bigtravelbuzzThis may surprise you: Sri Lanka is he one of the most safari-friendly places in the world outside of Africa. Famous for its amazing wildlife known as the ‘Sri Lanka Big Four’ (elephants, leopards, sloth bears and blue whales), it’s no wonder Sri Lanka is so popular for safaris. With so many spectacular national parks in Sri Lanka, deciding on a safari can be a challenge. Here is a breakdown of the best national parks in Sri Lanka:
national parks of sri lanka
Sri Lanka has more than 20 national parks, offering a wide variety of landscapes, from open plains to beautiful lakes, scrublands, grasslands and even beaches. Where you go on your safari is entirely up to your personal preferences. For example, do you want to spot the elusive leopard or see a herd of elephants? This will be a factor in determining which national park to choose from.
best time for safari
Sri Lanka has his two monsoon seasons.
The northeast monsoon season occurs from October to January and the southwest monsoon season occurs from May to July. It’s best to avoid these times of the day, as animals seek shelter and are less likely to find it during heavy rains. The dry season is a great time to visit Sri Lanka’s national parks. Because animals come out of their lairs in search of water.
Sri Lanka morning or afternoon safari? Consider the time to go on safari. This is best done in the morning or evening, as animals also seek shelter in the midday sun. Traveling in the morning or evening also means you have the chance to see beautiful sunrises and sunsets over Sri Lanka’s magical landscapes.
Tips:
Find other people to join your safari so you can share the jeep rental cost. This greatly reduces the cost of visiting Sri Lanka’s national parks
Where can I see wildlife in Sri Lanka?
yala national park in sri lanka
Yala is Sri Lanka’s most popular national park and for good reason!It is famous for its large population of leopards (in Yala he is 40-50) and in fact the tallest leopard in the world Density. Still, leopards are so elusive that they are not always seen for sure. However, the chances of spotting a leopard are much higher at Yala than at any other park in Sri Lanka.
The lagoons, bushlands and grasslands are also breeding grounds for many other wildlife, including beautiful elephant herds and unique sloth bears.
Cons:
Due to Yala’s popularity, it can get very crowded. Only a small portion of this area is open to the public, as the park does its best to protect nature and wildlife. Please act responsibly and always do your best to be a sustainable traveller.
Summary of Yala
Location: It is located on the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka.
Season: February to September (dry season). The best time to see leopards is from February to he March.
*Note: The park is closed in September.
animal: Great for seeing leopards. It is also home to 44 species of mammals and 215 species of birds.
price: $65 for a guided tour (park entrance, jeep, guide). You can pay over US$100 for a private tour. Prices are higher than other parks in Sri Lanka due to the high chances of seeing leopards.
Where to stay: Stay at Cinnamon Wild’s Jungle Chalet! This was an amazing experience that allowed us to get up close and personal with nature. You can even dine under the stars in the back of your Jeep, right next to alligators in the water.
Udawalawe
Udawalawe is Yala’s lesser-known neighbor. It’s not very popular, but the small, open landscape makes it a great place to see animals. There are about 400-500 elephants in the park. Incredible density in a small area! Also perfect for bird watching. One of the best bird watching spots in Japan!
If you want to meet elephants in person, Udawalawe is the best national park in Sri Lanka! This is because the elephants here are very confident and can get very close to the rides. Another advantage of Udawalawe is that much of the park is open grassland (with few trees or shrubs). This makes it easy to spot animals and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Sri Lanka’s plains.
Cons:
Leopards are difficult to see (there are about half the number of leopards in Yarra) and apart from some great bird and elephant viewing, there isn’t much other wildlife to see.
Summary of Udawalawe
position:
West of Yala, slightly inland around the vast Udawalawe Reservoir.
Season:
February to October (dry season). October to April is recommended if you want to see migratory birds. The rainy season he October to he January is the best time to see baby elephants.
animal:
Great for elephant and bird watching.
price:
From $35 for a shared jeep to $75 for a private tour.
Where to sleep:
The park is just a 1.5-hour drive from Dickwella, a picturesque coastal town in southern Sri Lanka. Stay in the Verse Collective:
A trendy collaboration space popular with digital nomads.
Mineria
Minneriya is best known for its spectacular ‘Elephant Congregation’. During September and October the lake dries up and elephants gather around the lake to feed on the grasslands. Seeing hundreds of elephants congregating in one area is one of his most breathtaking experiences. The lake is also great for bird lovers, with an amazing diversity of birds. Cons:
Aside from elephants and birds, visitors are unlikely to see the variety of wildlife found in Sri Lanka’s other national parks.
Summary of Minneriya
Location:Northern/Central Sri Lanka. It is great to visit here from Sigiriya.
Season: July to October, visit here in September or October to see a big elephant gathering.
animal: Perfect for elephants. However, you can also see two unique species of monkeys, purple langurs and tok macaques.
price:
Indefinite. However, private tours typically cost around $40-$60, including pickup, drop-off, and entrance fees.
Where to sleep:
The park is only 30 minutes from Sigiriya. For this reason, we recommend combining a visit to the park with a visit to Lion Rock. Show all hotels in Sigiriya or Dambulla. tail
Minneriya is much more popular, but Kaudula is right next door and has some amazing wildlife. Large herds of elephants can also be seen here as they migrate between areas. The park isn’t as big or as popular as other parks, so there aren’t too many jeeps, making it a more peaceful experience. On rare occasions, tourists have even been known to spot leopards.
Cons:
There are not many animals other than elephants.
Summary of Cordura
position:
Between Dambulla and Trincomalee. Both locations are easily accessible on a day trip, but Dambulla is slightly closer.
Season:
July to October. Elephant conferences are held in September and He in October.
animal:
Perfect for elephants (gathering). You can also see peacocks, bears and alligators. price:
Private safari costs approximately USD 40-60 per person.
Where to sleep:
Here are some recommended hotels in Dambulla.
Wilpattu
Willpatu is a hidden gem of all national parks in Sri Lanka. Famous for sightings of reclusive sloth bears. Established in 1938, it is Sri Lanka’s first national park (along with Yala) and the largest national park in Sri Lanka. Little known, the park is teeming with wildlife, and a leopard has been spotted right behind Yarra. It even surpasses Yara in terms of its incredible beauty and peaceful nature. You don’t see many other jeeps here, so it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one in the park! Wilpattu is definitely the best option.
Cons:
Not as many elephants as other national parks.
Summary of Wilpattu
position:
Northwest of Sri Lanka, near Anuradhapura
Season:
During the summer from February to October (dry season) or May to July, sloth bears come out to forage in the trees.
animal:
Great for sloth bear sightings.
price:
$30-40 for a half day, $80-100 for a full day.
Where to sleep:
See all hotels in Anuradhapura.
Which national parks in Sri Lanka are the best? verdict:
Wilpattu! The beauty of this park is breathtaking, made all the more special by the fact that it is relatively unknown and therefore peaceful. It’s very quiet, so it’s a great place for wildlife watching, increasing your chances of encountering a wide variety of wildlife. Considering all these factors the price is reasonable and the possibility of spotting a leopard as well as a yala makes it a bargain!
Things to remember on safari
Light-colored clothing that is loose and comfortable. Bring layers in case the weather changes
Shoes you don’t mind getting dirty when you get out of the car
cap
insect repellent spray
sun cream
binoculars
camera + zoom lens
Sri Lanka visa
To visit Sri Lanka, you need to buy an electronic visa (ETA) online before you travel.