Yala National Park, National park in Southern Province, Sri Lanka

Yala National Park covers 979 km2 of dry semi-arid plain in Sri Lanka's southeast, running from the interior down to the Indian Ocean coast. Metamorphic rock of the Precambrian Vijayan and Highland series underlies reddish brown and grey humic soils. The flat, mildly undulating land rises from about 30 m near the coast to 100–125 m inland, broken by isolated rock outcrops such as Elephant Rock.

The territory was declared a sanctuary in 1900 and gained national park status in 1938. For centuries kings used the region for hunting before the focus shifted to preserving wildlife.

The name derives from the Sinhala word Yāla, referring to an area crossed by pilgrims traveling to nearby temples. Today visitors spot stone ruins among the trees and recognize the connection between nature and religious sites.

The Katagamuwa entrance opens in early morning and closes in the evening, with exact times varying slightly by season. Jeeps with local guides drive along unpaved tracks through the different zones of the park.

Leopards move among the rocks here more frequently than in most other reserves, and visitors sometimes spot them even in broad daylight. Elephant herds gather at watering holes where they drink and bathe in the mud.