The beautiful country of Sri Lanka is home to the highest biodiversity in Asia. It is among the world’s 34th biodiversity hotspots, offering visitors the perfect opportunity to explore a wide variety of unique flora and fauna. Sri Lanka is an ideal place to enjoy amazing safaris and see the finest wildlife and birdlife in the world.
Home to 26 diverse national parks, wildlife viewing and safaris in the country are one of a kind. Besides different animal species, this tropical island is a perfect place to spot exotic birds and explore the colorful reefs. The ‘Big Five’ animals of Sri Lanka are the Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan elephant, sloth bear, blue whale, and sperm whale. Traditionally different from the African Big Five, their sightings nevertheless promise exciting safaris. They also indicate the tropical island’s varied ecosystems and habitats.
Among the 120 species of mammals found, more than 500 species of birds, hundreds of reptile species, and marine life, the majority are endemic to the land, meaning you’ll only find them in Sri Lanka. From vast grasslands to rainforests, lagoons, wetlands, and a diverse variety of habitats have continued to support the variety of life in the national parks of Sri Lanka. Here are some of the top wildlife parks of Sri Lanka that deserve a place on your bucket list:
Yala National Park
Located on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is home to more than 600 leopards, making Yala the best place to see leopards. It has the highest density of wild leopards in the world.
Apart from leopards, safari-goers can also spot elephants, wild water buffalo, sloth bears, sambar deer, crocodiles, and monkeys like macaques and toque monkeys. Yala is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 200 bird species recorded in the park.
Yala National Park is characterized by lagoons, grasslands, and light forests. This perfect mix of woodlands, marine land, and scrub areas holds the wildlife and birdlife of the park. Untamed wildlife is best seen at this national park.
Wilpattu National Park
Found in the dry lands of Northwest Sri Lanka, Wilpattu is the largest national park in the country, spanning an area of 1300 square kilometers. Wilpattu is also known as the land of lakes, as it hosts several natural lakes that sustain wildlife and birdlife during the dry season. The ‘Willus,’ or the natural water basins of the park, hold rainwater, marking it as a defining characteristic of the park. Dense forests and open plains are also part of the park’s topography.
As compared to other wildlife parks in Sri Lanka, Wilpattu is less popular and least visited, yet it offers an intimate and quieter safari experience. Wilpattu is home to over 30 different mammal species, mainly leopards, elephants, sloth bears, and the sambar deer. Wild boar, mongoose, mugger crocodiles, monitor lizards, and even snake species like cobras and pythons are found in the various habitats of the park. Many endemic bird species are also found at Wilpattu and it is not uncommon to spot peafowls roaming the park or raptors soaring in the skies.
Bundala National Park
Set across Sri Lanka’s coast and stretching for over 20 kilometers, Bundala is an important park in Sri Lanka. The rich diversity of the park is formed due to its wetland ecosystem which includes lagoons, salt pans, and marshes.
Bundala National Park houses more than 200 bird species, both resident and migratory. It is especially known for hosting a spectacle of migratory birds and acting as a wintering ground for large flocks of Greater Flamingos. Other aquatic species like ducks, terns, herons, spoonbills, waders, and more are in abundance. Sambar deer, crocodiles, elephants, and even grey langur monkeys are familiar to Bundala.
However, the main reason to visit Bundala is to spot sea turtles. Five out of the seven species of sea turtles found in the world nest on the shore before hatching and making their way back into the ocean again. Alongside bird watching and wildlife viewing, visitors can explore its wetlands and be intrigued by the baby sea turtles at Bundala.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is located in southwest Sri Lanka, known for being a UNESCO World Heritage site and a Biosphere Reserve. It is the last remaining region of undisturbed tropical rainforests, with over 60 percent of the trees being endemic.
Being a natural treasure, the forest is filled with streams and waterfalls. Although it measures an area of less than 90 km, the forest is filled with rare and exotic species. Over 95 percent of endemic bird species and more than 50 percent of endemic mammals of the country are found in Sinharaja. Native bird species in the reserve are the Sri Lankan blue magpie, green-billed coucal, grey hornbill, red-faced malkoha, and jungle fowl. The dense rainforests are home to elephants, monkeys, and leopards, along with amphibians and reptiles. A hike around the reserve is highly rewarding, allowing you to see rare and endemic species in their natural habitat.
Horton Plains National Park
In the central highlands of Sri Lanka rests an unusual national park called Horton Plains. It is situated at an elevation of 2100 meters above sea level, creating a unique ecosystem altogether. Horton Plains is also called the Roof of the Island. With a mix of habitats and landscapes like montane grasslands and cloud forests, this park is not only rich in wildlife but also visually stunning.
Several amphibians, reptiles, avifauna, and mammals have adapted to the park’s climatic conditions. Leopards, sambar deer, giant squirrels, and langurs are found in the forests and the grasslands of the park. Highland birds like the blue magpie, yellow-eared bulbul, and whistling thrush are common. Being one of the most endangered primates, Horton Plains’ slender loris is also found within the park.
A must-see attraction at Horton’s Plains is the ‘World’s End,’ a marvelous 880-meter drop that displays views of the distant tea plantations. Bakers Fall is another beauty attraction within the park, attracting nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.
Udawalawe National Park
On the south coast of Sri Lanka, near the central mountains of the country, lies Udawalawe National Park. This park is a mix of dry and wet habitats, such as grasslands and forests, grasslands and houses a huge reservoir called the Udawalawe Reservoir.
Udawalawe has a large population of elephants. More than 400 of these majestic creatures are spotted easily during safaris. They are usually seen near the Udawalawe reservoir during the dry season. The park is also home to sambar deers, spotted deer, water buffalo, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, and more than 200 species of birds. The Elephant Transit home, built near the park helps rehabilitate abandoned elephant calves before releasing them in the wild.
Mesmerized by these wildlife parks in Sri Lanka? Plan your safari journey in Sri Lanka to experience ultimate adventures!
