Yala is one such park that allows people in, though most of the park is not open to traffic, and you are not permitted to get out of your vehicle while in the park.
The park is located on the ocean and is a mix of dense shrubs, grassy plains, rocky outcroppings and many small lakes and ponds.
Once inside the park our driver/tracker took us on a side road and were soon greeted by a bull elephant who appeared out of the thick brush, checked us out, then meandered on his way. I would have never thought an elephant could hide, but if our driver had not pointed him out, I would have driven right by him. 
We were not disappointed by the abundance of wildlife, including water buffalo, deer, including some stags with very large antlers, monkeys, monitor lizards, wild pigs, wild dogs and crocodiles. The elusive leopard however remained out of sight that day.
We also spotted shore birds and raptors of all kinds.
There were also many Peacocks about. We caught this one strutting his stuff.
At lunch many of the vehicles congregated on the beach where we were allowed off the rig to stretch our legs. There is a sobering memorial here dedicated to the victims of the Tsunami who lost their lives at this once posh resort. All that was left after the water had receded was this concrete foundation and bits of building scattered about the area. Everything else was washed out to sea.
During most of our Safari, we had the roads to ourselves, but after lunch all the rigs had stopped to see a small herd of elephants. The big beasts seemed used to the idea of people gawking at them as they passed calmly by.
The park is located on the ocean and is a mix of dense shrubs, grassy plains, rocky outcroppings and many small lakes and ponds.
Once inside the park our driver/tracker took us on a side road and were soon greeted by a bull elephant who appeared out of the thick brush, checked us out, then meandered on his way. I would have never thought an elephant could hide, but if our driver had not pointed him out, I would have driven right by him. 
We were not disappointed by the abundance of wildlife, including water buffalo, deer, including some stags with very large antlers, monkeys, monitor lizards, wild pigs, wild dogs and crocodiles. The elusive leopard however remained out of sight that day.
We also spotted shore birds and raptors of all kinds.
There were also many Peacocks about. We caught this one strutting his stuff.
At lunch many of the vehicles congregated on the beach where we were allowed off the rig to stretch our legs. There is a sobering memorial here dedicated to the victims of the Tsunami who lost their lives at this once posh resort. All that was left after the water had receded was this concrete foundation and bits of building scattered about the area. Everything else was washed out to sea.
During most of our Safari, we had the roads to ourselves, but after lunch all the rigs had stopped to see a small herd of elephants. The big beasts seemed used to the idea of people gawking at them as they passed calmly by.
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