Being an awesome place to see the incredible wildlife, Sri Lanka considers the best safari destination outside Africa. It is an animal lovers’ paradise to witness different kinds of wild creatures. Wild safari in Sri Lanka gives an exciting opportunity that any nature lover would dream to enjoy in the jungle. There is an opportunity to observe rare sceneries of wilderness and get a wide range of unique wildlife experiences.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, look no further than Sri Lanka to enjoy an awesome safari trip. Particularly, Sri Lanka is an ideal place to see herds of majestic elephants and gorgeous leopards. Heading out for a wild safari to see these wild giants is one of the best things to do on the island. Safari tours allow you to get up close and capture the best shots of amazing wildlife in jungles. The wildlife safari experience in Sri Lanka will definitely be an eternal golden memory in your heart forever.
If you haven’t already added a wild safari trip to your Sri Lanka bucket list, now is the time to do so. However, there are a few things you should know before you set off. Here are some important things to consider before planning your first safari trip to Sri Lanka.
1. There are so many wild safari options
At first, you need to select the best adventurous tour in one of the national parks in Sri Lanka. There are 26 national parks in the country, while the most visited parks are Yala, Wilpattu, and Udawalawe respectively.
Minneriya, Kaudulla, Wasgamuwa, and Galoya national parks are also popular destinations. Deciding the best park among them is the most important thing to consider while planning your trip.
Each of these national parks has its own unique fauna and is famous among visitors due to different reasons. Yala is famous for leopards, and it has the highest density of leopard population in the world. Wilpattu is the largest national park in the country, where you can capture many stunning shots of amazing wildlife. Udawalawe, Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Wasgamuwa are famous for their large herds of elephants.
2. Don’t miss the great elephant gathering
Your safari trip won’t be completed without visiting the elephant gathering in Sri Lanka. This annual elephant migration considers one of the great wildlife spectacles in the world. Minneriya National Park is the most popular place to see elephant gathering.
Elephant gathering happens during the peak of drought season, around July-September. This migration occurs between Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Hurulu Eco Parks. You can find out the best place to see the elephant herds from safari tour operators.
Anyway, there is no need to worry, if you miss the great elephant gathering. There are many other national parks in Sri Lanka to see the herds of elephants. Among them, Udawalawe and Wasgamuwa national parks are the best places to witness majestic Sri Lankan elephants.
3. Seek out graceful leopards
Major stars of the Sri Lankan wildlife scene are gorgeous leopards. These fastest big cats are the top predators in Sri Lankan jungles, where they roam freely as they wish. Sighting of leopards is the prime target of most Sri Lankan safari-goers.
Yala National Park is a world-famous safari destination to witness these graceful leopards. The dry zone forests of Yala are home to a huge diversity of wildlife, while leopards are the dominating ones. Those who are dedicated to seeking leopards will definitely meet these Kings and Queens on the Yala wild safari trip.
Wilpattu is also famous for leopards, but its animals are a little more reserved, and can easily hide in dense vegetation. Thus it may take a longer time to get the reward of seeing them than Yala National Park.
4. Look for elusive sloth bears
Sloth Bears are one of the Big Five in the Sri Lankan wilderness. They are considered a threatened species and listed as vulnerable in the IUCN red list. Sloth bears are endemic to Sri Lanka and are found only in the country’s northern and eastern lowland jungles. Although they live in many Sri Lankan dry zone national parks, they are quite rare to witness in the daytime.
Wilpattu National Park is most famous for sloth bears, but they are quite elusive and difficult to see among dense vegetation. Nevertheless, if it is your lucky day, you will see these black bushy coated guys in the park.
5. Capture the jaw-dropping sceneries
One of the biggest pulls of Sri Lankan safari is obviously the wildlife. However, it’s not just only the wildlife you’ll see, while touring in national parks. Sri Lanka is indeed a beautiful country and the sceneries inside national parks are quite impressive too.
Remember to concentrate not only on the animals but also on the breathtaking scenery around you. You may capture the most beautiful, photogenic shots of Sri Lanka while enjoying your safari trip.
Sunset is the best time to catch some magnificent shots inside the parks. The fiery colors of the sky combined with the darkness in the jungle make this wonderful view of Sri Lanka.
6. Enjoy bird watching
Sri Lanka’s national parks are abundant in lovely birdlife. The island is home to more than 400 species of birds and extremely popular with bird watching enthusiasts. Among these birds, 34 species are endemic to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka acts as a winter destination and breeding ground for lots of migratory birds. Therefore, you’ll see lots of different varieties of birds around the tanks and reservoirs of national parks. Look carefully in treetops and you may witness some beautiful birds including colorful bee eaters during your safari trips.
7. Ready for the hot climate
Most of the Sri Lankan safari tours are available in dry zone jungles, where the temperature stays consistent throughout the year, around 30 °C or more. This hot tropical climate can give travelers a bit of a challenge. Thus, afternoon safari-goers must be ready for hot and dusty weather inside the parks.
It is important to carry a water bottle to stay cool and hydrated. Wearing a comfortable cotton dress will be more convenient to face the hot daytime during your journey. Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreens to escape from the oppressive sun. Remember to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself. These precautions and selecting the best safari attire will help you to enjoy your safari trip more comfortably.
8. Bring powerful cameras
Most wild animals are likely to keep their difference from the visitors. It means that it’s hard to get great shots of wildlife using an iPhone. Be ready with a powerful zoom lens, because it is great at capturing moving objects within a few hundred meters away. The best thing is to put your camera in sports mode and keep it ready all the time. It will make the snapping of moving animals easier.
9. Decide the best time
The rainy season in dry zone national parks is from September to December. Thus, the best time for a safari is between January to July, the dry period. It is easier to spot animals in this dry season because decreasing water sources bring them into the open frequently.
As well as, some national parks close for a few months during the peak of drought season. Yala National Park closes each September and reopens in October. It is important to confirm available tours from safari operators, during your intended travel period.
There are three types of safaris in Sri Lanka; Early morning, late afternoon, or full-day. Early morning safaris consider great for bird viewings, while late afternoon ones are best for leopard and elephant sightings. Afternoon safaris are fantastic, but the heat of the sun is too much. Morning safaris are cool, but maybe sightings of animals are less.
10. Get help from your guide
Most of the tour guides on safari trips are locals with a whole wealth of knowledge, so they have invaluable experiences about the jungle. You can learn a lot about Sri Lankan wildlife from your guide. You can be friendly with the tour guide and he will share his experiences with you. This is the best way to get the most out of your wild safari trip in Sri Lanka.
11. Visit Yala Leopard Center
Another important place not to miss in Yala National Park is Yala Leopard Center (YLC). From there, you can learn everything about leopards in Yala. Since 2020, this new digital identification system is used to identify each individual leopard. It contains information on 102 leopards documented through the identification. Leopards have been given a specific name to recognize easily. This is YF32 – Strawberry, one of the most photographed Leopards of Yala.
12. Enjoy camping in the wilderness
Camping inside national parks in Sri Lanka gives a marvelous adventurous opportunity to enjoy Sri Lankan wildlife. It is a wonderful activity you can enjoy on the island. Camping includes both classical clamping and more luxurious glamping with great facilities. Camping in the wilderness is a blend of both adventure and leisure activity which gives you a remarkably adventurous experience in Sri Lanka.
There are plenty of camping spots in national parks where travelers can go and stay overnight to immerse in the amazing wildlife. It will be a blessed moment to hear the melodious chirping of birds all around when you are waking up at the jungle camping site.
You can watch leopards, elephants, and many other animals in their natural habitats on a wild safari in Sri Lanka. Check out our best safari camps in Sri Lanka and select the ideal one for you. Fantastic sceneries and close encounters with kings and queens in the jungle will offer the best safari you might have never experienced. Most importantly, plan well ahead to enjoy an adventurous wild safari tour in the country. Without a doubt, you may keep coming back to see the splendid world of Sri Lankan jungles. Happy wild safari in Sri Lanka to all of you!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. The cover banner is from Shutterstock. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Facebook, Twitter, Picuki, and Dreamstime. All copyrights reserved by original authors.
