Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a country popular for many things, from its beaches, mountains, culture, history, and of course, its collection of flora and fauna. There are many species of animals that are endemic to this island alone. There are several wildlife reserves in this island functioning to protect these animals from poachers and other dangers. You can take a safari through these sanctuaries to learn and witness some of the spectacular animals that are indigenous to this country. Here is a list of the safaris you can experience.
The Yala National Park is a popular place for safaris and is located in the south-east part of the country. Being the second largest national park, the place also boasts of a jungle, beaches, lakes, scrubland and rivers along with the parkland. Leopards, an endangered species, can be spotted in the Yala National Park if you are lucky. The Yala National Park is home to about thirty-two different varieties of mammals and one hundred and twenty-five bird species. To boot, the park is also home to an incredible collection of reptiles. Here you can witness some of the largest mammals in the country, all located in one place. If you're looking for Sri Lankan wildlife tours places the likes of, Travel Design by CDC, offer a good experience.
Another popular national park in Sri Lanka is the Wasgamuwa National Park which came to being in 1984 as a result of the Mahaweli Development Project. If you want to witness a large collection of elephants, then this is the go-to place for that. Besides, the Wasgamuwa National Park is also popular among earnest bird watchers and is one of the prominent bird sanctuaries in the country. In addition, you can spot sloth bears too! This national park is situated around two hundred and twenty-five kilometres away from Colombo, the commercial capital of the country.
In the north-west region of the country, around twenty-six kilometres away from Puttalam, you can find this absolutely amazing national park- the Wilpattu National Park. The park stretches along the coastal line for about four hundred and twenty-five square feet. Although the region falls under the dry zone of the country, it still houses an incredible array of wildlife. Home to barking deer, leopards, elephants and sloth bears, the park has so much to be proud of. It is also considered a bird lover's paradise where you can spot birds that are endemic like the jungle fowl. If you thought, the park only showcases an incredible collection of mammals only, you thought wrong. The park is also home to amphibians, reptiles and insects like the common rose, great egg fly, and butterflies. You can spot snakes and crocodiles too!
The Gal Oya National Park was founded in the year of 1954 and is one of the prominent nature reserves in the country boasting of some incredible biodiversity. In the 25,900 hectares of land, there is a collection of about one hundred and fifty bird species. On top of that, you can take a ride on a boat to reach the bird island to witness some spectacular collection of birds.
This nature reserve, like none of the others, is located on the highest plateau of the country. Once you make the climb up, you can witness a spectacular view of the surrounding and an incredible collection of wildlife. The best time to visit the place is during the early hours of the mornings, as later on in the day, the place gets encircled by mist.
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