May 17, 2016


5 Summer Wildlife Hotspots in Sri Lanka

Love being in the wild? Here’s a dope list of top wildlife hotspots in Sri Lanka.


The tropical paradise that it is, Sri Lanka is an animal enthusiast’s dream. With a teeming wild life that will draw many explorers and animal-lovers, any traveler should find this beautiful island on their bucket list of places to visit to grab a super picture or two and have a great time on top of it! Trust us when we say that these places are unreal! One can also call these places a photographer’s play ground.

The Yala National Park figures high on many vacationers’ lists. This is the place to see the leopard in its natural habitat. According to stats, there’s one leopard for every square km of the park!


The second-largest park in the island, it is situated in the southeast of the country and is home to a variety of wildlife such as elephants, monkeys, wild board, crocodiles and more. And grab your binoculars as well, it is one of the 70 important bird areas in the country. Sounds good, doesn’t it?


More interested in the larger animals? How about herds of elephants? Then the Minneriya National Park is the place you’re looking for. Make your way to the North Central Province of Sri Lanka (the long drive is worth it) to see the hoards of elephants gathering at the Minneriya tank for a drink of water.


Watch their antics and get some great shots that will make fabulous picture postcards. See as much as 150 to 200 elephants gather at a time…unbelievable! Don’t forget to also try to catch a glimpse of monkeys endemic to the island- the purple-faced Langur and the toque macaque. Make sure you look out for deer, sloth bear and leopards as well!


Some say though, that the Uda Walawe National Park is the best place to view elephants. 165 km from Colombo, the park’s reservoir attracts about 250 elephants that quench their thirst and reside close by. There are also plenty of exotic birds and reptiles to be seen at the park.


For a mix of many of the animals given in the previous park descriptions, you can also opt for a visit to the Bundala National Park located 245 km southeast of Colombo.


Home to 197 bird species, the greater flamingo is a sight to behold at this park. Complete with 383 plant species too, Bundala is a botanist’s dream cone true.

And then there’s the Wasgamuwa National Park, which is also an elephant and bird lovers’ paradise. The park is to be found in Sri Lanka’s dry zone, and is ideal to visit, undisturbed by adverse weather, most of the time.

Inquire about taking a guided safari tour of any of these parks where you can enjoy the animals in close proximity and absolute safety. You can also ask about camping sites in and near these parks, both normal and luxury, so as to enjoy the best of both worlds.

It’s a super way to seek some adventure and get the photographs that will help you boast about your time, back home!