NATIONAL PARKS

WildLife In Sri Lanka

National parks are allowed for public to see & study wildlife. There are 22 National Parks declared in Sri Lanka. 

But below we will describe only a few of the major wildlife parks tourists mostly visited. 

1. Yala National Park.

        Yala National Park is the most famous and well known wildflife park on the island. Yala called as country of leopards, Because the leopards and Bears we can see mainly at Yala. All animals roam freely in the jungle along with elephants, peacocks and hundreds of birds and animals. There are five sectors and two are open to the public. Yala was named a National Park in 1938 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1900. The Yala National Park is located southeast of Colombo and extends from the coast to the jungle.

2. Minneriya National Park.

                Minneriya National Park is home to “the gathering”, a rainwater tank that is the largest elephant meeting place in all of Asia. Located northeast of Colombo in the north central plains, the nearest city is the Polonaruwa.  There are lots of jeep safaris that go out every day. Minneriya was named a national park in 1997.

3. Udawalawe National Park.

                Although there are a few mountainous areas that form a beautiful backdrop to the stunning scenery on show,  the Uda Walawe National Park is one of the world's best places to see wild elephants. Largely comprised of grasslands and bush forest, it's also one of the best national parks in Sri Lanka.

4. Kaudulla National Park.

                       Kaudulla National Park is located 190 km away from Colombo in the Polonnaruwa district of the north central province of Sri Lanka. One of the most important areas in Sri Lanka for birdlife, this national park is obviously very popular with birdwatchers. The best time to visit Kaudulla National Park is between August and December, with the population of elephants peaking to over 200 in September to October,following the period of the famous elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park. However, the Elephants could be seen in either one of these parks (Minneriya or Kaudulla) during any time of the year.

5. Horton Plains National Park.

              Horton Plains is the highest altitude national park in Sri Lanka, and was named a national park in 1988. Located about 2000 meters above sea level, Horton Plains is a great place for trekking and hiking. With a number of impressive vantage points that look out over stunning views of the park, Horton Plains is definitely well worth visiting. But if you wish to go there you have to leave at 5.30 am from your hotel and walk arround 9km atleast on the plains. One of the most popular viewing points is here the World’s End precipice which offers up phenomenal panoramas of the surrounding areas. One of another beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka also knwon as Baker's Falls you can see at here.

6. Pigeon Island National Park.

                Pigeon Island is a marine national park and a paradise for scuba divers. Its located Two kilometres off from the east coast of Trincomalee as a little island. The best time of the year to visit Pigeon Island is between April and September. A nesting area for rock pigeons, the island is beautiful enough, with rock pools and paths running through thickets, but it’s the underwater landscape that’s the real star. The reef here is shallow, making snorkelling almost as satisfying as diving, and it’s home to dozens of corals, hundreds of reef fish (including blacktip reef sharks) and turtles.

7. Sinharaja Rain Forest

             The Sinharaja Forest Reserve has been a national park since 1978 and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sinharaja is the last area on the island with primary tropical rainforest. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is home to 50% of all of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies. There is also many of the islands native reptiles and insects.