Wildlife Safaris in Sri Lanka
Discover a thrilling safari through the wilds of Sri Lanka. Wildlife abounds in the country’s vast national parks which you can explore to catch a glimpse of elusive species as the hushed murmurs of nature surround you.
Home to numerous habitats and exotic flora and fauna, the island offers a captivating adventure in these stunning sanctuaries.
Wildlife & Adventure Map
Seven of Sri Lanka’s greatest national parks at a glance.
Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. It is estimated that over 197 species of birds gather within its environs. Large flocks of greater flamingos which often include over 1,000 birds are quite prominent among the avifauna. These feathered visitors come to the park from India. Cormorants, Asian openbills, painted storks, and lesser whistling ducks are commonly spotted in Bundala as well. In addition, species like the lesser adjutant, Eurasian coot, and black-necked stork can also be seen here with ease. Needless to say, the destination is certainly a bird lover’s paradise!
Bundala National Park was declared as the first Ramsar wetland in the country. This haven of perfect beauty is regarded as an outstanding Important Bird Area. It has also been designated a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
A visitor to Bundala will not just witness the glory and enchantment of birds as the area fosters a rich biodiversity too. You may come across elephants, common langurs, leopards, jackals, fishing cats, porcupines, and mugger crocodiles so keep your eyes peeled! This certainly is a place that allows you to relish the sensation of being at one with nature. The world famous Yala National Park is located in close proximity from Bundala.
Gal Oya National Park
Gal Oya National Park, which is located in the Uva and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, in close proximity to Ampara is one of the most beautiful places in the island. It’s a remarkable attraction that is quite often included in Sri Lanka wildlife holidays.
The park was established back in the year 1954 and serves as the main catchment area of the largest reservoir in the country, the ‘Senanayake Samudra’. This majestic reservoir glistens like silver under the brilliant blue skies while flocks of birds gaily gather upon its banks. It’s the perfect place to connect with nature and enjoy a moment of peace.
Over 150 species of birds can be seen here. Among these, lesser adjutants, grey-headed fish eagles, white-bellied sea eagles, red-faced malkohas and lesser whistling ducks are quite easy to spot. In addition to the birds, the Gal Oya National Park also nurtures large groups of mammals. Many tourists, in fact, visit it in the hopes of seeing the herd of elephants who call this enchanting haven their home. You will also most likely come across toque monkeys, water buffaloes, Sri Lankan axis deer, and Sri Lankan leopards during a tour. The gorgeous lesser albatross, which is a butterfly species that is endemic to Sri Lanka, is also commonly spotted in the Gal Oya National Park.
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka is a picture-perfect destination that nature lovers who visit the country rarely miss. The bumpy, winding trails lead to the very heart of the jungle where the unspoiled beauty of nature flourishes. The national park is a haven for wildlife. Many of these elusive creatures venture out of their hiding places to the open areas of the park from time to time, unfazed by the prying eyes of human visitors.
“Villus” which act as natural lakes are an interesting feature here. These alluring little sand-rimmed pools that are interspersed within the park fill with rainwater and attract large numbers of birds.
Wilpattu National Park has a leopard population. These apex predators thrive in the thick jungles and if one is lucky, one may be spotted during safari tours. In addition to leopards, Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan sloth bears, spotted deer, and water buffaloes can also be seen in Wilpattu.
The history of Wilpattu National Park is quite fascinating as well. The queen Kuweni, who is said to be the mother of the Sinhala race, is believed to have lived here. Some say Prince Saliya, the son of the great King Dutugemunu, also resided here 2,000 years ago.
The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is between February and October, though the park attracts a steady stream of visitors all through the year.
Yala National Park
The Yala National Park is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Without a doubt, it is also the most popular one. Every year large numbers of tourists traverse through its dusty trails in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Sri Lankan leopards; this is because it is a well-known fact that the park has one of the world’s highest leopard densities. Not many of these tourists return from their trips dejected either!
In addition to leopards, visitors may also spot large numbers of elephants, sloth bears and deer. The cheeky toque macaques and the elusive fishing cats occupy the beautiful territories of Yala as well.
Here you will find ancient Buddhist sites like Sithulpawwa and Magul Vihara too. So nature lovers, as well as those who desire to learn more about the culture and history of the island will find Yala National Park tours and safaris quite rewarding.
The best time to visit is considered to be between the months of November to August. The park is located near the city of Hambantota and Tissamaharama.
Udawalawe National Park
Bordering the provinces of Sabaragamuwa and Uva in Sri Lanka lies the Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka, where wild animals roam free in their numbers. It’s a popular tourist attraction on the island and sees large numbers of locals and foreign visitors all throughout the year.
Udawalawe National Park is amongst the most important habitats for Sri Lankan elephants. The gentle giants gather upon the banks of the Udawalawe Reservoir in large herds, creating a beautiful spectacle that thrills onlookers. It is estimated that Udawalawe National Park has over 250 resident elephants which certainly heightens the site’s appeal.
The national park was established with the aim of providing a sanctuary for wild animals that were driven out of their natural habitats during the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir and Walawe River. Today many species of water birds can be seen thriving in the environs of the glistening reservoir. The park is also home to fishing cats, Sri Lankan axis deer, Sri Lankan sambar deer, wild boars, water buffaloes, golden palm civets, and toque macaques.
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, which is located in the North Central Province of the island, approximately 190 km from Colombo, is a prominent tourist attraction. It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas in the country.
The national park protects the catchment of the Minneriya Tank which was built back in the third century AD by King Mahasen. The most remarkable natural event occurs here during the dry season. A large herd of wild elephants congregate by the banks of the reservoir every year to create The Gathering, an astounding natural event that has garnered famed around the world. Some records of the elephants that gather during the event include numbers as high as 700. The elephants can be seen socialising and bathing while enjoying the company of each other. This mesmerising event occurs between the months of July and September and is a remarkable sight to behold indeed!
Minneriya National Park also offers many opportunities to spot large water birds. Painted storks, lesser adjutants and spot-billed pelicans can be seen here. Endemic species of birds like the Sri Lankan junglefowl, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey-hornbill and crimson-fronted barbet are commonly spotted in Minneriya.
Your wildlife tour in the country can also include places like Wasgamuwa National Park and Somawathiya National Park which are quite easy to reach from Minneriya.
Horton Plains
The picture-perfect Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka is a place where time itself seems to stand still in awe of the surpassing splendour of nature. Ethereal mist engulfs the vast spaces of the national park so beautifully while flourishing foliage adds gorgeous hues of green to every slope and valley. The cold mountain breeze carries the faint fragrance of a thousand blooms that gently open in the sunshine. A tour across the majestic territories of the plains will surely give you memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Horton Plains boasts an altitude of 2,100 to 2,300 metres. The enchanting cloud forest and the lush greenery greatly appeal to trekkers here. The region is rich with flora and fauna too. Many endemic species of plants and animals can be found within the territories of the national park, making it a veritable paradise for nature lovers.
Quite a number of travellers visit Horton Plains National Park to witness the outstanding beauty of World’s End and Baker’s Falls. World’s End is a sheer precipice that has a drop of around 1,200 metres! There is yet another sheer drop located adjacent to World’s End which is smaller in size and so is aptly called Mini World’s End. Baker’s Falls which glistens like liquid silver amidst the verdant green growth of the surrounding landscape is also an enchanting attraction that possesses remarkable beauty.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve which lies in the Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka is one of the most remarkable attractions in the island. It is estimated that over 60% of the trees that the forest reserve has, are endemic to the island. There is also an abundance of endemic animals roaming free within the emerald-tinted territories of the jungle which makes this place a haven of perfect delight for nature lovers.
There are many gorgeous little birds gaily chirping amidst the arching branches of the trees here. Mixed with the gentle whisper of the trees, the sweet music they create in unison is indeed quite soothing. Sri Lanka boasts of 26 endemic species of birds. In Sinharaja National Park, you will find all 20 of the rainforest species of birds that are included in this list. It’s quite common to see mixed feeding flocks here too.
You will most likely come across groups of endemic purple-faced leaf monkeys, but given the thickness of the vegetation, it will be quite hard to spot them during day tours.
Sinharaja roughly translates to the ‘Lion Kingdom’. The grandeur that densely envelops the glorious territories of the forest reserve makes this quite a fitting name indeed. Within the hushed silence of the forest, you will certainly enjoy the relaxing sensation of being at one with nature.