National Parks
Over a quarter of Sri Lanka is covered in deep forest, with roughly half of it set aside for wildlife protection. Sri Lanka’s national parks are home to elephants, leopards, and crocodiles, as well as a wide variety of beautiful birds.
The country’s first wildlife sanctuary is said to have been established in the 3rd century BC by the island’s first Buddhist king, Devanampiya Tissa, while modern reserves such as Udawattekele Sanctuary in Kandy and the Sinharaja rainforest can also be traced back centuries to the days when they were royal reserves.
Despite a growing population and increased land demand, Sri Lanka remains mostly a rural and underdeveloped island. Large swaths of the island have been declared as national parks and reserves, reflecting both traditional Buddhist concern for all forms of life and the rising importance of ecotourism in the country’s main tourism industry.
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Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park has been declared as the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This thorny scrub forest with beaches, sand dunes, and lagoons, located 250 kilometres south of Colombo in the Hambantota district, has become known for its varied biodiversity. It is a popular reserve for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts, with 197 different bird species and 32 distinct animal species. Bundala National Park is regarded as a specialist bird viewing experience due to the large numbers of Greater Flamingos that migrate there from Siberia and the Rann of Kutch in India. The Greater Flamingos visit Bundala between August and April, and up to 2000 of them have been recorded during one migratory period. A small herd of elephants, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer, and grey langur monkeys may also be found.
Horton Plains National Park
At about 2000 metres above sea level, Horton Plains is Sri Lanka’s highest plateau and one of the country’s most “beautiful and forbidding sites.”
The plains, located in the central hill area 20 kilometres south of Nuwara Eliya, are difficult to get but well worth the effort. This gorgeous topography is a sight to behold, with its untamed meadows, rich forest regions, lakes, and waterfalls. The plains are home to a wide variety of species, including wild boar and sambar deer, as well as the uncommon shaggy bear-monkey and toque macaque. Bakers Falls and Chimney Pool are among the attractions of Horton Plains National Park. At the end of the Horton Plains plateau, with an 880m plunge below, is believed to offer the greatest view in Sri Lanka.
Gal Oya National Park
Sri Lanka’s first significant irrigation project following independence was the Gal Oya Valley project. Within it, the Senanayake Samudra, the country’s largest reservoir, was developed and is an essential component of the Gal Oya National Park. In fact, the Gal Oya National Park is the only park in the country that provides boat safaris. Seeing elephants swim across the lake is one of the most exciting aspects of the boat safari. If the park’s beautiful hillforts, leopards, water buffaloes, wild boar, crocodiles, and many varieties of deer haven’t already wowed you. There are several small islands on the Senanayake Samudra that are home to a variety of bird species. 150 of the 430 bird species known in Sri Lanka are estimated to be resident in Gal Oya.
Maduru Oya National Park
Maduru Oya National Park in Sri Lanka was designated a national park in 1983 to protect the immediate catchments of five reservoirs built under the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme. Providing a safe haven for a diverse range of wildlife. The park is significant for its diverse wildlife, which includes a number of endemic species. The Asian elephant, sloth bear, leopard, and water buffalo are among the mammals found in the park. Slender loris, toque macaque, grey langur, golden jackal, and fishing cat are also present. Maduru Oya, like many of Sri Lanka’s water-dominated parks, has a diverse aquatic avifauna, including painted storks, the white-bellied sea-eagle, and the grey pelican. Among the notable forest-dwelling birds found here are the common tailor-bird, shama and black hooded oriole. The park, which is located in the country’s central-eastern region, is best visited during the dry season, which is from March to September.
Kaudulla National Park
Sri Lanka’s newest national park and wildlife reserve, Kaudulla National Park, was established in 2002 and is the country’s newest eco-tourism destination. On the Habarana-Trincomalee road, Kaudulla is about 6 kilometres from the Gal Oya Junction. The park gets its name from its proximity to the famous Kaudalla Tank of ancient King Mahasena. Jeep safaris are the suggested mode of transportation for visiting the park, and the months of August to December have been identified as the ideal months to do so because the region is home to around 250 elephants throughout that period. A 6656-hectare elephant corridor has been established in the park between the Minneriya National Park and the Somawathie Chaitya. The park’s dry evergreen woodlands are home to 24 mammal species, 25 reptile species, and 160 bird species. Leopards, fishing cats, sloth bears, and the endangered rusty spotted cat entice visitors to Kaudulla.
Kumana National Park
Kumana National Park is Sri Lanka’s most important bird refuge, home to a diverse mix of indigenous and migrant species. It is situated in the country’s south-east, near to the Yala National Park. Kumana is a renowned bird-watching site, as well as an excellent place to camp and go on safari. Kumana is home to 255 bird species, including the rare migratory Black Necked storks, Yellow Footed Green Pigeons, and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, as well as creatures such the European Otter, Golden Jackal, and a few elephants. The cave writings discovered in the park’s environs from the first and second centuries are particularly remarkable. Every year, pilgrims from the well-known Pada Yatra, including Hindu and Buddhist devotees, traverse Kumana on foot on their journey to Kataragama.
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park’s scrub woods are located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa. The park is now a world-famous location for sambar deer, toque macaques, and leopards. This is due to the fact that the world’s largest gathering of elephants takes place on the beaches of Minneriya’s over 2000-year-old man-made lake. During the dry season, from July to October, this breathtaking scene may be observed inside the boundaries of Minneriya National Park. With about 300 elephants gathering every evening, it’s little wonder that Lonely Planet has named it one of the world’s best wildlife spectacles. The ‘Gathering’ (as it’s been dubbed) is the result of a scarcity of waterholes due to the drought. When the elephants are unable to gather their daily supply of water, they make their way to the Minneriya tank, making it a must-see event.
Yala National Park
Yala, Sri Lanka’s most visited national park, is located in the southeastern section of the island, 300 kilometres from the capital Colombo. According to the BBC, the park is divided into five blocks, only two of which are available to the public, making it one of Asia’s top wildlife attractions. Because of the high density of leopards in Block 1, it is frequently visited. However, Block 1 remained a hunting reserve until 1938, and it was only after that that it was recognised as a conservation reserve. Elephants can also be seen grazing in the scrub jungle or ambling over the road, and the wonderful mating dance of the magnificent peacock is one of the most stunning sights at Yala. When the peacock rewards them in this way, the majority of tourists consider the long journey well worth it. This is, without a doubt, the apex of wildlife safaris.
Udawalawe National Park
The Udawalawe National Park, located south of the central hill country, was formed in 1972, following the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir, which displaced the area’s wild species. Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka’s third most visited, is an important habitat for aquatic birds and Sri Lankan elephants. With around 600 elephants in the park, Udawalawe is recognised as one of the best places on the island to watch elephants. The Elephant Transit Home was founded in 1995 to provide refuge and a home for around 25 orphaned elephants from the wild. Udawalawe is home to crocodiles, foxes, 30 distinct snake species, spotted and sambar deer, hundreds of buffaloes, and a few leopards. There are three tent sites and four bungalows near the reservoir and the Walawe Ganga if you choose to lodge in the wild.
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park has a long coastline and is located in the island’s arid zone to the north west. It is approximately 180 kilometres north of Colombo. Wilpattu is said to have the most leopards in the world. The park is home to elephants, spotted deer, wild boars, and mongooses. The Park is also home to a variety of owls, gulls, and eagles, as well as the Sri Lankan jungle fowl. The park is home to mugger crocodiles, common cobras, Indian pythons, and soft-shelled turtles. During the northeast monsoon rains from December to February, as well as the subsequent inter-monsoonal rains, the Park’s 60 lakes and tanks attract animals, and flora and fauna thrive in the luxuriant climate. Only about one-fourth of the Park is accessible to the public; the rest is densely forested.
Wasgamuwa National Park
Walasa or walaha is the Sinhalese term for sloth bear, while Gamuwa is the Sinhalese word for wood. The park was named after the large population of Sri Lankan Sloth bears that used to wander the region. It still has these endangered creatures, but finding them is more difficult than it used to be. The park, which borders the Mahawelia and Amban rivers and is almost totally surrounded by waterways, is a great place to see several uncommon bird species. The indigenous Red-Faced Malkoha and Yellow Fronted Barbet, for example, may be found in Wasgamuwa. With approximately 150 different types of plants, the park boasts a high level of biodiversity. The remains of the irrigation tanks of Dathota, Malagamuwa, and Wilmitiya, as well as the Kalinga Yoda Ela canel built by Parakramabahu I, contribute to its historical significance.
Kitulgala – Kelani Valley Forest Reserve
Kitulgala is most known for the 1957 Academy Award-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai, which is situated on the Kelani River. Kitulgala, also known as the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, is a rain forest area that experiences both monsoons and is arguably Sri Lanka’s wettest location. It was built to protect the Kelani River’s drainage basin. Kitulgala is home to several rare indigenous species, such as the Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Spot-winged Thrush, and Ceylon Scimitar Babbler. Rare fish and amphibians, as well as the Grizzled Indian Squirrel and other animals, can be found in the river. Kitulgala, on the other hand, has come to be associated with whitewater rafting. When someone suggests travelling to Kitulgala, the first thing that springs to mind is a weekend of adventure, complete with delicious meals, a jungle stroll, and camping in the great outdoors.
Sinharaja Rainforest
The Sinharaja Rainforest, located in Sri Lanka’s south-west lowland wet zone, is a recognised Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it has long maintained mythical and historical significance for the Sri Lankan people, it was formally established as a forest reserve in 1875. Sinharaja, which translates as “Lion (Sinha) and King (Raja) in Sinhala,” is Sri Lanka’s last remaining tropical rainforest, with 60% of the trees being native. It also supports over half of Sri Lanka’s indigenous animals, butterflies, reptiles, rare amphibians, and insects. The incredible variety of life that tourists to Sinharaja encounter when visiting this biodiversity hotspot never fails to shock them. A Spineless Forest Lizard, a Sri Lankan Rose, and a Bamboo Orchid are among the unusual creatures and plants that may be found here.
Pigeon Island National Park
Pigeon Island, one of Sri Lanka’s two marine national parks, is a popular tourist attraction on the East Coast. Pigeon Island, about 1km from the picturesque seaside town of Nilaveli, is named for the endangered Blue Rock Pigeon, which is unique to the island. The islands were initially recognised as a bird sanctuary in 1963, and subsequently as a national park in 2003. The region is made mainly many large and little pigeon islands. It’s also noted for having some of Sri Lanka’s best preserved coral reefs, as the coral reefs that rim massive Pigeon Island are almost 200 feet long and 100 metres broad. Its waters are home to 300 different species of coral reef fish, as well as juvenile and adult Black-tip reef sharks and sea turtles, making it a sight to see.
Mullaitivu National Park
Mullativu, which was the location of fierce fighting during Sri Lanka’s civil war, is experiencing a transformation, with the northern part of the district declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary. A wildlife reserve for elephants has been constructed on more than 100,000 acres in northern Mullativu. According to the government, the sanctuary was established to combat the escalating conflict between wild elephants and humans as a result of deforestation, which has damaged the elephants’ natural habitat. This drove elephants to seek food in settlements, resulting in a number of human and elephant fatalities. A century ago, there were 15,000 elephants roaming free in the wild, but now there are only 3000-4000, causing concern among animal specialists. The designation of Sri Lanka’s northern jungles as a National Park serves to protect the island’s natural surroundings.
