Makini Bush Camp Blog

Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in the world. Known for its diverse ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and stunning landscapes, it’s a place that attracts tourists year-round. However, if you’re considering visiting during the low season, particularly in May and June, you're in for an even more unique and enriching experience. Here’s why the low season is the perfect time to explore Yala. Perfect Weather and Lush Greenery The months of May and June mark the transition between the monsoon rains and the dry season in Sri Lanka, making it an ideal time to visit Yala. The monsoon rains from January to April bring refreshing showers, transforming the park into a lush, green paradise. During May and June, the weather is usually pleasant, with cooler temperatures due to the recent rains. The landscape is vibrant, with an abundance of foliage and vibrant greenery that makes the park look like a lush jungle oasis. You’ll also find lakes and ponds ...

Leopards are one of the most majestic and mysterious animals in the world. They are known for their distinctive coats, which are covered in rosettes, and their powerful muscles, which allow them to roam across vast distances. Despite their beauty and strength, however, leopards are often misunderstood and misrepresented in popular culture. In this blog post, we will explore some of the behaviors of leopards in the wild and learn why these animals are so important to the ecosystem. One of the most striking features of leopards is their coat. The rosettes on a leopard's coat are used for camouflage, helping them blend in with their surroundings and sneak up on their prey. However, the color of a leopard's coat can vary widely depending on where they live. Leopards living in forests or jungles tend to have darker, more densely patterned coats, while those living in open grasslands or deserts may have lighter, more sparsely patterned coats. Leopards are solitary animals and are kno...

Last year Sri Lanka was recognized as the  “Best Safari Destination Outside of Africa”  by Forbes. At a time countries gradually lifting lockdowns and travelers eagerly searching for their first post-corona destination, we hope all wildlife and nature lovers will find this post timely and useful. In Africa, 'Big 5' means the animals that are most aggressive and difficult to hunt on foot, even though many think that it means the animals that are the highest in demand by visitors. Sri Lanka has it’s own 'Big 5' however, unlike in Africa the animals were chosen purely based on the popularity and demand by local and foreign visitors and it consists of both land and sea mammals. Namely, Sri Lanka’s Big5 is the Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan elephant, Sri Lankan sloth bear, the blue whale, and the sperm whale. It’s truly miraculous that a small island paradise like Sri Lanka with an area of just over 65000 km² able to home the world's largest land and sea mammal...

Yala national park is located in the southeast part of Sri Lanka boarding the Indian ocean. It’s an area of nearly 1000 square kilometers and primarily composed of forests, grasslands, lakes, and lagoons. Yala homes to many varieties of mammals, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan elephant, Sri Lankan Sloth bear, many endemic bird species, snakes and pythons are among them. Yala is the best place in the world to spot leopards in natural habitats because of the high density. According to statistics, it is said that there are 18 leopards per 100 square kilometers in Yala, which is the highest in the world. And it’s not just the density that makes Yala the best place to see leopards. Leopards are known as nocturnal and they seldom come out during the day time. One main reason for this is, there are other predators like lions and tigers that hunt leopards, and scavengers like hyenas who steal food and night time give just enough safety and privacy for leopar...