The amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka is one of the most exciting experiences that any nature lover would dream to enjoy. Sri Lanka is famous as the best safari destination outside of Africa to see different kinds of wild giants. It is a place to see “The Big Five” which includes the Sri Lankan Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, great Blue Whale, and Sperm Whale. Among the 91 species of mammals found in the country, these Big Five engage the full attention of wildlife enthusiasts.
Despite its small size, Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism and biodiversity in the world. Not only is it included among one of the best places to see wildlife in Asia, but also it is among one of 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world. There are 26 national parks to visit during your time on the island including Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Kaudulla, Wasgamuwa, and Galoya are among the best of them.
Being an awesome destination to see the incredible wildlife, it offers a great chance to observe the rare sceneries of the wilderness. Enjoy an adventurous experience with a jungle safari in one of the great National Parks. You can observe the untamed world of amazing wildlife and capture the best shots during your safari in Sri Lankan jungles. The jungle safari experience in Sri Lanka will make your stay not only memorable and a journey of a lifetime.
The Big Five in Sri Lanka
1. Elephants
The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is native to Sri Lanka. A subspecies of the Asian elephant, the Sri Lankan elephants are not as large as those in Africa and have smaller ears. They are the biggest terrestrial mammals, classified as an endangered species in Sri Lanka. Although terrifyingly huge, they have the kindest eyes in the animal kingdom and totally adorable at the same time.
Asian Elephants live in 13 Asian countries, but it is easier to see them in Sri Lanka rather than in any other country. Sri Lanka is home to around 7500 elephants and it is the best place in the world for seeing herds of wild elephants. They live in fairly large groups in many national parks including Udawalawe, Yala, Wilpattu, Kumana, Wasgamuwa, or Gal Oya.
Elephants in Udawalwe
Among them, Udawalawe National Park is mainly popular for the abundance of its photogenic elephants. It is Sri Lanka’s 3rd largest national park after Yala and Wilpattu. You’ll see elephants everywhere in Udawalawe and you can get really close to them. Elephant families with their baby elephants are certainly the highlights of this national park. You’ll be surrounded by herds of elephants and this amazing jungle experience in Udawalawa will bring you much closer to these adorable, wild beasts.
A safari through the jungles in Yala also will let you see the elephants, while they are enjoying their daily activities. Gal Oya National Park is another favorite place to spot elephants; a boat safari through the reservoir offers the possibility of seeing them out for a swim.
Elephant Gathering
Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks are particularly famous for the “Elephant Gathering” or the annual migration of elephants in the dry season. The elephant gathering in Sri Lanka is the largest recurring migration of Asian elephants that exist on earth. This Elephant Gathering has been named by the Lonely Planet as the sixth greatest wildlife spectacle in the world.
During the drought season from July to September, the water resources shrink, and elephants are forced to migrate in search of food and water. Over 300 of them congregate around the water tanks in Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks to drink, bathe and play in the remaining water source. With the decrease in water level in the tank, the revealed banks cover in new tender grass. It’s a tasty feast for the elephants and it is worth migrating a long way to graze on this lush grass.
Herds of elephants enjoying the water tanks in Minneriya and Kaudulla are one of the greatest scenery to see in Sri Lanka. This is the best time to enjoy a wild safari to see a large number of elephants are gathering in a small area. Massive herds of elephants are moving together as a grey wall is a marvelous sight to witness. You can catch a glimpse of elephants bathing and playing in glistening water under the afternoon sun. This is one of the most incredible and magnificent scenery to experience during a wild safari in Sri Lanka.
Twin baby elephants in Minneriya
Cute baby elephants playing with their moms is a lovely experience and something you’ll never forget. It is a beautiful scenery of baby elephants innocently playing with each other or hiding between their mum’s legs, while adults calmly feed on the grass. In July 2020, the presence of twin baby elephants in Minneriya National Park was reported for the first time. It revealed that these twin babies as Sri Lanka’s first survived twin baby elephants. The whole herd seemed to interested in protecting them, which was a miraculous sight for the visitors.
Tuskers in the wild
Big males known as “tuskers” are a sight to behold in the wild. Only 7% of male elephants bear the tusks and they are the truly majestic kings of the Sri Lankan wilderness. Since the tusker population is much lower than elephants, they are rare to see in national parks. But still, there is a chance you might be able to see one of them during your wild safari.
Everybody loves to watch these majestic giants roaming freely in their natural habitats. Elephants in the wild are beautiful, majestic, and worthy of respect. The wild safari experience in Sri Lanka will make you fall in love with these gorgeous and magnificent giants in the world.
2. Leopards
The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is the leopard species endemic to the country. This elegant killer is the second-fastest big cat on earth after the cheetah. They are the biggest cats and the apex predators in Sri Lankan jungles, where they are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Although these expert hunters are elusive and difficult to spot in other countries, they are easier to spot even in the daytime in Sri Lanka.
If you are a fan of these beautiful big cats, Sri Lanka is the best place to go to see them. There are a number of places to witness these graceful, yet ferocious creatures in action. Among them, Yala and Kumana are quite famous for the high density of leopards. Watching leopards in the wild is definitely something you won’t forget for life.
Leopards are the apex predators in Sri Lankan jungles. Thus, they are dominant and roam freely in their habitats without any fear. Leopards are the most amazing wildlife you’ll see in Sri Lanka. Undoubtedly, Sri Lanka is the best destination to witness the rare sceneries of the untamed world of leopards.
Yala Leopard Centre
Yala National Park is highly famous as the number one place to see amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka. It is ideal for leopard watching, with the highest leopard density in the world. It offers the best chance to see giant leopards in their natural habitat. The leopards are mostly found lounging in trees while on the lookout for their prey. They are the Kings of the island’s wilderness; after hunting their prey, they laze in the trees during leisure time. Normally, you’ll see the leopards in Yala up in the trees or on the rock formations.
In 2020, a new identification system was introduced to identify leopards in Yala. Since Leopards’ spot patterns use to identify each individual, they have been given a specific name to recognize easily. Yala Leopard Center (YLC) contains information on 102 leopards documented through the identification. This project hopes to give visitors a better insight into each of the big cats. This new information center will be useful to visitors who visit Yala after the COVID-19 lockdown. It will educate visitors on how to identify the park’s many leopards individually, adding more value to their wildlife experience.
3. Sloth Bears
Sri Lankan sloth bears (Melursus ursinus inornatus) are one of the biggest bears in tropical countries. Sloth bears are covered in long, dark, shaggy black coats and inward-turned feet, making them distinguishable from other bears. Although vague and rare to see in the wilderness, you’ll be able to see them during your safari if you are quite lucky. These elusive bears are present in the Wilpattu, Yala, and Kumana National Parks.
There is always a chance to see an individual or mother Sloth Bear with cubs at any time of the year. You may see them on a late afternoon jeep safari when these nocturnal creatures come out of their daylight retreats in search of food. They feed mostly on insects, while bee honey is the favorite delicacy they preferred.
How to see elusive Sloth Bears
Along with the leopards, Yala National Park is also the best place to observe the sloth bear. The period when Palu Trees begin to bear ripe fruit is the best time to see Sloth bears in the wilderness. Palu trees are full of fruit during June and July months and sloth bears are often seen at this time. The scent of the Palu fruits will draw these nightcrawlers out into the open during the daytime.
Wasgamuwa National Park is believed to have the highest densities of Sloth bears in Sri Lanka. However, Yala is the best place with a high probability of viewing them, because the density of Palu Trees is higher. Wilpattu National Park is another best location for seeing the elusive Sloth Bears in Sri Lanka.
4. Blue Whales
The mighty Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) are the giants of the earth and the biggest mammals living on the planet. They are a huge part of the amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka. Blue Whales simply love Sri Lanka’s deep ocean, thus it assures a cruise on the southern coast gives a great opportunity to see them. It is one of the top destinations in the world that promises you sightings of these majestic creatures within just a few meters distance.
Blessed with large whale and dolphin colonies around the island, whale watching is one of the most exciting water activities in Sri Lanka. It is a highly famous attraction on the island, which gives a thrilling experience of watching these sea giants in their natural habitats.
Whale watching season
From December to April, large groups of whales spot off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, as they make their annual migration from the cold waters to the warm water. Blue Whales travel a long distance to warmer feeding grounds during the winter period. They migrate for feeding the krill, which is abundant in warm waters around the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Whale pods see till April, mainly February – March is the perfect time to witness them.
The best locations for blue whale watching are Galle, Mirissa, and Dondra Point along the southern coast. The whale watching cruise operated by the Sri Lanka Navy in Galle is highly famous among visitors. The season officially runs from December to April on the southern coast, while it is from May to September on the eastern coast. Trincomalee is highly famous for watching the sea giants on the eastern coast. You’ll see the marvelous scenery of dolphins swimming around your boat playing and putting up a spectacular show during your excursion.
5. Sperm Whales
It is only recently Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) recognized as a part of amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka. Sperm whales are the toothed whale species and the largest marine predator. It is a lesser-known fact that the ocean around Kalpitiya in Sri Lanka is a gathering spot for massive groups of sperm whales. Sri Lanka is amongst the top ten places in the world for seeing Sperm Whales.
Sperm whales swim to the North and Eastern waters off Sri Lanka annually and are often spotted as much larger pods of whales. Kalpitiya Peninsula is the best place for seeing large Sperm Whale colonies in Sri Lanka.
Since 2010, researchers have recorded sperm whale aggregations, or superpods, consisting of hundreds of giant mammals in the waters of Kalpitiya. It happens annually from late March to early April. They observed spectacular gatherings of sperm whales, comprising more than 350 individuals each year. That occurred throughout the years from 2010 in the waters around Kalpitiya.
Other amazing wildlife
6. Turtles
Sea turtles are innocent and beautiful creatures that live in the sea. The ocean around Sri Lanka is home to different kinds of turtles including the Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, and Leatherback Turtle. Most of them are categorized as endangered species and are specially protected in Sri Lanka. Lovely turtles are major contributors to amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka.
Watching turtles in their natural habitat will be a fun-filled experience for kids as well as nature-loving adults. Hikkaduwa Beach is a famous spot for watching turtles. They come to the shallow water to feed on seaweeds and you can hand-feed these giant turtles. Since they are accustomed to humans, they will eat seaweed from your hand.
If you love to swim with turtles, Dalawella and Plohena beaches are the best. There is a popular place called Turtle Beach in Dalawella, particularly famous for spotting sea turtles. You can go snorkeling to witness them in the shallow waters of the beach.
The female turtles lay eggs on the beach at night. Since the poaching of turtle eggs is a major problem, there are several Turtle conservation projects going on in southern coastal areas. The Turtle eggs hatched in the hatchery and then babies are released into the sea under these projects. Several turtle hatcheries are located along the southern coast of Sri Lanka including Kosgoda, Hikkaduwa, Dalawella, Rekawa, and many more. The baby turtles are safely released to the sea and visitors can enjoy watching the cute baby turtles start their journey into the ocean.
7. Sambar Deer
Other animals you might spot during your wild safaris include Sambar deer. The Sambar (Rusa unicolor unicolor) is a sub-species that lives only in Sri Lanka. They have the largest antlers in size among all mammals on the island. Only the male Sambar deer have antlers, which are about 40 inches long and divided into three branches. They live in many national parks such as Yala, Kumana, Udawalawe, Wasgamuwa, Wilpattu, and the central highlands.
Horton Plains in Nuwara Eliya is where they are readily observed in the daytime. The largest herds of sambar deer are living in the Horton Plains and it isn’t rare to see them grazing by the roadside in the park. Proud Sambar with majestic antlers in Horton Plains is a magnificent sight to see in the amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka.
The sambar deer prefer to rest under shaded forest cover in the hotter hours of the day. They are active during twilight hours and quite easily spotted during the early morning and late afternoon.
8. Spotted Deer
Sri Lankan spotted deer (Axis axis ceylonensis) or Ceylon spotted deer is a subspecies of axis deer (Axis axis) that inhabits only Sri Lanka. Spotted deer are commonly found in many national parks in Sri Lanka. Their herds are quite large and populated.
It will be nice scenery to watch herds of beautiful deer grazing and roaming freely inside the jungles. The lovely sight of deer inside national parks offers the opportunity to capture the best shots of amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka. Since they are scared of visitors, just don’t get too close to them to take photos.
9. Water Buffalo
In Sri Lanka, two kinds of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) live, the wild water buffalo and domestic water buffalo. The wild water buffalo are found in only national parks. They prefer to lie in muddy pools or swim in lakes during their leisure time. The domesticated water buffalo were used for working the fields and their milk was used for making curd, a Sri Lankan delicacy.
10. Monkeys
The purple-faced langur (Semnopithecus vetulus) and the Toque macaque (Macaca sinica) are the most prominent monkey species in Sri Lanka. Both of these species are endemic to Sri Lanka. The toque macaque monkeys are the most common monkeys in Sri Lanka. They have stylish hair and light yellow to brownish in color. The dry zone toque macaques are known as temple monkeys since there are so many of them in the Cultural Triangle.
Langurs are the other type of monkey found in Sri Lanka. The purple-faced langurs live in the wet zone in Sri Lanka, south, and western areas of the country. They call leaf monkeys and live up in the trees. The purple-faced langurs are dark black in color.
Do you love leopards, elephants, and other animals, but never got the opportunity to watch them closer? Then you’ll get the chance to watch all of them by making a safari in Sri Lanka. There are jungle safari camps to enjoy the amazing wildlife during your Sri Lankan tour. Fantastic sceneries and close encounters with the kings in the jungle will offer the best safari you might have ever experienced. You’ll never forget the excitement and thrill of seeing awesome wild giants in their own homes.!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka, Images by Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, and Mongabay. Copyrights reserved by original authors.
