Yala Town Guide
Yala town is a rural town in Gem Constituency, Siaya County in the Nyanza Province of western Kenya, 42 kilometres northwest of Kisumu. Yala is one of four divisions of the Siaya District. Within the area are the Yala River and the ecologically critical Yala Swamp.
Yala, Thailand’s southernmost province, is characterised by a landscape of mainly mountains and forests. The word Yala comes from a folk word “yalor”, meaning “fishing net” because at the original site of the town, Yalor, there was a mountain shaped like a fishing net. In actual fact, Yala town is a lowland and people earn their living by fishing.
Yala is home to some of top academics, professionals and intellectuals Kenya has ever produced. This can be attributed to the fact that the people of this town and constituency at large embraced formal education as early as the first quarter of the twentieth century, thanks to the efforts of Chief Odera Akang’o.
Infrastructure in Yala Town
Yala is served by a railway station, the Kisumu-Busia highway, Ndanu water treatment works, a jaggery (formerly Yala White Sugar Company) and several top notch schools like St Mary’s School-Yala, Sawagongo Sec. School, Nyawara Girls’ Secondary and St Teresa’s Primary Boarding School among others.
Places To Visit and Things To Do in Yala Town
Attractions
Scenic attractions here include the Than To Waterfalls, located on the Yala-Betong highway. Set in an arboretum and surrounded by high mountains, these impressive falls tumble over seven levels.
How To Get Yala Town
By car
Yala is 1,084 kilometres south of Bangkok by road. One can take Highway 4 (Thanon Phetkasem) from Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon, then onto Highway 41 through Thung Song, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, Pattani, and Yala.
By Plain
There is no direct flight to Yala but Thai Airways International offers flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai one can either take the train, bus, taxi, or air-conditioned van to Yala. Please call Thai Airways at 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 for more information.
Hotels and Accommodations in Yala Town
Hotel Chandrika
Kithara Resort
Yala Safari Camping
Hotel clauria
Jacks Place Kataragama
Kent Hotel Tissamaharama
Hotel Tissa