If you have a Yala safari coming up, here is a date worth saving.
Zones 1 and 1A of Yala National Park will reopen to local and foreign visitors from 6 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2026. The two zones were closed from September 14 following severe drought conditions that affected the park. The closure has now been lifted and both zones will resume normal visitor access this week.
The reopening was confirmed by Park Keeper A.T.R. Ravinda Kumara.
What About Bungalows and Campsites?
If you are planning to stay overnight inside the park, note that tourist bungalows and campsites will remain closed until November 1. Day safari visitors are welcome from October 16, but those hoping to book accommodation within the park will need to plan their trip from the start of November onwards.
Planning Your Yala Visit
Yala National Park, located in the Tissamaharama area of Sri Lanka’s deep south, is one of the island’s most visited wildlife destinations and home to one of the world’s highest densities of leopards. Zone 1 covers the most popular safari circuit and is where the majority of wildlife sightings occur, making the reopening of both zones genuinely good news for anyone with Yala on their Sri Lanka itinerary this month.
If your trip falls between October 16 and November, a day safari is fully available. If you were planning to stay inside the park, hold off until November 1 when the bungalows and campsites come back online.
