Joanna James
While the tear-shaped emerald island of the Indian Ocean is endowed with diverse nature-kissed wonders tailor-made for experiential travellers seeking movingly intimate yet thrillingly authentic adventures, the annual Elephant Congregation is the event of a lifetime. Here are some insider insights.
From jungle-clad surfing havens, breathtaking cloud forests, and tea-steeped colonial settlements to UNESCO-listed rock fortresses and storybook fort towns, Sri Lanka has no shortage of geographical marvels, heritage gems, and wildlife-rich encounters. However, suppose you’re looking for a natural phenomenon that will fill you with breathless awe and soul-stirring serenity. In that case, the world’s largest congregation of Asian elephants is a sight you can’t afford to miss. Recognised by BBC Travel and Lonely Planet as one of Earth’s greatest wildlife spectacles, this stunning endemic display features a lush wilderness setting and a safari jeep with Wi-Fi onboard for easy live streaming. Over 300 mighty elephants make their gentle way to the sweet, azure waters of the Minneriya reservoir from seemingly every direction, creating cinematic glory. Every aspect of this event conveys the show of the season.
A herd of elephants is also called a “memory”, which is apt as these mammoth creatures are known to have a spectacular long-term memory to help them survive changing landscapes. This is why they unfailingly converge in this single picturesque spot each year, solemnly parading through the Elephant Corridor from habitats across Sri Lanka’s Northern Province as distant as Kantale. One of the most amazing attributes of this majestic event is observing the loyalty, perseverance, intelligence, and wisdom of these gentle giants of the jungle as they converge toward their goals with graceful precision.
This evergreen island abounds with storied national parks, from regally wild Yala, with its superstar cast of inhabitants roaming a rich diversity of windswept grassland, crumbling dunes, whispery grasslands, and jewel-toned lagoons, to the stimulating savannah-like vistas and iridescent watering holes of Udawalawe and the exhilarating off-the-beaten-path wildlife encounters at Wilapattu. However, the sublime refuge of Minneriya National Park, located a little over 180km outside Colombo, is the site of the epic elephant enclave, and getting there is a matter of ease and comfort with the likes of Cinnamon Air.
A relic of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom, the man-made Minneriya tank provides ample water for these tusked wanderers during the dry season that lasts between July and October, with the lush grasses surrounding the watering hole perfect for grazing. Therefore, make sure you visit between August and September to watch the incredible interactions between these graceful giants as they drink, bathe, court, play, and enjoy the shade.
Sri Lanka is known for its atmospheric safaris that combine jaw-dropping terrains with a superabundance of biodiversity in each of them, from locking eyes with topaz-eyed leopards peering through the long grass and watching crocodiles snap their jaws beside sunlit pools to enjoying the vibrancy of pirouetting peacocks and spotting endemic species like the torque monkey and purple-faced langur. Minneriya is no exception, composed of forests, scrublands, rock outcrops, grasslands, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. The best time to watch the elephants in their element is during a late afternoon safari during the gentle hours between 3 pm and 6 pm with the sunset glow painting the scene.
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.
