National park, wildlife and bird watching tours
Situated in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is renowned for its array of untouched habitats, its thriving biodiversity and is proud of its natural bounty. It is one of the best places in Asia for seeing wildlife, marine life, and varied landscapes. On top of that, the island has become known as the easiest place in the world to see the hitherto elusive blue whale, the largest animal to have ever lived on the planet. Sri Lanka’s 26 national parks are filled with exotic animals and plant life, some of which are endemic to the island. The Sri Lankan leopard, elephant, and sloth bear are endemic to the country.
Sri Lanka is also a birder’s paradise and being an island in the tropics has its perks. The country is home to 439 species of birds of which 236 are breeding residents, 203 migrants, and the rest vagrants. For a country as small as Sri Lanka having 33 endemic species and 68 endemic subspecies of birds demonstrate why Sri Lanka is one of the finest birding destinations in the world. Also, there are close to 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic. Whether you visit one of the many national parks this country has to offer or one or more bird sanctuaries, you will find that Sri Lanka bird watching is an experience not to be missed.
Yala National Park
Located in the south-east of Sri Lanka, Yala is a beautiful area of lowland dry scrub which covers a vast swathe of countryside in the south-east of the island beyond Tissamaharama. Divided into 5 blocks, the park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, and lagoons. Two blocks are currently opened to the public.
Yala is extremely popular for its leopard density. It has the highest concentration of leopards in the whole world and in Block 1 this can be as high as one leopard per square kilometer. Also, it is home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species.
Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest national park with an area of 130,000 hectares, lying on the northwest coast, 30km due west of Sri Lanka’s ancient city of Anuradhapura, and spanning the border between the North West and North Central Provinces.
A few decades ago it was Wilpattu that was known ahead of Yala for its Leopard population. The main draw in Wilpattu is the leopard and sloth bear. It is also one of the better parks to see barking deer. The entire park is dotted with large sand-rimmed natural lakes known as “Villus” which is a unique feature. It is bounded to the north and south by 2 main rivers, the Modara Gamaru and the Kala Oya.
Wilpattu is also famous for its archaeological and historical importance. It is believed that Prince Vijaya from India and his followers landed in a place called Thambapanni in the North West corner of Wilpattu and formed the Sinhalese kingdom. There are still many archaeological ruins within the borders of what we now call Wilpattu.
Minneriya
Minneriya National Park is a wildlife park that is celebrated for its elephant population. It is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to spot wild elephant herds and to observe their behaviour. August and September in Minneriya are particularly memorable, as hundreds of elephants congregate on the bed of the Minneriya lake, the largest meeting of Asian elephants in the world – popularly dubbed ‘The Gathering’ and reported herds have been as large as 400 individuals.
Udawalawe National park
Framed by soaring highlands on its northern boundary, the Udawalawe National Park is one of the world’s best places to see wild elephants. It is also an important sanctuary for water birds and is also home to several species of mammals. The most common environment witnessed in Udawalawe is the dry grassland and scrubland. Extensive regions of tall grass, scrubs, and trees are common sights at Udawalawe.
Also, there are Wavulpane Limestone caves, the hot wells, as well as the Elephant Transit Home in the vicinity of the Udawalawe National Park. These have a great impact on the enhancement of the overall brilliance of Udawalawe as one of the premier tourist destinations of Sri Lanka.
The Kumana National Park
The Kumana National Park is a birder’s paradise and is known for its abundant populations of wild avifauna. It spreads over an area of 35,664 hectares. One of the most significant features of the park is the ‘Kumana Villu’ – a 200-hectare natural swamp lake, fed by the ‘Kumbukkan Oya’. At this mangrove swamp, many water birds nest in May and June. During April–July, tens of thousands of birds migrate to the Kumana swamp area.
As Kumana is adjacent to the Yala National Park so wild leopards and elephants have also been known to roam in these parts. Being an island in the tropics has its perks and if you are a bird-watching enthusiast, Kumana national park is a must place to visit.
The Forest Reserve
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is recognized as a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it is home to numerous rare flora and fauna. Mixed-species bird flocks are a key feature of Sinharaja. It is rich in birdlife with an impressive 147 species recorded to date. It is also the only location where 21 out of 26 bird species endemic to Sri Lanka can be viewed. Sinharaja is home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles, and rare amphibians. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare.
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is also considered as the country’s last area of tropical rainforest, thus of great importance. Along with the dense fauna, there are multiple streams, waterfalls in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve that make it a completely natural ecosystem for the flora and fauna thriving there.