Wild Life Safari Park Vacation

Many millions of years ago, the little paradise island popularly known as Sri Lanka, was connected to the sub continent of India, accounting for the amazing variety of plant and animal species present in the magnificent wild life sanctuaries around Sri Lanka. Evolving over the centuries after the separation of the two lands, several species have developed in to indigenous animals, birds and plants, summing up to a total of 19% endemic species in Sri Lanka. The 65,610 square kilometres (40,768 miles) of land belonging to Sri Lanka features 14% of dedicated landmass for the safari parks and nature reserves of the country. The abundance of flora and fauna in this pearl of the Indian Ocean invites safari tourists and bird watchers to enjoy an unforgettable wild life safari park vacation.

Wilpattu, Yala, Wasgamuwa, Minneriya and Kawdulla safari parks are among the most popular safari parks in Sri Lanka while Bundala, Sinharaja rainforest and Kumana feature bird sanctuaries. Inside the boundaries of these safari parks dwell a large variety of animals including Elephants, Sri Lankan sloth bears, deer and monkeys such as the endemic macaque, purple-faced leaf monkey and shaggy bear monkey. Some of the more common species seen around Sri Lanka and living in groups at these safari parks include wild boar, jackals, mongoose, porcupines, giant squirrels, rats, shrews and wild buffalo.

Tourists making a hobby out of bird watching, arrive in Sri Lanka for the mere purpose of visiting the various bird sanctuaries and getting an eyeful of the endemic winged beauties of Sri Lanka. There are 431 species of birds in Sri Lanka, out of which 251 are inherent and 26 are endemic species. The coastal marshlands in Bundala, Yala National Park, Muturajawela and Bellanwila are places a tourist can visit for amazing bird watching opportunities.

Ruhunu Safari Park

Spread over 126,786 hectares, Yala Safari Park, also known as Ruhunu Safari Park, is second only to Wilpattu Safari Park, the largest wildlife reservation in Sri Lanka. Situated in the south-eastern low-land dry zone of Sri Lanka, Yala Safari Park is a combination of dry-mixed evergreen forests, bushland, open greenery, water holes, briny water lagoons and seaside forest areas. Drypatus sepiaria (weera), Salvadora persica (malittan) and Manilkara hexandra (palu) overshadow the other vegetation of this incredible safari park.

The assortment of wild life at Yala Safari Park include large mammals such as elephants, spotted barking deer, mouse deer, sambhur, wild boar, water buffalo, sloth bear (endangered) and the leopard. Other animal species such as jackal, civet, rusty spotted fishing cats, mongoose, black nape hare, grey languor and toque macaque (endemic) are resident at Yala Safari Park. A stunningly large amount of crocodiles belonging to endangered varieties frequent the massive water holes and lagoons of the safari park. The largest bird in Sri Lanka, the rare black-necked stork is among the 142 species of birds recorded at the park. The majestic tuskers and the grand leopards are some of the rare and beautiful animals of Yala Safari Park, probably the most magnificent wild life sanctuary in Sri Lanka.

Wilpattu Safari Park

Sri Lanka's largest wild life reservation, Wilpattu Safari Park owns a land area of approximately 1908 square kilometres (1186 square miles). Situated 109 miles / 176 kilometres north of Colombo, Wilpattu Safari Park is a dense jungle area nurtured by several beautiful lakes flowing along the natural trails of the forest. The specialties of Wilpattu Safari Park are the leopards and sloth bears.

Maduru Oya Safari Park

Located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and 186 miles / 300 kilometres away from Colombo, Maduru Oya Safari Park extends to 58, 849 hectares of reserved land, where wild life thrives. Endemic birds and reptiles are found at Maduru Oya Safari Park and the purple-faced monkey and sambhur are among the indigenous animals. Several avifauna are also present within Maduru Oya Safari Park, which is rich with ancient ruins and was once the home of the veddhas, Sri Lanka's oldest inhabitants.

Bundala Safari Park

Renowned for its excellent bird watching opportunities, Bundala Safari Park is quite small compared to its counterparts in Yala and other areas of the country. An area of 6216 hectares, adjacent to the Yala Safari Park, is made available for this magnificent bird sanctuary, consisting mainly of coastal wetlands and marshy regions. The five lagoons, sand dunes and briar lands of Bundala Safari Park are mixed with evergreen forest, making an ideal habitat for the many birds of the park.

The final destination of migrating birds, Bundala Safari Park has been declared as a RAMSAR wetland, and is the only park of the kind in Sri Lanka. During the migrating season, more than 20,000 shorebirds gather at Bundala Safari Park, putting on a unique show for the visitors. Water holes of Bundala Safari Park are usually dominated by the large flocks of Flamingo birds. Quite often, elephants tracking a path to Yala Safari Park travel across Bundala Safari Park, grazing and bathing along their short journey.

Horton Plains Safari Park

The central highlands of Sri Lanka present the Horton Plains Safari Park, an expanse of covered moist mountain grass, mountain islands and dwarf forests. Varieties of wild orchids and other flora grow in abundance, and Strobilanthes, Rhodendron and Zeylanicum, which are indigenous, flourish in this region. The sambhur is the primary resident at Horton Plains Safari Park, while the leopard, otter, fishing cat, giant squirrel and bear monkey can also be seen around the park.

The Sri Lankan Whistling Thrush is one of the rare and endemic species of the 21 native bird species sighted at Horton Plains Safari Park. Lower vertebrates such as the indigenous calotes nigrilabris (black-cheeked lizard), ceratophora stoddarti (rhino-horn lizard) and cophotis ceylonica (pygmy lizard) are also abundant at the park. The amphibians are of a higher diversity, with several species yet to be accounted for and unrecognised. In addition to the biodiversity of Horton Plains Safari Park, the scenic beauty of the area is also considerably impressive. The renowned 'world's end' deep abyss and the breathtaking Baker's Falls are part of the Horton Plains Safari Park.

Vehicles are not permitted inside this wild life sanctuary and a 3-kilometre hike ends at the 'world's end' area, and the hiking trail along Horton Plains Safari Park is a mystic and enchanting environment, perfect for the appreciation of the cool breeze and weather. The best hiking trail travelling along the Horton Plains Safari Park across massive mountains is the one leading from Ohia railway station.

Udawalawe Safari Park

Yet another wild life reservation in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, Udawalawe Safari Park consists of 30,821 hectares, spanning between the Udawalawe reservoir and the Walawe River. The scenic magnificence of the Balangoda, Haputale and Kalthota precipices enhance the richness of the area, famous for its large herds of local elephants.

The spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer, languor, water buffalo and jackal are conspicuous among the wild animals seen at Udawalawe Safari park. Serpent eagles, hawk eagles, white-bellied sea eagles, black-capped bulbuls, malabar pied-horn Bills, white-necked storks, open bills, white ibis, stork-billed kingfishers and peacocks are aplenty at Udawalawe Safari Park, offering the bird watcher a magnificent array of opportunities to study these birds. Several migratory birds also make Udwawalawe Safari Park their home for the season. These birds include forest wagtails, whiskered terns, osprey, sandpipers and terns.

Wasgamuwa Safari Park

Wasgamuwa Safari Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale districts, bordered by the Mahaweli River and Amban River from the eastern and western sides respectively. Situated 124 miles / 200 kilometres north of Colombo, Wasgamuwa National Park is known for its large herds of wild elephants roaming around the park. Evergreen forests of a dry-mixed nature dominate the tropical vegetation of Wasgamuwa Safari Park.

Weerawila-Tissa Safari Park

The main habitat of shorebirds, Weerawila-Tissa Safari Park is also a nature reserve in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Weerawila wewa, Debara wewa and Pannagamuwa wewa, three of the prominent lakes in the area, are located inside Weerawil-Tissa Safari Park while two more lakes, the Yodha wewa and Tissa wewa, are located nearby. Egrets, cormorants, Asian openbill, white ibis, Eurasian spoonbill and migrant birds are seen at Weerawila-Tissa Safari Park. Feral buffalo are seen around the lakes during the dry season.

Udawattakele Sanctuary

A typical mild rainforest, Udawattakele Sanctuary is a paradise for the birds of Sri Lanka. Located in the historic city of Kandy, Udawattakele Sanctuary is home to many species of birds, among which the most common are layard's parakeet, gold-fronted leaf bird and blue-winged leaf bird, spotted dove and emerald dove, tickell's blue flycatcher, yellow-fronted barbet, crimson-fronted barbet and brown-headed barbet as well as the oriental dwarf kingfisher.

Knuckles National Heritage Wilderness Area

Looming 6112 feet over the Dumbara Valley on the Kandy-Matale road, the Knuckles mountain range, named for its formation resembling the knuckles of a clenched fist, is covered with mist and wet grasslands. Five major forest types are present on these mountains at different elevation levels, including the wondrous pygmy forests. A large variety of indigenous flora and fauna inhabit these forest areas of the Knuckles National Heritage Wilderness Area. Over 50% of the trees found in this nature reserve can only be found in Sri Lanka. The forest areas are dominated by the Calophyllum species.

The Knuckles National Heritage Wilderness Area is home to the sambhur, wild boar, deer, leopard and over 100 species of birds including royal black eagle, dusky blue flycatcher (endemic) and Sri Lankan wood pigeon. The amphibians and reptiles are also of great diversity in the Knuckles National Heritage Wilderness Area. The endemic ceratophora tennenti (Horned Lizard) and nannophrys marmorata (Sri Lankan Frog) can only be seen at this natural reserve.

Sinharaja Virgin Forest

Untamed and not yet totally explored, Sinharaja Forest is the last remaining primary tropical rainforest in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Spanning over an area of 11,250 hectares of forest land, Sinharaja Forest is bounded on the north by the Napola Creek and Koskulana River, on the south and south-west by the Maha Creek and Gin River, on the west by the Kalukandawa Creek and Kudawa River and on the east by an ancient footpath near Beverley Tea Estate and by the Denuwa Mountain. The elevation of the forest varies from 90 to 1170 metres, presenting a large diversity in plant and animal species living in the forest. This ecological importance of Sinharaja Forest has led the UNESCO to declare the forest as a World Heritage Wilderness Area, prompting the world community to preserve this wonderful gift from nature.

Sinharaja Forest is the home of more than 60% of Sri Lanka's endemic plant species and is multi-layered, which is a characteristic of a rainforest. Mesua - Shorea and Dipteracarpus varieties are prominent among the vegetation. A variety of wild orchids, epiphytes and lianas can be found within Sinharaja Forest. The highest amount of endemic animals in Sri Lanka is found in the Sinharaja Forest, including eight out of the 12 endemic mammal species of Sri Lanka. Commonly sighted animals include the giant squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel, purple-faced monkey and torque macaque.

The red-faced malkoha, green-billed caucal, blue magpie and Sri Lankan spur fowl are some of the endemic birds seen at Sinharaja Forest, which is home to over 95% of the indigenous birds of Sri Lanka. Contributing to the high diversity of amphibians and reptiles, the forest is also the residence of the endemic green pit viper, hump-nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) and the horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera). Even several species of fish are present in the small group of rivers and water holes within forest. The striped tasbora, walking catfish and the comb tail are seen in the waters of Sinharaja Forest.

In addition to the ecological and biodiversity worth of the Sinharaja Forest, its natural beauty and value as a scenic area is perfectly complemented by the tallest known tree in Sri Lanka, which belongs to an endemic plant variety. The pitcher plant, known for its ability to consume insects, is common around the Sinharaja Forest. A large variety of butterflies live among the bushes and shrubs of the forest and the dark atmosphere created by the high canopy contributes to the thriving wild life of Sinharaja Forest.

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