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Wildlife Hotspots in Sri Lanka

If you love witnessing wildlife in their natural habitat then Sri Lanka is the destination for you. Here are some key places where wildlife abounds.

Yala and Wilpattu
There’s nothing quite as thrilling as spotting an elusive Sri Lankan leopard on a safari at the Yala or Wilpattu national parks. These majestic predators are not the only wild inhabitants you may see; be on the lookout for Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, monkeys and a wide range of bird species too.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve
A Biosphere Reserve, this forest sanctuary is a premier spot for bird watching. If you stay at a Sinharaja eco lodge Sri Lanka has to offer, you can easily see many of these birds. The Rainforest Ecolodge, Sinharaja is one such option from where you can head off on birdwatching excursions to spot endemic species like the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon and Sri Lankan junglefowl.

Minneriya and Udawalawe
At Minneriya National Park you can witness The Gathering (June to September) featuring hundreds of elephants, while the Udawalawe National Park is home to a sizeable elephant population too. On safaris at these parks, one also see a diverse array of other species including toque macaques, mugger crocodiles, deer and if you’re lucky, a leopard or two.

Mirissa and Trincomalee
Located on the south and east coasts respectively, Mirissa and Trincomalee are two of the best spots for whale watching in Sri Lanka. Apart from seeing species like blue whales and humpback whales, you can glimpse playful dolphins too!

Sri Lanka for Wildlife lovers

Sri Lanka is a country with a rich bio-diversity and many landscapes. Here is a list of the best national parks, spread across the island, giving you a taste of the different environments.

Yala National Park

Yala National Park is located 260km from Colombo. It will approximately take you 3 hours to reach Yala. There are three sanctuaries and five smaller national parks. Yala is very popular among tourists as well as local nature lovers. The location of the park, climate and the leopard population are some of the key factors that attract many travellers to the park.

Udawalawe

Udawalawe National Park is 5 hours away from Colombo. The park is in the South East part of Sri Lanka, belonging to the Uva Province. You can arrange a camping trip to Udawalawe and spend the night. Bonfires and the quiet forest will be a highlight of your vacation. A Sinharaja eco lodge in Sri Lanka the likes of Rainforest EcoLodge would be a good accommodation choice.

Wilpattu

This is one of the more scenic wildlife parks on the island. The park is located 5 hours away from Colombo and is closer to the town of Anuradhapura. October is the best month to visit Wilpattu.

Kumana

Kumana is different from the rest of the national parks. It is popular for being the home for thousands of bird species. There are many endangered species and migrant birds in the park. The wading bird and waterfowls are some of the most popular immigrant birds here. Don’t visit the park during May because that’s when the birds settle into their nests.

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Explore the Rainforests in Sri Lanka

A vital part of the country’s ecosystem, the rainforests of Sri Lanka are rich storehouses of endemic flora and fauna, each one offering something new to discover.

Udawatta Kele | Image Credit : Nyanatusita, Udawattakele Forest scene 4, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Sinharaja Rainforest

When it comes to primary tropical rainforests in Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the last viable area and thus of immense importance. Nature lovers can stay at a Sinharaja eco lodge Sri Lanka has to offer at the reserve’s border such as The Rainforest Ecolodge and explore this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve; it is home to over 147 bird species as well as a vast amount of endemic trees, butterflies, mammals and reptiles.

The Makandawa Forest Reserve

Located near the island’s white water rafting hotspot of Kitulgala, this pristine reserve features a secondary lowland rainforest. The forest ecosystem is blessed with waterfalls, rock pools and a wide number of rare fish, bird, butterfly and dragonfly species.

The Kanneliya Forest Reserve

Another UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Sri Lanka, Kanneliya has lowland rainforests which have plenty of endemic flora and fauna. Amongst the highlights here are the varied snake, fish, lizard and bird species along with natural attractions like the Narangas and Anagimale waterfalls.

The Udawatta Kele Sanctuary

Located in the hill capital, Kandy, this sanctuary is made up of small forest areas where one will find a wide range of plant species as well as endemic bird species. Easy to explore, the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is also known for its endemic mammals as well as amphibians and reptiles.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+