Best national parks to see elephants in Sri Lanka

Being an island nation that is blessed with some of the most exclusive varieties of flora and fauna, Sri Lanka is an ideal travel destination for those who love nature. Amongst the many creatures that inhabit this beautiful island, many visit Sri Lanka to witness the elephants – which are arguably one of the most magnificent and pensive creatures one would ever see. Here are some of the best national parks on the island where you could see these gentle giants up-close and personal.

The national parks

With most of the country’s land is covered by forest lands, and sparsely vegetated scrublands, Sri Lanka is home to a number of national parks. Each of these parks boasts distinctive features and many have their own variety of plants and animals. Some flora and fauna are even endemic to those regions. Many of these parks are inhabited by herds of elephants and many of these magnificent creatures even move between the nature reserves.

Yala National Park

Covering a vast expanse that includes the majority of the southeastern coast of the island, Yala is the largest national park in Sri Lanka. Composed of varied demographical regions and unique natural attributes the park is also one of the most famous on the island for safaris. You could sport herds of elephants along with other endemic denizens during your safari tour at the park.

Kaudulla National Park

This also being one of the largest nature reserves on the island, Kaudulla National Park is home to a population of over 250 elephants. This park also offers you the highest probability of spotting herding elephants in Sri Lanka. The park being located in proximity to the fabled rock fortress Sigiriya also gives you exclusive opportunities to click away spectacular photos of these majestic creatures with a stunning background. Also, the park contains a number of water bodies that attract a wide range of endemic and migratory birds.

Minneriya and Udawalawe National Park

Located in proximity to the Kaudulla national park and the Minneriya tank, this national park is also home to a large population of elephants. It is also a common occurrence that elephants from Kaudulla national park visit this reserve during the dryer months for water and nourishment.

Home to the wild animals that got displaced during the construction of a reservoir of the park’s namesake, Udawalawe National Park offers refuge to a large number of elephants.

Visiting the reserves

Araliya Hotels & Resorts is a collective that owns some of the best hotels in Sri Lanka, and lets you easily get in touch with the country’s most reliable tour operators. If you are planning to stay at one of our properties the likes of Hotel Sudu Araliya which is in Polonnaruwa, your hopes of seeing elephants will even get easier – because the resort establishment is located in close proximity to the Kaudulla National Park.