Bird Watching
Sri Lanka is a birder's paradise. A tropical island in the Indian Ocean situated 10 degrees
north of the equator, boasting of diverse and favourable climatic conditions and natural
habitats such as forests, scrublands, grasslands, wetlands, seas and agricultural lands.
The majority of the local species are found in the Asian continent. A total of 198 species
have been identified as newcomers to the country. The bulk of these birds migrate to Sri
Lanka during the northern winter, arriving around August / September and remaining until
April / May.
Whale & Dolphin Watching
There is a protected zone for whales in the Indian Ocean declared by the International Whale
Watching Commission and Sri Lanka falls within this Zone. According to reports on
observations of cetaceans world-wide, there are 80 species. 26 species of these are found in
the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.
Watching whales and dolphins cavorting so playfully engaging in frolics in complete freedom
is an experience that touches and thrills the hearts of those who care for these creatures.
It is during the morning and afternoon that herds of whales and large schools of dolphins
become active and visible. Dolphins prefer to come out early morning and you will be able to
see spinner dolphins in plenty as they are quite common.
Whales arrive from about November to December and also March to April when large shoals of
dolphins can be seen a few miles offshore deep south of Sri Lanka. It is also the period
when the seas around the western and southern coasts are calmest.
Bundala National Park
Bundala National park is lies on the Hambantota District of the southern province. Bundala
initially declared as sanctuary on 05 th December 1969 and was upgraded to a National park
on 4 th January 1993. This is the last refuge in the greater flamingo in this part of the
island, as well as being important for elephant and a variety of threatened reptiles.
There have been 324 species of vertebrates recorded in Bundala National Park, of which 32
species are fish, 15 species are amphibians, 48 species are reptiles, 197 species are birds,
and 32 species are mammalian. 52 species of butterflies and large Sri Lankan elephants can
also be seen here.
Minneriya National Park
Set in the heart of the popular cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park is
mostly known for its incredible elephant migration, which is one of Asia’s finest wildlife
experiences. During the drier months of June to September, as many as 300 elephants
congregate in the Minneriya National Park around the ancient Minneriya water tank, taking
advantage of the receding waters that provide an important water source.
Minneriya National Park that covers an area of 8,889 hectares is of tropical monsoon
climate: annual rainfall is about 1146mm and mean annual temperature is 27.5 centigrade. The
altitude ranges from100m to 885m at the top of Nilgala peak.
Among the 24 species of mammals resident in the park are Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bear,
Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig, Grey Langers, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey,
three species of Mongoose, Porcupine and Indian Pangolin. Pre-booked Minneriya Safari is the
best way to see them all.
Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla National Park is located 190 km away from Colombo in the Polonnaruwa district of
the north central province of Sri Lanka. Kaudulla can be reached by Colombo- Trincomalee
main road. The entrance to Kaudulla is 22 km north of the village of Habarana. The closest
railway station is at Minneriya.
Topography is varied with hills, lowlands, forest and scrub land. Kaudulla is an ancient
irrigation tank with a capacity of 104,000 feet acres. The main source of water is giant
canal which is around the tank. The main annual rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm; mean annual
temperature is 20°C.
Kumana National Park
Located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, the 18,149 hectares Kumana National Park is a
well-known eco-tourism attraction and bird sanctuary where a multitude of birds breed and
roost. Kumana National Park is the eastern sector of Yala National Park. One of the most
significant features of the Kumana National Park is the 'Kumana Villu' - a 200 hectare
natural swamp lake, fed by the 'Kumbukkan Oya' through a half mile long narrow channel.
The gateway to Kumana National Park is at Panama. The park office is located at Okanda, 22km
south of Panama. Kumuna receives 1,300 millimetres (51.18 in) of annual rainfall. The mean
annual temperature is 27 degrees Celsius. Kumana National Park provides excellent feeding
and resting habitats for a large number of threatened wetland species, including three
turtle species such as the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta
caretta), and the Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivaceae).
