Yala National Park

We have a very early start at Hambamtoto. We’re off to the Yala National Park and due to set out at 5.00 am - which obviously means a painfully early wake up.  There’s coffee and pastries to sustain us before leaving; we will have breakfast but not until after 9.30 as is usual for safaris.  

Our departure is delayed slightly as the ship is cleared by local officials, but soon we’re off on the 2 hour journey to the park. We start in darkness, but as we arrive we witness the light of dawn, beautiful over some of the many lakes.

We stop just before the park entrance to exchange seats in the coach for places in five seater jeeps. Not surprisingly, this is an area frequented by black face langurs, and a troop of them jump noisily around on the corrugated roof. A mother and baby sit apart from the others, mother showing touching affection for her infant before wandering over to a muddy puddle to drink, their faces reflected in the water. 

There’s always a frisson of excitement when you set off on a safari, and early mornings with that low golden light are wonderful. This is not an area of open plains where wildlife is relatively easy to spot, but here there’s low bushland bordering the mud tracks, and it’s difficult to pick out wildlife.  

As always, waterholes provide good opportunities, and we come across several groups of water buffalo enjoying the coolness of these sanctuaries. Then in a small clearing our driver spots a lone male elephant. Smaller than their African counterparts and often tuskless, they still hold that fascination that goes along with being the largest land mammal. He spends some time eying us up, gets bored and heads off into the bush to feed on the plentiful green leaves and fruit. We see two more lone elephants on our drive, though not as close as this one - but we don’t encounter any herds. 

Buffalo are grazing out of water too, and in this early morning light, their tails and coats seem copper-coated, shimmering with golden orange light. Later, we come across another grazing with a cloud of flies around him. He’s probably already irritated, so looks up at us and suddenly decides to charge towards the jeep, our driver quickly accelerating out of harms way - but those of us who came close to those horns were somewhat shaken! Nowhere near as bad as being charged by an African bull elephant, but still rather disconcerting.  

We’re really hopeful of a leopard sighting, this park being famous for them, and there’s also a chance of seeing sloth bears. Of course, neither make an appearance, but there are many other sightings to keep us busy. We see three crocodiles, several lizards and a chameleon. Then there are two mongooses crossing the path - I don’t recall photographing these before. There are peacocks galore - many roosting in the trees in the early morning, and many beautiful birds. I’m thrilled to get a clear capture of a gorgeous bee eater, and we spot both blue and pied kingfishers - albeit distant shots. There are hornbills and Brahminy kites - the latter looking like fish eagles.  We watch stilts beautifully reflected in the water before flying off in sequence,  egrets, grey and brown pond herons, whistling ducks, impossibly thin-necked Asian darters, a red wattled lapwing and a gorgeous scaly breasted munia. My favourite is probably the painted stork who seems to strut elegantly especially for the camera, modelling his plumage with attitude.  And I’m thrilled to see two herds of the delightful Chital or spotted deer. 

Three hours just fly by. It’s a particularly bumpy ride, and I’m sure my back surgeon would not be happy with the what I’m putting my spine through! But this is all part of safari, as are the moments when you sit with the engine off, just listening to the sounds of nature.  

Of course, it has to end, and we’re driven to a hotel just outside the park for breakfast before returning to the ship. A fabulous experience, definitely worth the early morning


It’s a tough call whether to go for the langur mother and baby or the bee eater, but I just love those dark impenetrable eyes, the bond and the reflection in the former. So the bee eater is an extra, alongside a buffalo enjoying a mud bath and two collages of other birds and animals. 


I’m out of extras now, so will be recycling those from earlier in the holiday, replacing them with single collages! 


Realistically, this is as far as I’m going to get with entries now as my purchased wifi upgrade is about to run out! At least it’s given us a chance to download the Strictly Final - wasn’t it fantastic! 


So thanks for continuing to follow along on our very extensive travels - and for kind comments, stars and hearts. If you’re coming to this entry first, there are several other new ones preceding it if you’re interested!