Yala National Park and other favorite places in Sri Lanka is written by Trine Glovemaker.
Sri Lanka is a holiday destination that many Danes are opening their eyes to.
Sri Lanka is still a relatively unspoilt country in terms of tourism and the infrastructure is also still evolving. People travel slowly due to poor road conditions. In the mountains, the trains take off at 5-15 kilometers per hour, so there is plenty of time to photograph the green tea plantations out of the train's open windows.
Until 2009, Sri Lanka was plagued by a 26-year civil war, but today there is peace, and travelers from all over the world travel to Sri Lanka to experience the no less than eight places in UNESCO World Heritage List.
Since I first visited Sri Lanka, I have been overwhelmed by nature and especially by the wildlife that exists in Yala National Park, for example. On my blog, Sri Lanka is the country I have written most about and I have traveled back again and again.
There are so many beautiful places and opportunities for wild, exotic experiences, and although it is hard to choose, here are my 5 favorite places in Sri Lanka.
Yala National Park with the wild leopards
Yala is located in the southeastern part of the country and is best known for Yala National Park, which is one of Sri Lanka's biggest tourist attractions.
In Yala National Park you go on a jeep safari in the same way as you do in Africa. The area is habitat for leopards, lip bears, Asian elephants, crocodiles, monkeys and rhinoceros birds, and it is an insanely exciting area.
For a nature nerd like me, a jeep safari with all the other tourists is just not enough. That is why I have lived in the area on the outskirts of Yala National Park several times.
There are no fences around the national park, and therefore you can experience many of the same animals as inside the park itself.
From Yala National Park to Habarana - the ideal base for excursions
Habarana is a small town located right in the middle of Sri Lanka.
The city itself is not a tourist attraction, but it is an ideal base for excursions to a wide range of Sri Lanka's best sights. From here you can reach the old royal cities in a few hours Anuradhapura og Polonnaruwa.
You can also get to the lion cliff in Sigiriya and to the cave temples of Dambulla. These are all sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among the lesser known attractions are the Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks, where huge herds of elephants gather at certain times of the year.
We talked about more than 90 elephants walking and enjoying themselves by the lake shore. A sight you do not just forget.
Click here for cheap hotels in Habarana
Sinharaja - Sri Lanka's tropical rainforest
Unlike Yala National Park, the Sinharaja rainforest is for the more adventurous nature lovers. Sinharaja is located in a mountainous region in southwestern Sri Lanka. The first challenge is to get here. The roads are bad and winding, so even the best get sick of driving. Not all private drivers love to drive this road with their fine cars.
The next challenge is the leeches, which on humid days just stand and wait for the tourists who are silly enough to go into the woods for them.
The reward is a wild and untamed nature, and the opportunity to find exotic animals, such as snakes, scallops, spruce spiders and scorpions. The rainforest is also home to many of Sri Lanka's endemic bird species, including the beautiful blue magpie.
The palm beaches on the south coast of Sri Lanka
Once you have seen exotic animals in Yala National Park and experienced wild nature in Sinharaja, it is time for a relaxing walk on the beach. If you want long, beautiful palm beaches, head to the south coast of Sri Lanka. The beaches also do incredibly well in pictures.
The further away from Colombo you go, the more places you can experience having the entire beach to yourself. Or, if you're lucky, along with a sea turtle coming up havet to lay her eggs in the sand.
From the port city Mirissa you can sail out on havet in the early morning hours. Here you can see dolphins, sperm whales and blue whales. Sri Lanka is said to be the place in the world where there is the greatest chance of seeing the blue whale, the world's largest animal.
See this travel offer for round trip in Sri Lanka
Did you know: Here are 7 overlooked food experiences you must try in Austria!
7: Gourmet at an altitude of 3,000 meters at the Ice Q restaurant in Tyrol
6: Eat cheese on the cheese street in Bregenzerwald near Vorarlberg
Get numbers 1-5 immediately by signing up for the newsletter, and look in the welcome email:
The mountain village of Ella
Since I came to Ella for the first time, I have had a very special feeling of "coming home". Ella is a mountain village in the central part of the south of the country. The town is surrounded by green tea plantations and has some absolutely wonderful mountain views. The atmosphere is relaxed. Village life and mountain air mean that you get to breathe all the way down into your lungs. Ella is a really nice place to be.
If you dream of beautiful nature experiences, exotic animals, white sandy beaches or beautiful views, then you can have it all in Sri Lanka. Whether you choose Yala National Park or one of the many other national parks in Sri Lanka, a wild experience is guaranteed.
Have a good trip to Sri Lanka!
