For such a small island, Sri Lanka has an incredible diversity of wildlife. Not only is this the only country where you can spot both the world’s largest animals from land (elephant) and sea (blue whale), but it’s also one of the best places to see leopards. Throw in some amazing migratory birds, wetlands full of flamingos, and nighttime sightings of the adorable slender loris, and it’s clear that Sri Lanka is a surprisingly wild place. But with such incredible wildlife on display, it's important to be aware of responsible wildlife-watching practices and choose reputable operators.
Plan a safari or wildlife experience in Sri Lanka with this guide to the best places to go and how to view wildlife responsibly.
Yala National Park is a vast region of dry woodland, open grasslands and waterholes that make for superb wildlife spotting, but it’s an extremely popular park (Sri Lanka’s most visited), so don’t expect to have it to yourself. Boasting the world’s densest concentration of leopards, Yala is considered one of the best parks for spotting these big cats. Panthera pardus kotiya, the subspecies you may well see, is unique to Sri Lanka.
Other inhabitants include an estimated 300 elephants, as well as shaggy-coated sloth bears and fox-like jackals. Sambars, spotted deer, boars, mongooses and monkeys are also present, along with startlingly large crocodiles and over 200 species of birds.
Most people join a half-day safari to Block I (141 sq km/54 sq miles), also known as Yala West, which was a hunting reserve until given over to conservation in 1938. It’s the closest to Tissa and so the busiest; at times 4WDs here mimic a pack of jackals in their pursuit of wildlife.
Dedicated wildlife enthusiasts keen to get off the beaten track might consider chartering their own (pricier) 4WD and experienced guide to enter the park elsewhere; at either the Katagamuwa entrance, for access to the quieter northern part of Block I and Block III, or at Galge, for access to the little-visited northern half of the wild Block III (and handy for those coming from Ella). Be prepared for rougher roads and less reliable spotting in these areas.
Planning tip: 4WD safaris are the only feasible way to visit Yala and neighboring Bundala National Park. You’ll easily find people to share vehicle costs for Block I in Yala, but for Bundala or other parts of Yala you’ll likely have to hire your own private 4WD and driver. It’s also possible (but harder) to rent a 4WD in Kataragama or Kirinda. Getting to Kataragama or Kirinda is easy, with buses running every 30 minutes or so from Tissa bus station.
Dominated by the huge ancient water tank of Minneriya Wewa, the 89 sq km (34 sq miles) of scrub, forest and wetlands in
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