Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's second largest national park is around 40 minutes away from Arugam Bay. Leopards, elephants, sloth bear, spotted deer and a large variety of birds, some of which are endemic to Sri Lanka, are found at the Park. Arugam Bay Surf Resort conducts Yala Safari Tours, inviting you to explore the abundant wildlife. More details on the Yala Safari Tour can be found here.

Departure Times	:	Daily at 6.00 am. Except Fridays
Duration	:	Between 2 hrs and 3 hrs at sea
Bring	:	Camera, hat, sunscreen and water to drink (Short eats for breakfast will be provided)
Tours depart from	:	Arugam Bay Surf Resort
Bookings are essential	:	Book your tour at the Arugambay Surf Resort, Arugam Bay.
Cost	:	With lunch packs – Rs 11,000

Less than 40 minutes by Jeep from Arugam Bay, Yala National Park covers almost a thousand square kilometers, making it the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The climate that characterises this corner of Sri Lanka is dry and in some areas semi arid for much of the year, with over 80% of the annual rainfall (500 – 775 mm) falling during the northeast monsoon (October – January) each year. Dry monsoon forests, thorn forests and grasslands are the principle terrestrial ecosystems found in the park, with smaller areas of moist monsoon and semi-deciduous forest. The Kumbukkan Oya in the east and Menik River in the south are the two main rivers that flow through the park.

Together with a number of manmade reservoirs including the Maha Seelawa, Buthawa, Uraniya, and Pilinnawa Tanks, these give life to a variety of freshwater wetland habitats, while along the coast of the park there are important coastal wetlands including extensive stands of mangroves at the mouth of the Menik River and in the Pilinnawa, Mahapothana and Pahalapothana Lagoons. A population of between 300 – 400 Sri Lankan Elephants are one of the main attractions that can be seen in the park; however it is the Sri Lankan Leopard that is the signature species of Yala National Park, which has one of the highest leopard populations of any park in the world. Other mammals that can be seen in the park include Grey Langurs and Toque Monkies, the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Jackels and Spotted Deer, Fishing Cats and feral Water Buffalo.

A total of 215 bird species have been recorded in Yala National Park of which six – the Brown-capped Babbler, the Black-capped Bulbull, the Crimson-fronted Barbet, the Sri Lankan Grey Hornbill, the Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl and the Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon are endemic to Sri Lanka. Besides its endemic species Yala is an important overwintering location for hundreds of thousands of migrant birds. Of the 90 species of waterfowl identified in the park, over half are migrants. The park’s coastline is patrolled by White-bellied Sea Eagle, while Crested Serpent Eagles wheel over the forests and open grasslands. Both Mugger and Saltwater crocodiles can be seen in the park, together with a number of species of snake, while all five globally endangered species of sea turtles nest along the park’s shoreline.

Yala National Park has a rich cultural heritage with ruins of ancient kingdoms dating back to the 2nd Century BC located in the park. Each year the park is traversed by over 400,000 pilgrims who begin their journey from Jaffna to worship at the shrine of the God Kattaragama on the southern coast nearby.