Mentioned as one of the 10 Greatest Wildlife Wonders of the World by Lonely Planet, the elephant gathering is a sight to behold in Sri Lanka. The gathering is the largest annual migration of Asian elephants in the whole world. For nature lovers, this is an incredible moment to see hundreds of elephants in one place. This is not only a simple elephant migration. The elephants congregate to socialize, bathe, and even find mates. In fact, this amazing scenery has been listed as one of the top wildlife spectacles of the world by BBC and CNN travel magazines.
This unique phenomenon of nature can be witnessed in Minneriya National Park. This is a protected reserve that is home to the Minneriya tank, an ancient water body spanning a huge area. It was built by the great King Mahasen in the 3rd century. Although the water in the small tanks is shrinking during the dry period, this tank never empties even at the height of the drought season. Thus, the Minneriya tank is the center of the annual elephant gathering, while as many as 300 elephants have been recorded around the tank in previous years.
Start of Elephant Gathering
Elephant gathering is an annual phenomenon that occurs only once a year during the height of the dry season, between August to October. Usually, the dry season runs for several months from July to October. Then the small tanks gradually run dry and the rivers get dried up. As a result, the elephants are forced to travel to large reservoirs in search of food and water. Thus, elephants start to migrate from the surrounding jungles to Minneriya National Park. They come to Minneriya Tank in August and stay there until the rainy season starts at the end of October.
Elephant Gathering in Minneriya
Although there are several national parks in Sri Lanka, this massive-scale congregation of elephants only occurs in Minneriya and Kaudulla. Since the elephant migration starts at Minneriya National Park, it is the best place to observe the great elephant gathering in Sri Lanka. Particularly, the Minneriya tank is an incredible place to observe elephants that come to bathe and graze on the fresh grasses. This is an extraordinary opportunity to witness an incredible number of wild elephants in one place.
Hundreds of elephants converged around the Minneriya tank during this period. Elephants stay in cool shady places at noon. In the afternoon, herds of elephants slowly make their way through the plains towards the tank. Glistening under the bright sunlight, the Minneriya tank invites elephants to enjoy the cool waters. You’ll see elephants bathing and playing in the water, enjoying their big annual gathering. They like to feast on the young shoots of grass that flourish on the edges of the tank as the water recedes.
Part of the elephant herds is hanging out on the plains, playing with each other. Young elephants are trying to find mates. Moreover, there will be plenty of baby elephants who are so entertaining to watch. These cute baby elephants are cuddling with their parents, under the protection of the whole herd. Definitely, this is magical and exciting scenery that you cannot see anywhere else in the world.
Tuskers in Gathering
As a part of the elephant corridor which joins up with Kaudulla and Wasgomuwa parks, Minneriya National Park gives the opportunity to see herds of elephants throughout the year. The majestic wild tuskers live in nearby jungles, and visit the Minnieriya tank during this dry period.
One of the most famous tuskers you’ll see in Minneriya is tusker Sumedha. He can be seen with the elephant herd playing with water in the Minneriya tank. This majestic young tusker shows the ultimate beauty and grace of Sri Lankan wild tuskers.
Elephant Gathering in Kaudulla
Most of the visitors are unsure whether the best place to see the gathering is Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park. To clarify, both these parks are located close to each other and divided by the jungle called as elephant corridor. Therefore, elephants can cross over to each park during this period of time. Elephants are always free to move between the parks, hence there may be more elephants in one park than the other.
Usually, elephants first migrate to Minneriya and then migrate to Kaudulla at the last part of their gathering. Since the location of elephants is decided by their migration pathway, you need to confirm the best place to see the elephants for your intended date of travel. The safari operators in these wild parks are well aware of their migration patterns and they know where most elephants are at a particular time.
What to Bring?
Safari tours offer the ultimate opportunity to see elephants gathering in their natural habitat. But you may not be allowed to get off from the safari jeep or to get closer to them. Therefore, it is important to bring a camera with a zoom lens to capture the best shots of this magical phenomenon. Don’t forget to pack the essential items including a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat, as it gets very dry and hot during this period.
What Time?
Elephants like to stay in cool and shady places during the hot daytime. The jungle and dense shrubs around the tanks provide shelter for the elephants to protect them from the sweltering heat. They become active in the early morning and afternoon when the environment is cool. Either morning or afternoon safari will give you the chance to witness this great wildlife spectacle.
In the afternoon, elephants are playing in the water and hang out on the plains for many hours. Therefore, an afternoon safari gives a good opportunity to see them leisurely walking in the plains and feeding on green grasses. Afternoon safaris typically start at around 3 PM and finish at 6 PM.
End of Elephant Gathering
The north-eastern monsoon starts in October bringing heavy rains to the plains. All the reservoirs including Minneriya and Kaudulla become full in November. Once the dry season ends, the elephant herds start to disperse. Therefore, the great elephant gathering in Sri Lanka lasts only from August to October of each year. The herds of elephants finally move on to their residential areas.
Elephant Gathering Tours in Sri Lanka
For anyone planning a unique travel experience to witness the great gathering, can contact safari tour operators to arrange a tour package. These are some of the best tours available in Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.
1. Guided Elephant Safari from Sigiriya
This is an afternoon safari tour that starts from Sigiriya. The guides will come to pick you up from anywhere in Sigiriya.
2. Great Elephant Gathering Private Safari from Minneriya
This is an afternoon safari that starts from the park gate of Minneriya National Park. If you are staying within a 5 km radius of the entrance gate, guides can arrange free pickup from your hotel.
3. Evening Safari in Minneriya National Park from Colombo
This is one of the best tours for international travelers, that starts from Bandaranayake International Airport at Colombo. Departure time is 9:30 AM. Tour guides will pick up you from any hotel in Negombo.
To sum up, visiting Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park to witness the great elephant gathering in Sri Lanka should be one of the major highlights of your trip. Try to arrange your Sri Lankan trip around August to October to get this amazing wildlife experience. Definitely, witnessing hundreds of wild elephants in the same place will be a truly magical experience. Welcome guys, Don’t miss the opportunity to see this great elephant gathering in Sri Lanka.
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Dreamstime, and Twitter. All copyrights are reserved by original authors.
