WILDLIFE AREA BY AREA
NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE RESERVES Influenced by Buddhist respect for all living creatures , Sri Lanka has a deep conservation ethic . There are 12 National Parks and 52 sanctuaries , accounting for 13 % of the total land area . All Parks are accessed by jeep , except Horton Plains and Sinharaja Rainforest which are visited mainly on foot , and most have an accompanying National Park warden . A daily entrance fee applies to each .
WEST COAST NEAR NEGOMBO Muthurajawela Wetlands and the Dutch Canal Muthurajawela is the largest saline coastal peat bog in Sri Lanka , located between the Negombo lagoon and Kelani River . Some 40 % of the vertebrate species of Sri Lanka are recorded here . Mammals include the slender loris , otter , fishing cat , and mouse deer . Commonly sighted birds include storks , bee-eaters , and kingfishers . You may also see large monitor lizards , different species of serpent and the occasional crocodile . Mangrove border the marshes , perfect for nesting water birds , and the godakaduru tree provides wood for Sri Lankan masks . A boat trip along the historic Dutch canal connects the vast expanse of lagoons , and rivers , letting you see Brahmini Kites and water monitors passing the boat . Stay at The Jetwing Beach hotel in Negombo .
CULTURAL TRIANGLE AND DRY NORTH CENTRAL PLAINS Minneriya National Park This park offers an excellent chance of seeing wild elephants . The large population are often seen on the edge of the vast Minneriya tank . Visitors are also likely to see endemic toque and Hanuman langur monkeys ,
grizzled Indian squirrel , spotted deer , wild buffalo , crocodile , sambhur , water birds and peacocks . Rarer sightings include leopard and sloth bear . Endemic birds such as Ceylon junglefowl , brown-capped babbler , the Ceylon grey hornbill , Brahmini Kite , and the Fish Eagle can also be seen . Between August and October ( best in September ), you can witness up to 300 elephants gathering in the late afternoon around Minneriya tank , one of the largest gatherings of wild elephants anywhere in the world . Location This park is easily accessible from the main road to Polonnaruwa . Stay at Minneriya National Park can be easily visited from all of our selected Cultural Triangle hotels . The Habarana Village and the Aliya Resort are the closest .
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS Horton Plains National Park The grass vegetation and stunted forests here contrast with elsewhere in Sri Lanka . This is the highest plateau on the island , at 2,000 metres . A 7km circular walking trail takes you through grassland and cloud forest to the breathtaking views at World ’ s End . Further on , you can descend a steep path to Bakers Falls . Wild boar , endemic shaggy bear monkeys , barking deer , fishing cats , and giant squirrels are commonly spotted , and more than 70 % of Sri Lanka ’ s endemic birds can be found here , such as the fantailed warbler and Ceylon blue magpie . Visits There is track access from the park entrance to the car park , where the circular walking trail starts on the plateau . Arrive at the start of the walk around 7am . Location South of Nuwara Eliya . Climate Windswept and often wet , due to active monsoons . Early mornings are clear ( 12-16C ) until 10am when dense clouds form , and it warms up to around 20C . December to February is the coolest , driest time . Stay at Jetwing Warwick Gardens , about a 1 hour drive each way .
Turtle
Spotted Deer
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