Wildlife Tours

Wilpattu National Park is located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of “Willus” (Natural lakes) The park is 1,317 square kilometres (131, 693 hectares) and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard population.

Yala National Park is the most popular and most visited National Park in Sri Lanka due to its high Leopard density. Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean, in southeast Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public.

The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It plays an important role in the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.

Kumana National Park is located in the Eastern part of Yala National park and it holds its own as a bird sanctuary at the same time being home to some of the larger mammals found in Yala west park. The Kumana Bird Sanctuary established in 1938, is part of the Kumana National Park and is one of the most important nesting and breeding grounds for birds in Sri Lanka. Out of the country’s 400 bird species, the Kumana Bird Sanctuary is known to have recorded 255 species of birds.

Highlights of Kumana is the large estuary fed by “Kumbukkan Oya” and most of the bird that nest at Kumana use this mangrove swamp during May – June to raise their young. Pelican is the most common bird in Kumana while the rarest bird spotted here is black-necked stork. The main safari camp for birdwatchers is located near the banks of Kumbukkan Oya regarded as the best spot, also in the vicinity is an old shrine of yet undetermined deity of the area.

Located on the boundary of Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones, Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the area of 31,000 hectares, it is not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath by the waterholes.

In addition to elephants, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and many bird species. Originally, the national park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir in 1972. The reservoir, surrounded by open plains and foothills, is continuously replenished by River Walawe that draws its waters from the central highlands. Udawalawe is an important breeding place for aquatic birds.

Minneriya National Park is the world largest known meeting place of Asian Elephants in the world. Minneriya National Park is located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The renovated vast ancient Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir that irrigates the considerable area of the district of Polonnaruwa is the focal point of the Minneriya National Park. Being part of the elephant corridor which joins up with Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National Parks, Minneriya National Park gives the opportunity to see herds of Elephants throughout the year. May to October is the best period to visit Minneriya National Park in view of the World famous Great Elephant Gathering of the Asian wild elephants.

Minneriya National Park’s faunal species include 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies

Kaudulla National Park is one of the best national parks to spot Elephants in Sri Lanka. The park is bordering on one of the irrigation tanks built by an ancient King of Sri Lanka, Mahasen. This is probably the main reason why it allures wild animals and birds. Kaudullla is a popular tourist destination because you can see many wild elephants at close range. It is home to 200+ elephants. The park has opened in 2002, is surrounded by grasslands and can be visited year-round to see elephants and other great wildlife.

Apart from elephants, there are other mammals and reptiles to be found. Frequent sightings are; the Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Grey Slender Loris, freshwater turtles such as the Indian Black Turtle and the Indian Flap Shelled Turtle and even a handful of leopards.

Known as a bird’s paradise, it has attracted a large number of indigenous and migrant birds. It has been recorded that there are over 160 species of birds found at this park.