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This national park is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants, which are often present in huge numbers. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Lake, the park has plenty of scrub, forest, and wetlands in its 88.9 sq. km to also provide shelter for toque macaques, sambar deer, buffalo, and crocodiles. The dry season, from April to October, is reckoned to be the best time to visit (as by then water in the tank has dried up, exposing grasses and shoots to grazing animals). Elephants, which can number 200 or more, come to feed and bathe during what is known as ‘the Gathering’; and flocks of birds, such as little cormorants, painted storks, herons, peacocks and large pelicans all fish in the shallow waters. However, it's also possible to see large numbers of elephants here during the other seasons too. The landscape and views across the Lake are superb. It's ideal for birds in the early morning and late afternoon for the elephants.
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This virgin rainforest has become one of Sri Lanka's major eco-tourism destinations. Described as both a Tropical Lowland Rainforest and a Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, the Sinharaja forest is a vast repository of wildlife that is endemic to Sri Lanka. Preliminary studies on the fauna of Sinharaja have revealed that there is a high degree of endemism among the butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Of the endemic birds, the rarest to be seen here are the Red Faced Malkoha, Green Billed Coucal and the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. Endemism among mammals and butterflies is also greater than 50 percent.
Wilpattu National Park, with its unique landscape of lakes and dense foliage, presents an enchanting wilderness experience. This park is known for its leopard population, as well as its diverse birdlife and numerous reptile species. Exploring Wilpattu’s untamed terrain is a thrilling adventure, allowing visitors to connect with nature in its purest form. It is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka.
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Horton Plains National Park is one of the star hiking places in Sri Lanka! The park comprises the montane ecosystem of evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands, and the aquatic ecosystem.
The flavor of Horton Plains is most undiluted when accompanied by trekking; it is more accessible mainly because of the well-maintained paths. The plains are not only of scenic beauty but are also of conservation importance, containing most of the habitats of flora and fauna. The Horton Plains National Park is a 9 km looped track that leads you to the World’s End (the viewpoint). You will realize the name is well suited for the place when you reach the 2854 ft high precipice. The plains spread across 3169 hectares of the highest tablelands of the island.
While wandering on the plains of the National Park you will stumble across the beautiful Bakers Falls.
Arriving at daybreak when the sun rays slash through the mist there lays a very high chance of a deer grazing silently in the long grass. The very likely experience will leave you spellbound as Sambar Deer is the most commonly found animal on the plains. Additionally, Sri Lankan moutain Leopard, 750 species of plants belonging to 20 families have been recorded from the park. The fauna of the region includes 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, 9 species of reptiles, and 8 species of amphibians. UNESCO declared Horton Plains as a world heritage site on 30th July 2010.
Situated in the Southern Province, close to Hambantota, The Bundala National Park considered the most important birding destination in Sri Lanka was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and thereafter advanced to a National Park in 1993. The climate at Bundala is hot and dry at most times, with average temperatures at 27 degrees Celsius during the months of May to September, with plenty of migratory birds arriving between September and March.
The park is spread out over 6,218 hectares and consists of a striking landscape made up of a mix of thorny scrublands, marshes, lagoons, waterways, and dunes making it an inviting destination for thousands of migratory birds, some distant migrants flying all the way from Euro Asian destinations to winter in the park. This has made it an internationally important wintering ground for thousands of exotic migratory species of birds. The reason for this fascination for Sri Lanka is the country’s geographic location, being situated just below the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent close to the equator, making it the final destination in their long journey across the oceans.
The park boasts nearly 200 species of birds, of which 150 are endemic and the rest migratory. Amongst the migratory birds are the petite-tailed bee-eaters, flocks of Flamingos, Brown Flycatchers, Sandpipers, Barn Swallow, waterfowl, Common Redshank, the Lesser Sand Plover, and Forest Wagtail. The complex wetland system within the park, now declared as Sri Lanka’s first ‘Ramsar’ site (identified as an important wetland in the network of international wetlands) and declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2005, is a haven to a number of aquatic birds such as the migratory Greater flamingo (large flocks of over 1000 birds), Ibis, Painted storks, Terns, Gulls and Ducks and the resident water birds such as Pelicans, Herons, Egrets, Cormorants, Stilts, and Storks.
It has been observed by bird lovers and nature enthusiasts that these migratory birds stop over at the same site every year as birds are believed to follow established migratory routes that are well-defined over long distances.
The bio-diversity of the park is prolific with 383 plant species being recorded here, six of which are endemic and seven endangered. It is also home to 32 species of mammals which include Elephants (most of them reside here permanently, with seasonal migratory herds arriving for short periods), Leopard, Deer, Sloth Bear, Civets, Mongoose, Monkeys, and Giant Squirrel. The marshes and lagoons of the park hold both marsh & estuarine Crocodiles while the coastal stretch of the park is a sanctuary for five species of marine turtle, namely olive ridley, green, leatherback, and loggerhead, who visit the beach to breed and lay eggs.
Other famous Bird Watching Sites in Sri Lanka
Sinharaja Rain Forest, Kitulgala Rain Forest,Kumana National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Horton Plains National Park,Knuckles Forest Reserve, Anawilundawa Bird Sancturaly, Sigiriya Bird Sanctuary, Wilpattu National Park, Yala National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park, Lunugamwehera National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Kanneliya National Park, Thalangama Waterland, Kalamatiya Bird Sanctuary, and Mannar Island.
Pigeon Island National Park, situated off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, is a marine sanctuary renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. Snorkeling or diving in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the island reveals a world of colorful fish, sea turtles, and even reef sharks. Pigeon Island offers a unique opportunity to explore the underwater wonders of Sri Lanka.
The Rekawa Turtle Conservation Project is a marine turtle conservation site that aims to protect the sea turtles that visit the coastline. As Sri Lanka’s beaches attract 5 out of the 7 endangered turtle species in the world, it became imperative to safeguard the nesting sites and aid in the conservation of the species. The main species that visit the golden shores of the island to nest and lay their eggs and are under conservation are the Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, and Leatherback turtle.
The best time to visit the conservation center is year-round, however, if you’re keen on watching a turtle lay her eggs, the ideal season is between April to July when 5 to 15 turtles visit the shores each night. However, during October to January, sightings are rare where only 1 to 2 turtles are spotted at night. Once the eggs are hatched, volunteers gather and keep them within the safe confines of the conservation site until they’re ready to hatch. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to release a few hatchlings back to the Big Blue! The site is located in Tangalle and makes for a great day trip as you explore other attractions in the areas of Mirissa and Matara.
