Day 11 Safari game drives in Yala national park

A 4.45 a.m wake up call and 5 of us had boarded our jeep by 5.15 a.m

We arrived at the entrance to the park 20 minutes before it opened so wandered around by the jeep taking a few photos of a peacock and listening to the dawn chorus. There was no other traffic on the road, apart from two more jeeps that joined us.

Had an amazing 3 hour game drive, the main body of water was a man made reservoir built around 20 years ago complete with dead tree trunks.

We spotted deer, all sorts of bird, water buffalo and had wonderful morning. The air was cool and still early on but very hot and humid by the time we left the park at 9 a.m

On our return there was an elephant in the road

Back to the hotel for a late breakfast a chill by the pool, we had a quick swim, the sun was too strong for much else. But we did sit in the shade with a cold drink. The waiter informed us that as it's a full moon today they were unable to serve any alcohol. Apparently this is a Buddhist custom.

Lunch by the pool too and then we set off mid afternoon for our second jeep safari.

This time we took the bus to meet up with the jeeps and were escorted by them past the elephant that we passed on the road this morning. He is there every day and gets fed by tourists so tries to raid tourist buses unless they're accompanied. Very sad.

This afternoons safari was a very different experience. The lighting, the temperature, the animals that we saw and we had one extra person in our jeep!