Managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, two dozen national parks in Sri Lanka are scattered across the island and are very popular with tourists visiting it.
In nature reserves, you can take part in safaris, watch wild animals, enjoy the virgin jungle and have a romantic picnic on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
The lists include
The oldest national park in Sri Lanka appeared on the map in 1938. This was the Yala Park, and today it is considered one of the most visited and interesting in the country. In addition to him, of undoubted interest are:
- Wilpattu Park is the largest in terms of territory. The facility was created to protect savannah forests.
- Bundala Park in the southeast of the island is an ecosystem that is home to hundreds of bird species, including especially rare and endangered species. UNESCO has included the park in the lists of biosphere reserves in Sri Lanka.
- Udawalawa is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year, because in this national park of Sri Lanka you can observe Ceylon elephants in their natural habitat.
Almost a century guarding nature
A nature reserve on the ocean coast in the southeast of the island and the capital of the country, Colombo, are separated by 250 km of path, but the nearest town of Tissamaharama is only 25 km from the park. It is there that hotels and tourist infrastructure are located. Yala is a favorite walking place for wildlife lovers. Monkeys and deer, crocodiles and wild boars, bears and leopards can be found here.
The main way to get to know the inhabitants of the park better is the safari organized by every hotel in Tissamaharam. The price of a full day safari starts from 8000 Sri Lankan rupees. This price includes jeep rental, guide services and entrance tickets to the park. The service can be ordered either early in the morning or in the afternoon, and the park itself is open from 06.00 to 18.00.
Additional information is easy to find on the website - www.yalasrilanka.lk. Phone +94 770 466 794.
To satin and black trees
Unusual vegetation is a feature of the national park in Sri Lanka, located on the border of wet and dry zones. That is why the flora and fauna of Udawalawe are especially diverse, and since its opening in 1972, the park has already been visited by millions of tourists.
The easiest way to get to the village of Udavalave is from Mirissa or Matara. By bus 11 of the route, you should get to the village of Embilipitia, where change to minibus 493-5 to your final destination.
Safari is especially popular among the guests of the park, during which it is possible to observe animals and take pictures of many inhabitants of Udawalawe. The price of the pleasure for two adults, including entrance tickets and rental of a jeep with a driver, is about 9,000 Sri Lankan rupees (in 2015 prices). The cost of a simple entrance ticket to the park for children (from 6 to 12 years old) and adults is about 1000 and 2000 rupees, respectively.
