Wildlife in Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka prides itself for being home to a plethora of wildlife. A rare collection of birds, reptiles, mammals and fish are found in various parts of the nation making this destination a paradise for nature lovers.

Leopards in Sri Lanka
Leopards in Sri Lanka | Image Credit : Gihan Jayaweera, Leopard at Wilpattu National Park, CC BY-SA 3.0

Yala

Located in the Southernmost region of Sri Lanka, Yala is home to the nation’s most famous wildlife sanctuary. The city of Yala is located roughly 6 hours from the capital Colombo and excursions can be organized by many of the pioneers in Sri Lanka wildlife holidays and planning such as Cinnamon Nature Trails.

Udawalawe

Not too far from Yala, Udawalawe is yet another city that is famed for its wildlife park. Unlike Yala, Udawalawe does not house any leopards but the National Park in this region has an exciting collection of mighty elephants making it the best elephant sanctuary in all of Sri Lanka. Udawalawe can easily be accessed on your way back from Yala to Colombo.

Wilpattu

Wilpattu is the city where one can find the largest National Park in the island. Yet another home for the leopards in Sri Lanka, Wilpattu is also more often than not visited to spot these ferocious wild cats.

Sinharaja

A historic city in Sri Lanka Singharaja literally translates to the Lion King. Despite its name, you do not find big cats in this part of the country, but you do however have a large and lush rain forest. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the rain forest is rich in biodiversity making it paradise for the eco-tourist.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Wildlife Tours and Safari Holidays in Sri Lanka

 

Want to experience a wildlife adventure tour in Sri Lanka? Most of the paths in the country hold an abundance of nature and adventure, like those given below.

Image by Schnobby, Scenery in Yala National Park, CC BY-SA 3.0

Yala National Park

The Yala National Park is well known among many a tourist as the nature reserve that holds the highest number of leopards on earth. It is made up of dry woodlands, wetlands, grassland, sandy beaches, thorn forests, and lagoons. Apart from stealthy leopards, one can witness freely roaming mammals such as loris, fishing cat, and the sloth bear.

Wilpattu National Park

Your wildlife excursion will be incomplete until you visit the Wilpattu National Park. The name Willpattu refers to the sand-rimmed ‘Villus’ (natural lakes) that are scattered around the park. Those who are interested in Sri Lanka wildlife holidays can look forward to a multitude of wild encounters in Willpattu. If you wish to spot an array of wildlife including sloth bears, elephants and even exotic species of birds, the best time to visit the park is from February to October.

Kumana National Park

Also known as ‘Yala East’, spotting animals is not an easy task in Kumana! However, it possesses a certain authenticity and a significant bird population. The nesting season which comes in the months of May and June makes it an ideal place to visit the park. You can request organizers such as Cinnamon Nature Trails to schedule a safari to coincide with the nesting season.

Bundala National Park

This park is well-known as a wildlife hotspot for aquatic bird life! The most impressive aspect of the park is its terrain made up of sand dunes, scrub jungle, salt pans, lagoons and long stretches of coastline.

 

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+