A region that teems with a variety of wildlife, Yala is a utopia for those who love nature. The region is popular for wildlife safaris, trekking and recently, it has gained popularity for boating and fishing. Read on to know more about this enticing experience.
Sri Lankan leopard | Image Credit : Casey Klebba, Sri-lankan-leopard-yala-casey-klebba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fishing in Yala
The region is home to a myriad of water bodies and catchment areas that thrives with fish that are edible. So the locals, with the help of traditional boats, venture into the tanks and reservoirs to fish. Once they have caught enough fish they sell the bigger portion of it at local markets and take the remaining home to feed their families.
An unconventional safari experience?!
Upon getting aboard a traditional boat on these reservoirs and tanks, you could not only engage in fishing but also explore the surrounding wildlife; you could see deer and other local mammals at the banks dropping by to quench their thirst. If you are lucky you could even spot the famous Sri Lankan leopard.
More about this experience
Although it sounds like something that affects natural habitats, The fishing activity is certainly one of the most eco-friendly recreational experiences on the island. That is because, the traditional boats are manoeuvred by paddles and they do not use engines, also the number of fishermen in the region is very less and overfishing is not a thing to worry about. The government also has strict legislation on the equipment used by the fishermen.
How could you join?
This experience can be enjoyed by getting touch with a local tour operator or if you are stationed at a Yala hotel the likes of Cinnamon Wild Yala, you could reach out to the resort’s front desk where they will provide you instructions as to how you could join this excursion experience.
Things to remember
During the experience, be mindful to wear light and comfortable clothing as the sun can be a bit unforgiving during day-time. Bring your camera if you are into photography; a hat and shades might also come in handy.
