Udawalawa
Udawalawa National Park is one of the most reliable places in Sri Lanka for close elephant encounters – the park’s open savannah landscape and water sources attract large herds year-round, and sightings are almost guaranteed. It is also home to the Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation facility for orphaned elephants, which is worth visiting in […]
Kumana
An extension of the Yala ecosystem, Kumana National Park in the southeast is a significant wetland and nesting site for migratory birds, with over 200 species recorded. It sees fewer visitors than Yala and has a wilder, more remote feel. Leopard and elephant sightings are possible, and the coastal landscapes around the park are beautiful. […]
Minneriya
Minneriya is famous for The Gathering – one of Asia’s great wildlife spectacles, in which hundreds of elephants converge on the ancient Minneriya reservoir as surrounding water sources dry up during the dry season. At its peak between July and October, the numbers can be extraordinary. The park is compact, easily accessed from Sigiriya, and […]
Wilpattu
Sri Lanka’s largest national park by area, Wilpattu is a quieter, less visited alternative to Yala, defined by its unique network of natural circular lakes called villus. It is excellent leopard and sloth bear country, and the relative scarcity of vehicles inside the park gives it a more immersive, undisturbed quality. Best visited between February […]
Yala
Sri Lanka’s most famous national park, Yala has one of the highest densities of leopards of any protected area in the world. The park is also home to elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, water buffalo, and an impressive range of bird species. Safaris operate in open jeeps through diverse habitats including coastal scrub, lagoons, and dry-zone […]