near waterholes.

Wild Water Buffalo – Nearly 100% chance, often seen cooling off in muddy ponds.

Spotted Deer & Sambar Deer – Seen throughout the park, usually in herds.

Peacocks – You’ll see plenty, strutting around or calling from trees.

Mongoose – Quick and curious, often spotted darting across the tracks.

Wild Boar – Common and usually seen in small groups foraging near bushes.

Bonus one – Crocodile – The only one we didn’t manage to spot, but they’re definitely there!

With luck and a good guide, you might see many of these in a single morning safari—just like we did.