Yala National Park has the densest leopard population on Earth, and Sri Lanka throws in elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and painted storks as supporting acts — all against a coastline where the jungle runs down to empty Indian Ocean beaches. Take the earliest safari slot, when cats are still on the move, and insist on a driver who doesn't chase radio tip-offs. February to July, when water holes shrink, gives the best sightings; block five in the park is quietest.
Featured in Ten wild tropical trips for animal lovers · Tropical