Bundala, Lewaya and Kalametiya are the south coast’s major wetland areas. Home to almost all of Sri Lanka’s resident water birds, the area attracts countless migrants between November and March. Highlights include greater flamingo, lesser adjutant and painted stork, as well as a variety of mammals.
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Where: Southern Province
Ideal for viewing: chital, gharial crocodile, grey langur, African elephant, water monitor
Kalpitiya is well known for sightings of spinner dolphins and due to the deep water channel that runs close to the peninsula, whales are often seen too. Birdwatchers also take note, for it is one of the best places in South Asia to see Persian shearwater, wedge-tailed shearwater, brown noddy and pomarine skua.
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Where: North Eastern Province
Ideal for viewing: blue whale, sperm whale, spinner dolphin, spotted dolphin, gull-billed tern
The lakeside city of Kandy boasts a wealth of treasures, and is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Surrounded by hills, lush, valleys, rivers, lakes and waterfalls, its forests and the surrounding Udawattakele Forest Reserve are home to endemic birds. The nearby Paradiniya Botanical Gardens house 4,000 plant species.
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Where: Central Province
Ideal for viewing: Asian palm civet, mouse deer, muntjac, porcupine, toque macaque
Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas. The central feature is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3 AD), which becomes a magnet for elephants during the dry season, as well as huge flocks of birds that come to fish the shallow waters.
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Where: North Central Province
Ideal for viewing: spot-billed pelican, Asian elephant, leopard, sambar, sloth bear
Although Mirissa has a beautiful stretch of sandy beach, it is not relaxing on its golden sands that we recommend, for Mirissa is one of the foremost places in the world to see blue and sperm whales. Between December and April, when the sea is relatively calm, they arrive off the coast to feed in the rich waters.
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Where: Southern Province
Ideal for viewing: blue whale, sperm whale, humpback whale, spinner dolphin, bottlenose dolphin
Nuwara Eliya is in the heart of tea country and its elevation creates a cooler climate, making for fascinating birdlife. Nearby Horton Plains is the country’s highest plateau which terminates at the sheer precipice of 'World’s End', and is the perfect environment for a distinctive, wild flora and rare highland birds.
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Where: Central Province
Ideal for viewing: sambar, leopard, purple-faced langur, scaly thrush, Sri Lanka hill white-eye
Once Sri Lanka’s most celebrated historical sites, the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya is a sight to behold. This impressive monument is not the only highlight though, as the area is also home to a variety of wildlife reserves, and cave temples. Wildlife includes a large elephant population, grey slender loris and fishing cat.
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Where: Central Province
Ideal for viewing: Asian elephant, grey slender loris, fishing cat, Sri Lankan spotted chevrotain, grey-headed fish eagle
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is Sri Lanka’s only primary lowland tropical rainforest and is a treasure trove of nature. Its rolling terrain and series of ridges and valleys provide a diversity of habitats and a vast repository of endemic tree species, as well as being one of only a few homes to the blue-faced leaf monkey.
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Where: Sabaragamuwa & Southern Province
Ideal for viewing: crested serpent eagle, purple-faced langur, green pit viper, orange-billed babbler, red-faced malkoha
Walawe Reservoir and Udawalawe National Park comprise an area of open plains and hills at the foot of the Kaltota Escarpment. The park is good for elephants with herds of 50 to 60 individuals regularly seen and game drives are in open-top jeeps, accompanied by local wildlife guides.
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Where: Sabaragamuwa & Uva Provinces
Ideal for viewing: chital, Asian elephant, sambar, wild boar, rusty-spotted cat
Situated in the northwest of Sri Lanka, Wilpattu National Park was closed for over a decade but is now fully open again and is one of few places on the island to provide an authentic wilderness experience. Wilpattu remains undisturbed and uncrowded making it a superb location for watching wildlife.
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Where: North Western Province
Ideal for viewing: leopard, Asian elephant, sloth bear, Malabar pied hornbill, Sri Lankan junglefowl
Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s oldest wildlife reserve and famous for one of the world’s highest densities of leopard. It has a variety of ecosystems including moist monsoon forests, dry monsoon forests, semi deciduous forests, thorn forests, grasslands, freshwater and marine wetlands, and sandy beaches.
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Where: Eastern Province
Ideal for viewing: Asian elephant, leopard, marsh mugger crocodile, sambar, sloth bear
Sri Lanka’s national parks and diverse habitats are enhanced by the ruined cities of ancient dynasties. It has a sizeable leopard population, large herds of elephant and numerous endemic birds – creating a birdwatchers paradise, and its coastal waters have earned it a reputation as being one of the worlds best for whale watching.
7 recommended trips.Our trip ideas are offered to inspire you and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
This itinerary endeavours to show you the wealth of cetacean life to be found in the balmy waters around Sri Lanka, from spinner dolphins around Kalpitya to blue whales and sperm whales off the south coast. The trip also visits Udawalawe and Yala National Parks for sightings of elephants and leopards.
Find out more about Blue Whales, Dolphins & Leopards
Sri Lanka offers some of the finest wildlife watching in Asia, but it's not just the iconic species seen on daytime safaris that make it so rewarding. Venturing out after dark, we also discover a treasure trove of exciting nocturnal species. Join our two centre group as we seek enigmatic species by foot, vehicle and boat.
Find out more about Sri Lanka’s Rare Mammals in Style
Though the enchanting isle of Sri Lanka has long been loved by naturalists, many of its national parks still feel undiscovered. This unique tour visits only the country’s quietest parks where, staying in exclusive camps, you have the chance to see leopard, sloth bear, Asian elephant and far more.
Find out more about Sri Lanka – Off the Beaten Track
Combine two excellent national parks across two adjacent countries to see tiger, leopard, wild dog, elephant and sloth bear! From the biodiverse forests of Nagarhole in India, journey across the ocean divide on a 1.5 hour flight to explore the lowland forests of Wilpattu in Sri Lanka.
Find out more about Wildlife of India & Sri Lanka
This superb 10-day wildlife itinerary takes you to see Sri Lanka’s big three. See huge herds of elephants on wildlife safaris in Udawalawe National Park and some of the world’s largest leopards at Yala, before continuing to the south coast to see charismatic blue whales on boat trips at Mirissa.
Find out more about Elephants, Blue Whales & Leopards
Wildlife enthusiasts! Immerse yourself completely in the stunning scenery of a variety of national parks and the heritage sites of this beautiful country. This itinerary takes in several parks, where you can spot leopard, elephant and a myriad of bird species, including some endemics.
Find out more about Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Highlights
This trip idea uncovers some of the many wildlife, cultural and historical highlights that Sri Lanka has to offer. As well as safaris in Yala, Udawalawe and Bundala National Parks, home to leopards, elephants and leatherback turtles (seasonal), you will also visit Sigiriya Rock and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
Find out more about Sri Lanka Wildlife & Culture
Price
(inc. flights): 10 days
from £2,595
Trip type:
Tailor-made Holiday
When to go:
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When to go
Although the country experiences two monsoons, Sri Lanka is in fact a year round destination. Though overall, the best time to visit is between November and March.
Seasons
Monsoon (southwest)
May to Sep: Wet in the south western part of the island (the wettest area of all), dry in the northeast
Interseasonal period
Oct to Nov: Extremely variable – rain can fall anywhere
Dry season (south west)
Dec to Apr: Dry season in the south west is the most popular time to visit Sri Lanka. The wettest time in the north east of the island.
Wildlife events
Jun to Sep: Elephant gathering – 300+ individuals around Minneriya Tank
Jul to Aug: Ten day annual Perahera festival in Kandy
Nov to Dec: Whale movements peak off Kalpitiya
Nov to Mar: Mego pods of several hundred spinner dolphins off Kalpitiya
Nov to Mar: Migrant waterbird species at Bundala Lemaya and Kalametiya
Nov to Apr: Blue whale season off Mirissa in the south
