With an abundance of biodiversity and natural heritage, Sri Lanka, that is an island is an amazing place to do safari parks. As well as being havens for flora and fauna, these parks provide a spectacular scenery from dense forests to wide savannas. In this article, we look at Sri Lanka’s top 20 national parks, all offering a very different view into the country’s wildlife and natural beauty.
1. Yala National Park
Most famously known for its density of leopards, Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most visited and second largest national park. The tour of the park covers 979 square kilometers, periodically split between five blocks. The most visible and most visited part is Block I, in which visitors can witness not only the leopards but also there are chances for you to spot elephants, crocodiles and abundant bird species. It is a biodiversity hotspot, with varied ecosystems of moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, thorn forests and marine wetlands.
2. Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park was set up in 1972 as a sanctuary for wildlife displaced by construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir, becoming famous for its elephants. Nearly all visitors to Khao Yai are almost certain to spot elephants, often in large herds, as well as other mammals, such as water buffalo, wild boar and spotted deer. They also make the park a favourite bird-watching area, since many water birds and raptors use it.
3. Wilpattu National Park
The unique feature about Wilpattu is the ‘willus’ (natural lakes) which are speckled all over the landscape. At a larger scale, Yala’s main rival is Udawalawe – Sri Lanka’s largest park with dense forest cover and many waterbodies, attracting a bit more different wildlife than the feline crowd. Many species like leopards, elephants, sloth bears and many more bird species take home at this park, making it the best place for safaris, thrilling and distant from other places.
4. Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park is known best for the ‘Gathering’, a seasonal congregation of elephants which takes place during the dry season between June and September and is one of the most spectacular wildlife events on earth. The ancient Minneriya Tank is the park’s centerpiece, and sees scores of large animals, especially elephants, come to take lunch and bathe, giving visitors unparalleled opportunities for wildlife photography and observation.
5. Horton Plains National Park
Horton Plains – A stark contrast from the typical safari experience… situates on the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The montane ecosystem has a cool climate, and hosts a rich variety of endemic flora and fauna. World’s End is a sheer cliff with a corresponding dramatic drop of about 870 meters for which the park is known. Sambar deer and also the leopard can also be found in the park.
6. Bundala National Park
Of course, Bundala National Park is a great bird sanctuary, where every winter bird enthusiasts all over the world wait to see how lovely are migratory waterbirds resting in its wetland areas. The park is internationally important as a stopover ground for migratory waterfowl and harbours many important species, among which flamingos. It’s also one of the few strongholds left for Greater Flamingos in this region.
7. Kaudulla National Park
Yet Kaudulla National Park, a relatively new park that was set up in 2002, has become a very fast rising safari destination in Sri Lanka. As a part of elephant corridor which includes the National Parks of Minneriya and Wasgamuwa it is an important area for conservation of elephants in Sri Lanka. Full of large reservoirs the park’s herds of elephants, especially during dry season, provide spectacular sightings.
8. Wasgamuwa National Park
Wasgamuwa National Park is in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts and is known for its fauna. With it are forested areas together with grasslands, which give habitats to a array of animals. Of course, it’s not famous for leopards, but elephants, purple faced langur monkeys and even sloth bear are not uncommon here either.
9. Gal Oya National Park
One of the few places in Sri Lanka where visitors can take a boat safari to view wildlife (including elephants) from the water, Gal Oya National Park is part of the lowland rainforests of Sri Lanka located in the south and southeast of the island. Included in the park is Senanayake Samudraya, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka. The rich birdlife and aquatic animals are supported here. Inland, the land is home to many such species like leopards, wild boars etc. as the dense forests alive there.
10. Maduru Oya National Park
Maduru Oya National Park established for the Mahaweli development project has vast complex of ancient reservoirs and rich historical sites. Many wildlife species, among them elephants in huge herds, find refuge there. The rest of the park also contains leopards, sloth bears and many species of birds, so it is a good wildlife as well as cultural visit.
11. Kumana National Park
Kumana National Park is often called Yala East: especially known for its avifauna, mainly flocks of migratory waterbirds. A variety of wading birds visit the 200 hectare mangrove swamp called the Kumana Villu. Its western neighbour, Yala, may boast more elephants and leopards but the park is quieter, less commercialized and more secluded.
12. Lahugala Kitulana National Park
Comprising a wide variety of as many as 24 genera, the park is home to numerous species of macaca, nemestrina, hoolock, at magnostiff, brevicaudatus, delacouri, nemaeus, larinatus, platyrrhinos, pygmeaus, sindica, and indalang.
If the title did not give it away, here is a small park that certainly has big elephant populations. Lahugala is great place to watch the elephants in their natural settings, like in the dry season, when they gather round the Lahugala Tank. The birdlife in the park is noted and the place functions as an important conservation site, especially for the endemic Toque Macaque and other wildlife species.
13. Pigeon Island National Park
One of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka, Pigeon Island off the coast of Nilaveli is a family of Pigeons, marine life popular. Some of the country’s best preserved coral reefs are contained in the park, which is also a fine spot for snorkeling and diving. A host of marine species (blacktip reef sharks, turtles, fish and coral species galore) are there to see for visitors.
14. Angammedilla National Park
Angammedilla is a newer national park in Sri Lanka, created to protect the catchment area of the Parakrama Samudra. Serving as a corridor between Wasgamuwa and Miniheriya Parks, this is a good place to see elephants and other fauna without the crowds you would find in Busier Parks.
15. Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands World Heritage Site includes this sanctuary as part of the sanctuary that is important for biodiversity in Sri Lanka. The sacred Adam’s Peak is inside the sanctuary and the area also includes montane forests and rainforests. The wildlife comprises leopards, elephants and many endemic bird species in its marshlands.
16. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a treasure of endemic species of trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. One of the few left virgin forests in the world, this tropical rainforest. Among the rare birds and other wildlife species, this is an ideal location for bird watchers, or those interested in tropical biodiversity.
17. Somawathiya National Park
A part of the Mahaweli system of protected areas, Somawathiya is noted for cultural importance and its wildlife. The park has been named after the Somawathiya Chaitya, an ancient stupa which it is said holds a relic of the tooth of the Buddha. It’s a nice, un-touristy place to watch the elephants and several types of birds.
18. Flood Plains National Park
Aesthetic Feature: This park occupies part – and particularly fruitful part – of the Mahaweli River floodplain and conserves a vitally important component of the region’s ecology. A vital habitat for water birds, as well as elephants, it is. The floodplains are dry season ‘killing’ places, luring large numbers of elephants and other wildlife, on which the water and lush grasslands are crucial to their survival.
19. Horowpathana National Park
An important haven for the critically endangered Sri Lankan elephant, Horowpathana one of the lesser known parks. It is also a significant area for biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka asiewhole, the park supports a variety of other wildlife.
20. Delft National Park
This is not the kind of safari destination that you find, but it is located on the island of Delft in the North Province. A small population of wild ponies descendents of those left behind by the Portuguese are to be at homer to, as they inhabit unique landscapes carved away by coral and limestone. It’s a wonderful mix of cultural history, and natural beauty.
Minneriya is famous for the elephant gatherings, Gal Oya for tranquil waters but each park has something special to offer. You are a wildlife enthusiast, a bird watcher or you just want to have an awe inspiring and enriching experience in nature, Sri Lanka’s national parks have enough memorable adventure up their sleeve.
