Joanna James
Despite being a small island, Sri Lanka has a lot of bio diversities that is spread generously across the country where you can go to see all kinds of animals, bird and marine life that thrive in abundance in Sri Lanka. Apart from Yala and Wilpattu National Parks here are some lesser-known gems.
A narrow peninsula that juts out of the northwest coast of Sri Lanka towards India off the shoes of Mannar is the legendary Adam's Bridge. The string of islands is said to have connected Sri Lanka to the Indian subcontinent in ancient times. Today, it is a Marine National Park where you can see an array of ecosystems thriving in the shallow shoals. There's also a lot of birds passing by this area.
Kaudulla National Park is better known for its bird populations. There are a large number of endemic and migratory birds that move through the parking area making it a haven for ornithologists. If you are lucky, your safari will also bring you in close quarters to elephants, leopards, sloth bears, deer and wild boar. The park was made into a water source during the 3rd century but the irrigation tanks were abandoned for over sixty years during which time, animals flocked into the park.
Luxury hotels in Sri Lanka also sing praises of the Gal Oya National Park and when you get there it is easy to see why. The Senanayake Samudra lake is the most recent water installation in the country and the result was the creation of a wetland park for dense forests and elusive animals. The elephant population in Gal Oya are rather significant and it is the only place you could go to see swimming elephants.
Kumana National Park is located on the south of the island and is a popular haunt for bird watching. Over 250 different species of birds flock to the lagoon each year. The park is adjacent to Yala and is sometimes considered a part of it. There are also a sufficient population of jackals and fishing cats, while elephants are few and far between. Kataragama Temple which is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists alike is located in the vicinity so every year a large group of pilgrims pass through the park on their way to the sacred site.
The biggest national park on this list and one that is synonymous with elephants, you can spend a night at one of the Heritance Hotels Sri Lanka and get to this park afresh in the morning. It's the park with the highest chance of you encountering elephants in the wild. It is also the location of The Gathering when over 200 elephants congregate on the lake during the dry season to mate and socialise every year. A sight that is quite fascinating and enchanting to behold.
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