JAN 18 SAFARI ADVENTURES YALA NATIONAL PARK

SAFARI TO YALA
We rise at 5:00 am, have early morning tea and meet our safari driver Suranda. Today we will spend from 6 am to 6 pm exploring YALA NP the most famous park in Sri Lanka with the highest concentration of leopards in the world. We have chosen Gem River as we can access the park from a secondary entrance removed from the frenetic bustle of the main gate where each safari driver - up to 100 we are told some days in high season, race with each other to make the first sitings. We pick up a National Park interpreter at the gates. There are two other vehicles at our entrance gate waiting for the 6 am opening. Our driver and interpreter are amazing and we spend a delightful morning spotting wild boar, elephants, mongoose, Sambar and spotted deer, crocodiles, water buffalo and a plethora of intriguing and colourful bird life. We are basically by ourselves. The driver is relaxed and we proceed slowly taking plenty of time to observe the wildlife. The roads are sand trails through the savannahs, a four wheel adventure through deep ruts and deep mud holes. We rescue one jeep that gets mired in a mud hole.

MONGOOSE

NOTICE THE RADIO COLLAR

WILD BOAR AND HER BROOD

LAND MONITOR

CROCODILE ON THE MOVE

SPOTTED DEER STAG

WATER BUFFALO

STUCK IN THE MUD

Lunch break is a pleasant sojourn on a beach with a couple of hour rest during the main heat of the day. It is a congregating point for all safari jeeps but most people only do half day trips so there are only 10 or 12 parties still out, mostly Sri Lankan tourists.

By 3 we begin our afternoon exploration first in the more heavily visited area and then back up to where we started. Around 4 a leopard comes out of the bush and crosses the road right in front of us and then proceeds to walk up the road while we follow at a respectful distance. For 5 minutes we have the beast to ourselves, but the driver and interpreter each phone one other party (and each of them do the same so the maximum number of guests can get a viewing) and before long a couple of other jeeps arrive, we drop back and let the others get a viewing, then a van with a Government big wig arrives and gets in front and doesn't let anyone else get to the head of the line. Everyone is jockeying for position on a little one lane trail, the leopard sauntering along in front. Eventually a jeep arrives from the other direction, the leopard decides enough is enough and turns back into the bush. Our interpreter is delighted. He indicates it is the biggest leopard in the Park and we are extremely fortunate to have had the time alone with it. We proceed away from the growing hoards of safari jeeps arriving (our interpreter says there will soon be 30 or so all hoping to get a glimpse) and concentrate on the late afternoon bird life and the developing sunset. We all have a contented smile on our faces. It has been an incredible day even without the bonus of our leopard siting.

OUR NEW FRIEND BIG PAPA

THE STAMPEDE BEGINS

BIRD LIFE

PAINTED STORK

LITTLE GREEN AND BLUE TAILED BEE-CATCHER

CRESTED HAWK EAGLE

GREY HERON

BLACK HEADED IBIS

ROSE WINGED PARAKEET

HOMINY STARLING

PEACOCK ROOSTING

EVENING SUNSET

TEMPLE
Our host Carla has suggested we visit a temple located on a hill for a stunning sunset view of YALA NP. We arrive after sunset and watch dusk beginning to fall over the land. We return home by darkness to a delightful Sri Lankan meal of various curries and rice.