Sri Lanka > Wildlife spotting in Yala N.P.

Sri Lanka - A colorful kingfisher

At half past four, the phone starts ringing. It’s time to get up for the game drive in Yala National Park. Looking outside between the curtains, it’s still dark. I hear light rain tapping on the roof. Did I really make the right choice by postponing it to this morning? In half an hour, I drive to the park. Along the way, numerous jeeps are heading in the same direction. Each vehicle has six seats in the back, arranged in tiers so everyone has the same view. In most vehicles, like mine, there are only two people. At the park entrance, I see just how many vehicles are present. Everyone needs to arrange their entry, and all the cars are parked along the roadside. I count at least forty vehicles, and undoubtedly more are already inside the park. As soon as I enter, I see deer and water buffalo. The driver points out a small green bee-eater. At one of the waterholes, I spot herons, ibises, and storks. The driver regularly consults by phone with colleagues to see if they’ve spotted any notable wildlife. Meanwhile, he points out wild pigs and sambar deer. When I hear from another vehicle that they saw a sloth bear crossing, the excitement rises. Several cars drive down the path where the animal went. I peer into the bushes—unsuccessfully. A little later, while photographing birds, I suddenly see a brown animal moving in front of me. It’s the bear. It hops a little across the path and then dives back into the bushes. What an amazing sight! Yala National Park has a relatively high number of leopards.

Sri Lanka - In the morning fishermen sit on stilts to fish

Although they are difficult to spot during the day, the chance is reasonably good here. However, today, due to the drizzly weather, they remain hidden—unfortunately. The elephants are also staying out of sight, though for them it would be much harder to hide. They are probably just in another part of the park. After three and a half hours, I leave the park and return to my hotel in Tissa. At the end of the morning, I depart for Galle. The route takes me along the coastal resorts. I see the strikingly high waves crashing against the shore. The water does not look inviting for swimming. For surfers, however, it’s a paradise, judging by the many surf shops. The area around Matara is also known for its stilt fishermen. The fishermen balance on a pole in the sea while fishing. Normally, they fish early in the morning. At this hour, no fishermen are active. I walk onto the beach. A man approaches and offers to climb the pole for money. I politely decline. Around three o’clock, I drive into Galle Fort, a defensive fort built by the Dutch. My hotel is located in the streets inside the fort. Ajbriy makes an extra round and explains what can be seen everywhere. I estimate I can easily walk it all— the fort is not very large. My hotel, Hotel Blisse, is a small-scale hotel with only four rooms. I have a view of the fort wall and the sea. A beautiful and cozy place. From the street by my hotel, I climb the fort wall.

Sri Lanka - The striking mosque of Galle

From here, I have a view of Galle Lighthouse. Through Church Street, I arrive at an old Dutch church. The Dutch Church was built in its current form in 1755. Right next to it stands the All Saints Church, built by the British. Dusk falls over Galle. I want to have a beer somewhere. To my surprise, most restaurants don’t sell beer. Everyone points me to a few places where it is possible, like the Livingstone Inn. In this trendy store, there’s a small bar in the back. I order a Lion beer. For dinner, I return to one of the restaurants on Pedlar Street. Even though no alcohol is served, it looks cozy and inviting.