Field notes

The Yala Journal

What the park teaches, from the people who read it daily. Tracking, timing, and travelling through Yala without adding to the crowd.

The Leopards of Block I

Block I holds one of the densest leopard populations on Earth — roughly 25 cats across a single zone. Here is how, and when, to find one.

One leopard call can pull 30–50 vehicles in minutes. Here's how to see Yala without becoming part of the problem.

Dry-season waterholes, migratory birds, and the September closure — timing your trip to what you actually want to see.