Sri Lanka Wildlife

Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is the best place on the planet for spotting and photographing leopards in the wild. In certain parts of Yala, the average density is as high as one leopard per square kilometre.

The Gathering of Elephants in Minneriya National Park is the largest annually recurring concentration of wild elephants in the world. It is 6th on Lonely Planet’s “Top Ten Wildlife Spectacles of the World”.

Wilpattu and Yala National Parks are the best sites in the world for observing the slow-moving sloth bear, recognised for their distinctive yellow v-shaped markings on their chest. Incredibly, the sloth bear can be heard from 300 yards away as he sucks up insects to eat – an experience not to be missed.

Mirissa and Trincomalee are the two best locations in the world for seeing Blue Whales as they follow their annual migratory route during the months of November through to April.

Kalpitiya Peninsula on Sri Lanka’s west coast is amongst the top ten sites in the world for seeing these majestic giants of the ocean on their long migratory route.

The best location in the world for seeing and photographing leopards! The Park is a varied matrix of thorn scrub, freshwater bodies, riverine forest, shorelines and lagoons, sandy beaches and rocky outcrops. It is one the best National Parks in the world for viewing wildlife.

Probably the only place in the world where you are guaranteed to see a wild elephant on every game drive. Elephant Safari Udawalawe is ideal for watching elephant behaviour in very close quarters!

One of the best location that promises much to the adventurous soul. The sightings include observing the Sri Lankan Elephant, Sri Lankan Leopard and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear.

The Gathering of Elephants in Minneriya (Kaudulla) National Park is the largest, seasonally recurring concentration of wild elephants in the world. It has been officially recognised by Lonely Planet as being amongst the Top Ten Wildlife Spectacles in the World. Minneriya National Park has a diverse variety of trees and plant life, and at least 160 bird species.

The lush forests by the Mahaweli River offer the classic mix of wildlife - Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, axis deer, and toque macaques.

Famous for its nesting water-birds and wide variety of migratory waterfowl and wading birds, an incredible 255 species of birds have been recorded in Kumana, Sri Lanka.

Additionally, the Kumana area is home to an ancient civilization with ancient rock inscriptions dating back to the 2nd and 1st century BC.

With a mixture of evergreen forest and savannah plains surrounding the vast lake, Gal Oya is home to 32 species of mammals. The Gal Oya National Park is also the only National Park in Sri Lanka offering boat safaris.

This coastal sanctuary is a top spot for keen birders in search of water-birds, with up to 100 species being recorded, and 50% being endemic. The thorn scrub habitat is also home to many mammals, saltwater crocodiles and mugger crocodiles.

There is still a population of Sri Lanka's indigenous people in Dambana following a unique traditional lifestyle. Observe how the Veddahs live without modern conveniences, with the opportunity to join them on a mock hunt.

Beautifully landscaped Maduru Oya National Park is sanctuary for elephants a midst five reservoirs. It is also the home to a secluded community of fishermen who thrive on freshwater fishing.

It is one of the last remaining and least disturbed biodiversity hotspots in Sri Lanka and world heritage of endemism where , encountering rare sightings of fauna and flora is a common occurance.