Despite being smaller than countries renowned for wildlife safaris, such as Kenya and Botswana, Sri Lanka is one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots. The likes of Yala and Wilpattu are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what the island has to offer wildlife enthusiasts and nature buffs.
Sri Lanka is home to about 10 wildlife parks and forest reserves, of which, each serves a different dosage of wildlife, flora and fauna.
Visiting Sri Lanka? Holidays here fall under three important categories – beach holidays, wildlife safaris and cultural tours that explore the rich history of Sri Lanka. Some of the most popular locations for wildlife enthusiasts are:
1. Yala – Covering over 130,000 hectares, this is the country’s biggest national park. It is located on the south-eastern portion of Sri Lanka, and boasts of the highest population of leopards per square kilometre in the world. Of the five blocks that Yala is divided into, two are open to the public. Yala National Park was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900. Today, it is home to elephants, sloth bears, sambars, spotted deer, jackals, crocodiles and thirty seven other mammals, along with 215 species of birds. Leading travel agencies such as Walkers Tours, Sri Lanka, specialise in organising safaris for wildlife enthusiasts on request.
2. Minneriya – World famous for its “Elephant Gathering”, a sight that no other country can offer, Minneriya is located just over 20km from the medieval kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The lush forestry of Minneriya has been fed for centuries by the gigantic Minneriya tank constructed during the glory days of kings.
3. Wilpattu – Wilpattu national park is located on the north-west border of Sri Lanka’s first medieval kingdom, Anuradhapura. It is also one of Sri Lanka’s older national parks. This home to elephants, sloth bear, deer and water buffaloes consists of a plethora of lakes, grasslands and forestry. Unlike Yala, Wilpattu does not have a significant population of leopards but travellers have confirmed random sightings on the odd occasion.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
