Wild Adventures in Sri Lanka’s Lesser Known Safari Parks

The Best Wildlife Parks Beyond Sigiriya

Untamed Adventures and Wildlife Safaris

Embark on a journey beyond the more crowded Minneriya National Park to discover the hidden landscapes and the untamed nature of Sri Lanka's lesser-known wildlife safari parks. Sigiriya is the perfect base to engage in wild adventures away from the crowds, exploring the best Wildlife Parks beyond Sigiriya. Witness the tranquil beauty of these untouched parks, where the air is alive with the calls of exotic birds and the rustle of wildlife roaming freely. From encounters with majestic elephants to sightings of elusive leopards, each moment promises an intimate and unforgettable experience, making it the perfect escapade for couples yearning to connect with nature in its purest form.

Kaudulla National Park

Situated just under an hour from Sigiriya, Kaudulla is often less popular for wildlife safaris due to Minneriya, which usually steals the limelight. Kaudulla is an essential ecosystem for the area's elephants, who migrate between the two parks for food and water. Kaudulla’s landscape has a more “jungle-like feel” than Minneriya and is surrounded by ancient tanks built by kings in the distant past to supply water for the area’s agricultural needs. The park’s main attraction is the herds of Asian elephants, including several rare male tuskers. Kaudulla is only accessible during the dry seasons of July to December, when you can witness these majestic creatures, and the park is also popular with birdwatching enthusiasts who come to witness the thousands of open-billed storks that frequent the park's lakes between June and September.

The best time for safari adventures is from July to October, the optimal month for viewing large herds of elephants. Just as in Minneriya, Kaudulla hosts large herds of around 200 or more during the “Gathering,” the largest single-point gathering of Asian elephants worldwide.

The experienced safari jeep operators are well-informed about the elephants' movements between the parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla, and will, based on their information for the day, recommend which park to visit in order to see the largest herds.

Kalawewa National Park

The Kalwewa National Park is nourished and encircled by two of Sri Lanka’s most iconic ancient irrigation tanks, Kalawewa and its smaller twin, Balalu Wewa, constructed in the 4th century AD by King Dhatusena. Until 2015, Kalawewa was designated as a sanctuary; however, wildlife and tourism authorities, recognising the significance of the park, reclassified it as a National Park to safeguard its ecosystem and elephant population. Situated approximately an hour from Sigiriya, Kalawewa is easily accessible and offers a picturesque drive along the reservoir bund.

Another reason Kalawewa is popular with wildlife enthusiasts is that the park has the largest population of Tuskers in Sri Lanka. Only around 7% of Asian male elephants grow tusks, making it quite a rare sight to see wild elephants with tusks.

During the dry season, the reservoir dries up, revealing new grasslands for elephants to graze. This provides excellent viewing opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts on safari. From September to November, the monsoon floods the park and fills the reservoirs.

Honeymoon Guide Travel Tip: Combine your visit to Kalawewa with excursions to the nearby archaeological treasures of Avukana, Sesseruwa Ras Vehera, and Vijithapura Raja Maha Vehera.

Wasgamuwa National Park

About a 2-hour drive from Sigiriya, Wasgamuwa, nourished by Sri Lanka’s longest river, Mahaweli, is a park of untamed beauty. Originally established as a nature reserve, it was designated a national park due to the displacement of wildlife caused by the Mega Mahaweli project.

Wasgamuwa Park is home to numerous ancient irrigation works, including Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya, and Dasthota, as well as the Kalinga Yoda Ela canal, which is attributed to the great king of Polonnaruwa, Parakramabahu I. According to Sri Lanka’s historical records, the famous battle site of Yudangana Pitiya, where King Dutugemunu defeated the South Indian invader, King Elara, is located in Wasgamuwa Park alongside the ruins of the once magnificent stupa, Chulangani Chaitya, constructed by King Mahanaga in the 1st century C.E.

Wasgamuwa Park is located in the dry zone and is home to hundreds of resident elephants and migratory herds who travel searching for food. The park is also famous for sloth bear sightings and its pristine wildlife, which includes exotic birdlife of around 153 species and over 150 species of endemic flora, including a 1700-year-old tamarind tree. The best time for elephant sightings is between November and May, when they migrate to nearby national parks foraging for food and water during the dry season.

Gal Oya National Park

About three hours from Sigiriya in the Eastern District of Ampara lies Gal Oya National Park, a sanctuary that offers a phenomenon only seen in Gal Oya: the swimming elephant. Gal Oya is the island's only national park with a safari boat service that allows visitors to witness the park’s wildlife wonders.

First designated as a National Park in 1954, Gal Oya is a reservoir that serves as the primary catchment area for Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir, the Senanayake Samudraya, which translates to the Sea of Senanayake. This name honours its conceptualiser, the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon.

With over 25,900 hectares, Gal Oya National Park has a unique and thriving resident elephant population. Visitors to the park, if lucky, may witness large herds of elephants swimming between the park's islands in search of new grazing lands, a truly unique wildlife spectacle. This spectacle usually occurs between March and July. On boat safari, visitors are also treated to witnessing large flocks of birds nesting on “Birds Island.”

The dry season between April and September provides the best weather and conditions for elephant sightings along the reservoir bank. While the park offers both safari options by jeep or boat, the expert guides will ensure that visitors are positioned in the right place for memorable moments in the wild.

The park's diverse vegetation and micro-environments indicate its wealth of valuable flora, including essential medicinal herbs used in the native healing practices of Hela Osu and Ayurveda. With 32 species of mammals, over 150 species of birds, reptiles, butterflies, and amphibians, every wildlife enthusiast has something to enjoy during a Gal Oya wildlife safari.

Honeymoon Guide Travel Tip: Gal Oya Park is also home to the Veddas, one of the few remaining indigenous hunter-gatherer tribes on the island. A tour to meet the Veddas is a popular experience, often combined with a Gal Oya safari.

Maduru Oya National Park

Maduru Oya National Park, a hidden gem and lesser-visited wildlife destination, was established due to the displacement caused by the extensive Mahaweli River Project. Opened in 1983, the park remained inaccessible to visitors for many years because it was located in the eastern region affected by civil unrest in Sri Lanka. Maduru Oya encompasses an area of 58,849 hectares of wilderness and serves as the principal catchment area for the Maduru Oya Reservoir, as well as five other reservoirs that sustain the agricultural livelihoods of the region. The park entrance is approximately two and a half hours from Sigiriya and is situated in the arid dry zone of the Eastern Province.

Mainly popular for its resident elephant population, the park is also home to Leopards, Sloth Bears, endemic species of monkeys like the purple-faced leaf eaters, sambhurs, deer, and buffalo.

Maduru Oya Park features numerous ancient ruins, including the discovery of a sluice gate dating back to the 1st century B.C., with some experts even claiming it predates the arrival of Vijaya to Sri Lanka and is attributed to tribes belonging to the Yaksha, one of the two main prehistoric tribes in Sri Lanka. Additionally, other archaeological and Buddhist ruins have been unearthed within the park, including a 3rd-century B.C. Brahmi inscription, which represents a pre-Singhalese language.

Along with its elephant and archaeological treasures, Maduru Oya is a paradise for birds and a haven for bird enthusiasts. Over 100 species are recorded as residents.

The Best Wildlife Parks Beyond Sigiriya

Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla National Park

Kalawewa National Park

Kalawewa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park

Gal Oya National Park

Gal Oya National Park

Maduru Oya National Park

Maduru Oya National Park

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