Elephants, leopards, sloth bears, birds and that elusive blue whale – Sri Lanka has got it all, home to a wide range of national parks and nature reserves, a paradise for all wildlife lovers. Being one of the best wildlife destinations in the world, Sri Lanka has an amalgamation of big game, aquatic life and birds along with a variety of landscapes. An island with heavy rainfall and different climatic altitudes, Sri Lanka is blessed with biodiversity, making her proud of her natural bounty. Therefore, many lands have been protected as sanctuaries, of which some have been declared as National Parks or Nature Reserves. This region of Wildlife Parks and Nature Reserves cover the most popular parks of Sri Lanka which entails some of the world’s best safaris.
Yala National Park, the most visited National Park in Sri Lanka and as reported by BBC’s Paul Williams in 2014, it has the highest density of Leopards anywhere in the world, with the biggest leopard being from Sri Lanka who was named as one-eyed Ivan. The park is also vital for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants, water birds and many other wild animals.
Wilpattu National Park, where its beautiful ‘willus’ which are natural water lakes add beauty of a difference to its landscape. During “palu season”, sweet local berries draw sloth bears from their lazy slumber during April – July every year which makes for an amazing witness. When compared to the other national parks of Sri Lanka, Wilpattu stands out among them due to its untouched nature.
Udawalawe National Park houses one of the largest densities of elephants where around 500 individual elephants are estimated to be roaming the boundaries of the park. A safari though the park will allow you to see herds of around 100 elephants at once and to be able to get a close-up experience with these animals which will undoubtedly leave you with the most exciting memories from the journey.
Home to one of the world’s greatest wildlife phenomenon – the Elephant Gathering, Minneriya National Park, located in the dry zone of the Cultural Triangle, was declared as a national park in 1997 after being previously declared as a wildlife sanctuary. The reasons were for the protection of its wildlife and the preservation of the Minneriya Reservoir which was built to provide water for the area during the dry seasons.
Bundala National Park is an exotic bird destination giving great opportunities to witness a variety of local and migratory birds while its landscape mostly consists of dry thorny scrublands and brackish lagoons. The park is internationally known for being a winter home to migratory water birds especially the Greater Flamingo, which can be spotted during the months of September to March since most birds migrate here during this time.
Kumana National Park is a haven for bird watchers from around the world, with its variety of around 430 different species of birds. It is also home to several other animals such as leopards, elephants, crocodiles, turtles, white cobras and wild buffalos. Spanning over 18,148 hectares, the park is bordered by the Kumbukkan river to the west and the south-eastern coast to the South of Sri Lanka.
The Kaudulla National Park, connected to three other national parks as of the Minneriya, Wasgamuwa and Somawathiya National park, was declared as a national park in 2002. Approximately two-thirds of the park is covered by water during most of the year and this water is collected in the Kaudulla Tank which is an important attraction within the park. Popular for elephants but also for many other species of animals.
Wasgamuwa National Park has beautiful varied landscapes and is home to large herds of around 150 elephants and around 143 reported species of birds. The Park gives a complete experience in a single national park. Apart from fauna, the park carries significance for important archaeological valuables. In addition to the elephant, other wild animals such as the Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking Deer, Langur and Wild Bow can also be seen.
Gal Oya National Park, a hidden gem in the south east of Sri Lanka, where the green meets the blue and the giants! An only park which enables you to enjoy its abundant beauty and wildlife, especially swimming elephants on a boat safari. This National park has a diverse landscape which is beyond breathtaking with mountains, waterfalls, man-made lake all surrounded by untouched jungle where the wild roam free.
Mountain grassland and cloud forest covering an expanse of 3160 hectares is what is Horton Plains National Park, perched on a high plateau in Sri Lanka‘s central highlands. Endowed with rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, this World Heritage site is renowned for its most scenic attraction, World’s End which is a stunning escarpment of 4000 feet, giving magnificent breathtaking views of the surrounding panoramas and where time stands still.
The largest and last remaining virgin tropical rainforest in the country, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ecological treasure trove sits across the wet zone in the southern part of the hill country of Sri Lanka. Its amazing rich biodiversity of endemic species, flora and fauna, makes it unique from the rest of the world. Explore Sinharaja by foot for a truly authentic jungle experience.
Kitulgala Forest Reserve, located in the western part of the country, is recognised as a primary destination for the adventurous. Encompassing grand rapids along the Kelani River, lowland tropical rainforest, waterfalls, endemic species of flora and fauna, this place draws many adventure and nature lovers highly gamed for an experience of a difference among scenic beauty and thrilling fun of white water rafting.
