Joanna James
Sri Lanka is home to a number of fabulous wildlife parks treating nature lovers to marvellous sights and experiences. Listed are the 4 best locations for exploring the wild while chilling in luxury.
Minneriya is home to herds of Asian elephants. The gorgeous parkland is serviced by the huge Minneriya Lake built by King Mahasen. Legend has it the area had the sweetest grass and most verdant environs and indeed seems true for Minneriya is home to a beautiful savannah like environ. It's the hordes of elephants that draw visitors to this park. Sightings are almost always guaranteed with plenty of photo taking opportunities. In addition, you will be treated to sights of sambar, wild buffalo, crocodiles, foxes, Indian python and the occasional leopard. High season for spotting large numbers of migratory elephants at Minneriya is August when skies are sunny and weather just fine; of course there are plenty of luxury resorts to retire to within close proximity of the park.
The country's second largest park Yala National Park is best known for its marvellous collection of leopards. Covering a land area of 120,000 hectares this ruggedly handsome region is made up of lagoons, rocky outcrops, savannah scrubs, ancient tanks and light forests. Skirting the park are utterly stunning jungle beaches home to Jetwing Yala and the occasional wildlife. In fact, the place is a fabulous holiday resort where Yala hotels offer one the chance to chill in luxury while observing the wilds of nature. The park is quite a treat as apart for the impressive collection of leopards the place harbours 200 bird species and over 44 species of mammals as such you will quite likely come across crocodiles, sloth bears, jackals, spotted deer, beautiful peacocks and magnificent elephants.
A visit to the Rekawa Beach Turtle Sanctuary is a must when touring the best wildlife reservations on the island. At Rekawa Beach you are welcome as a guest to silently watch beautiful giant sea turtles surreptitiously lay eggs on the beach. There is a well updated guide who will leave you with a wealth of information on all things related to turtles. Indeed it is a treat to observe the meticulous attention offered to the preservation of this ancient and fascinating species.
Bundala National Park is reserved as one of Asia's most important bird sanctuaries. The place has even been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park boasts a population of over a 190 varied species of birds. These include the highly prized Eurasian Spoonbill, Painted Stork, Greater Flamingo and much more. The environs are utterly stunning and treat you to sights of indigenous flora and fauna as you trek the paths in search of the stunning feathered varieties. There you have it, folks, some of the best wildlife sanctuaries well serviced by luxury resorts for enjoying the wilds of Sri Lanka in comfort.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
