A leopard basking in the fork of a tree. A family of elephants lumbering out of the tropical undergrowth. A solitary jackal gazing across an open plain in the early morning sun. These are just some of the sights awaiting in Sri Lanka’s national parks – some of the wildest, most beautiful places on earth.
Some Sri Lankan parks are busy and crowded – most notably Yala, Minneriya, and Kaudulla – while others see just a slow trickle of visitors, but all hold secrets. In most, you can combine wildlife safaris with trips to sacred caves, forgotten stupas, and unexcavated fragments of ancient civilizations. However, the top experience for visitors is coming face-to-face with one of Sri Lanka’s emblematic elephants. Approximately 7,500 of them are spread across the country’s 22 national parks.
Visiting all of Sri Lanka’s national parks on a single trip is the preserve of career naturalists. Therefore, we’ve whittled down the list to a few favorites for nature-loving travelers with a tight schedule. Here’s our pick of Sri Lanka’s best national parks.
Uda Walawe National Park, Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces
Best for spotting elephants
This vast and popular park on the southern fringes of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country is mostly covered with low-lying scrub, making sighting Sri Lanka’s majestic elephants very likely.
Around 700 elephants roam across the park, and they congregate in herds of up to 50 individuals. The best time to see them is on a jeep safari at sunrise or sunset. Opt for the former to finish the safari with less sweat and still make it back in time for breakfast.
While Sri Lanka’s elephant orphanages have a mixed reputation, there are a few ethical operators close to Uda Walawe, in case you wish to see more of these gentle giants. Start with the Elephant Transit Home, supported by the Born Free Foundation.
Seeing a leopard here is less common, but the park has a relatively healthy population of these big cats that tend to keep a low profile. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are abundant, and a multitude of beautiful bird species can be spotted on every safari.
Kumana National Park, Eastern Province
Best alternative to crowded parks
Kumana National Park serves as a fantastic alternative to the crowded Yala and Minneriya, easily reached from the east coast. This park features swampy grasslands and large, salty villus (natural lakes) where elephants wade and storks and ibis gather. Moreover, the forest along the edge of this watery landscape harbors spectacular hornbills, colorful minivets, and characterful langurs and macaques.
Elsewhere in the park, rocky outcrops conceal meditation caves and crumbling stupas, some adorned with ancient inscriptions and statues. At Bambaragasthalawa, a towering boulder shades a time-worn statue of a reclining Buddha from the 9th century, reachable on foot from the park entrance with a local guide.
While elephants are the main attraction, Kumana is also a paradise for bird lovers, where keen birders might spot 100 species in one day. With an estimated 40 leopards roaming around, this park offers a real chance to view Sri Lanka’s most famous predator without being surrounded by other jeeps.
Wasgamuwa National Park, Central and North Central Provinces
Best for the sheer variety of wildlife
Nestled just south of Polonnaruwa and surrounded by forested mountains and the Mahaweli River, Wasgamuwa National Park is a majestic place where three-quarters remains unexplored and is home to most of Sri Lanka’s land mammals. Elephants, leopards, bears, and wild boars thrive in its forests, with herds of buffalo, sambar, and spotted deer roaming across its plains.
Most visitors are drawn to Wasgamuwa by the park’s 150 elephants. Large herds are often seen, rivaling sightings in Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks, yet Wasgamuwa is usually overlooked by tourists and can feel extremely quiet, especially during weekdays.
Bundala National Park
Best for seeing turtles, crocodiles, and flamingos
A watery wonderland of coastal lagoons and bird-thronged wetlands, Bundala National Park attracts enthusiasts of all things aquatic. Flamingos (who number in the thousands) and crocodiles are the stars of the show, although vividly colored bee-eaters and openbill storks can tantalize the more discerning birdwatcher. Elephants are another draw; the high season around December is the best time to see the park’s jumbos.
Bundala National Park claims nearly 20km of the southern littoral zone between Kirinda and Hambantota, including a long stretch of beaches. From October to January, all five of Sri Lanka’s marine turtle species come ashore to lay their eggs on the coastal sands. Visitors can witness the hatchlings struggling back to sea as part of a night safari from April to June.
Yala National Park, Southern and Uva Provinces
Best for leopard sightings
Without a doubt, the most popular national park in Sri Lanka – and arguably one of the best places for big mammal sightings in Asia – Yala National Park attracts large crowds during the tourist season.
Visitors flock here primarily for the chance of a close encounter with one of Sri Lanka’s elusive leopards. Although they’re not easy to spot, your chances improve significantly when taking a safari with a reputable and experienced park operator.
Most tourists only visit Block 1 of Yala, which constitutes around a sixth of the whole park. However, Blocks 2, 3, 4, and 5 can also be explored with varying degrees of difficulty, leading you away from the day-tripping crowds.
Planning trips to any part of Yala beyond Block 1 is essential, as tracks can be rough and overgrown, turning any visit into an expedition. Multiple tour companies specialize in guiding guests into these areas.
Lahugala Kitulana National Park, Eastern Province
Best for combining history with birdwatching
While Sinharaja Forest Reserve stands as Sri Lanka’s top destination for birders, the smaller Lahugala National Park is also worth visiting for avian encounters. Visiting in the late afternoon allows for peaceful sightings of elephants and buffalo grazing in the water-logged beru grass. The park’s forests of tall satinwood, rosewood, and palu trees are home to dozens of forest bird species, including the rare red-faced malkoha.
On the outskirts of the park lies the enormous, dilapidated Neelagiri Stupa, claimed to date back to the 2nd century BC and yet to be properly excavated. Nearby, the ruins of Magul Maha Vihara, a 2000-year-old temple complex, remain well off the tourist trail.
Horton Plains National Park, Central Province
Best for trekking and hiking
Covering the highest plateau in Sri Lanka at around 2000m above sea level, Horton Plains National Park is a magnificent magnet for birdwatchers and hikers. Regardless of your preference, following the trail from the park’s entrance to World’s End is worthwhile. This stunning lookout provides breathtaking views, perched on the edge of an 880m drop.
The hike guides you over rivers, past waterfalls, and through lush cloud forests, leading to a vantage point famed for sightings of whistling thrushes and Sri Lankan bush warblers. While mammalian wildlife may be scarce, the vibrant birdlife makes up for it.
Maduru Oya National Park, Eastern and Uva Provinces
Best for birds and Indigenous history
Northwest of Batticaloa, Maduru Oya is one of the least visited national parks in Sri Lanka. Its center houses a vast reservoir filled with fish, which attracts a plethora of water birds including black-necked, painted-, and wooly-necked storks, spot-billed pelicans, and great egrets. Herds of elephants may also be sighted here, in arguably a wilder and more beautiful setting than Minneriya or Kaudulla.
The park serves as a historic hunting ground for the Veddahs – Sri Lanka’s indigenous people – and has an impressively ancient feel. On the western edge of the park, the Veddah community of Henanigala boasts a stupa dating back to the Anuradhapura Kingdom, nestled under a spectacular rock formation.
Gal Oya National Park, Eastern Province
Best for boat safaris
Gal Oya presents a wilderness of tumbling mountains and ancient woods surrounding a vast, island-filled lake. The few tourists who venture here are rewarded with unique experiences. The Gal Oya Lodge conducts boat safaris, offering chances to spot crocodiles, turtles, and swimming elephants, as well as immersive walks in the forest guided by members of the local Veddah community.
While leopard encounters are limited since the animals tend to avoid humans, the forest is alive with butterflies, geckos, monkeys, and beautiful birds such as golden orioles and paradise flycatchers. For those who appreciate serene nature, Gal Oya is absolutely idyllic.
Angammedilla National Park, North Central Province
Best for overnight camping trips
Located east of Dambulla, Angammedilla became a national park in 2006 and offers unexpectedly beautiful and pristine landscapes despite its brief history. It features dense forests, lily-covered lakes, and the Parakrama Samudra reservoir, flanked by an 800-year-old stone weir and a small campsite frequented mainly by local families.
As the park merges with the northern tip of Wasgamuwa National Park, it provides the chance for elephant sightings. Additionally, the proximity to Polonnaruwa, just a 30-minute drive away, makes it a great option for those wanting to combine history and nature in a day trip from the coast.
This article aims to give an insight into the hidden gems of Sri Lanka’s national parks, focusing on wildlife experiences, including elephants and leopards, in a natural and serene setting.
