Sri Lanka Wildlife & Nature
Sri Lanka is home to a wide range of rich and absorbing wildlife. Sri Lanka has many national parks, the most popular ones are Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Wilpattu National Park and Minneriya National Park.
The Indian Ocean which surrounds Sri Lanka, you have a good chance of seeing beautiful blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins.
Sri Lanka also has rainforests, the most popular rainforests are Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Knuckles Mountain range and Sinharaja rainforest.
So can you say that Sri Lanka is a haven for wildlife lovers, you have a great chance to spot wild elephants and leopards.
But of course there are many more wild animals that you can encounter, such as monkeys, bears, crocodiles, monitor lizards, snakes, frogs, deer and many different kinds of birds,
The Indian Ocean which surrounds Sri Lanka, you have a good chance of seeing beautiful blue whales, sperm whales and lively dolphins.
Sri Lanka also has rainforests, the most popular rainforests are Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Knuckles Mountain range and Sinharaja rainforest.
So can you say that Sri Lanka is a haven for wildlife lovers, you have a great chance to spot wild elephants and leopards.
But of course there are many more wild animals that you can encounter, such as monkeys, bears, crocodiles, monitor lizards, snakes, frogs, deer and many different kinds of birds,
Sri Lanka National Parks
Wilpattu National Park
Distance:
160 KM North from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3.5 hours by car.
Area:
1,317 km2
Entrance Gate:
Hunuwilgama (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months February to October are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
160 KM North from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3.5 hours by car.
Area:
1,317 km2
Entrance Gate:
Hunuwilgama (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months February to October are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
Minneriya National Park
Distance:
160 KM North East from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3.5 hours by car.
Area:
89 km2
Entrance Gate:
Rambawilla (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months July to October are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
160 KM North East from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3.5 hours by car.
Area:
89 km2
Entrance Gate:
Rambawilla (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months July to October are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
Yala National Park
Distance:
290 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4.5 hours by car.
Area:
979 km2
Entrance Gate:
Katagamuwa (main entrance block 1 & 2).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months June to September are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
290 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4.5 hours by car.
Area:
979 km2
Entrance Gate:
Katagamuwa (main entrance block 1 & 2).
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months June to September are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
Bundala National Park
Distance:
276 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4 hours by car.
Area:
33 km2
Entrance Gate:
Weligatta.
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months October to May are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
276 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4 hours by car.
Area:
33 km2
Entrance Gate:
Weligatta.
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months October to May are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
2 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
Udawalawe National Park
Distance:
260 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes by car.
Area:
308 km2
Entrance Gate:
Samanalagama.
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months December to March are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
3 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
260 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes by car.
Area:
308 km2
Entrance Gate:
Samanalagama.
Opening Hours:
6 AM till 6 PM.
Time to visit:
Year Round, but the months December to March are the best.
Best time of the day to visit the park:
6 AM till 10 AM (morning safari)
3 PM till 6 PM (afternoon safari)
Sri Lanka Rainforests
Sinharaja Rainforest
Distance:
200 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4 hours and 15 minutes by car.
Area:
112 km2
Entrance Gate:
Sinharaja Access Rd, Deniyaya (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6:30 AM till 6 PM.
Best time to for trekking at Sinharaja:
Year Round, but the months January till May or August till December are the best.
Best time to start trekking:
Morning
200 KM South from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 4 hours and 15 minutes by car.
Area:
112 km2
Entrance Gate:
Sinharaja Access Rd, Deniyaya (main entrance).
Opening Hours:
6:30 AM till 6 PM.
Best time to for trekking at Sinharaja:
Year Round, but the months January till May or August till December are the best.
Best time to start trekking:
Morning
Knuckles Mountain Range
Distance:
148 KM from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes by car.
Area:
155 sq km
Entering Point:
Hunnasgiriya. (Best place to start hiking)
Opening Hours:
24 hours
Best time for trekking at Knuckles:
Year Round, but the months December till February or June till September are the best for trekking.
Best time of the day to start trekking:
Morning
148 KM from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes by car.
Area:
155 sq km
Entering Point:
Hunnasgiriya. (Best place to start hiking)
Opening Hours:
24 hours
Best time for trekking at Knuckles:
Year Round, but the months December till February or June till September are the best for trekking.
Best time of the day to start trekking:
Morning
Makandawa Rainforest
Distance:
81 KM from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 2 hours and 25 minutes by car.
Area:
1155 hectares
Entering Point:
You can reach the forest reserve by boat (close by Kitulgala rest house)
Opening Hours:
24 hours
Best time for trekking at Makanduwa:
Year Round, but the months August till September or December till February are the best for trekking.
Best time of the day to start trekking:
Morning
81 KM from the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Driving time:
Approx. 2 hours and 25 minutes by car.
Area:
1155 hectares
Entering Point:
You can reach the forest reserve by boat (close by Kitulgala rest house)
Opening Hours:
24 hours
Best time for trekking at Makanduwa:
Year Round, but the months August till September or December till February are the best for trekking.
Best time of the day to start trekking:
Morning