Gal Oya National Park

One of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems, this beautiful national park combines excellent elephant watching, rare birds and culture with its indigenous Vedda community.

Gal Oya National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s little-known treasures, remaining off the regular tourist route. Gal Oya encompasses the country’s largest inland body of water, the Senanayake Samudraya Lake, which provides water for a large proportion of the population. 

Over 25,000 hectares of lush evergreen forest and open savannahs surround the calm waters of the lake, supporting a great range of wildlife. Much of the diverse wildlife can be seen on a boat safari, which offers the opportunity to see the iconic swimming elephants. It's also the only location in the country to see both the yellow-footed green pigeon and painted francolin and offers excellent birding with species such as the endemic Sri Lanka woodshrike regularly seen.

During a visit, a local guide from the Vedda tribe will often show you around the park. The Vedda community have lived in these forests for centuries and still practice a traditional and harmonious way of life with nature.

View suggested itinerary