Maduru Oya National Park is located in Eastern Province and Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Established in 1983, it serves as a sanctuary for wildlife, particularly elephants, and protects the catchment areas of five reservoirs. The park is also home to a community of Vedda people, Sri Lanka’s indigenous ethnic group.

Key Features

• Location: Eastern & Uva Provinces, Sri Lanka
• Size: 58,850 hectares
• Climate: Dry-zone with an annual rainfall of 1,650mm
• Best Time to Visit: October to February (north-east monsoon season)
• Wildlife:
  • Mammals: Sri Lankan elephants, leopards, sloth bears, water buffalo, sambar deer
  • Birds: Painted storks, junglefowl, grey hornbills, white-bellied sea eagles
  • Reptiles & Amphibians: Mugger crocodiles, monitor lizards, various snake species
• Flora: Dry-zone forests with endemic species like Vatica obscura
• Historical Significance: Ancient Buddhist ruins, irrigation systems, and stone inscriptions

Visitor Information

• Entry Fees: Required (varies for locals and foreigners)
• Safari Options: Jeep safaris available with guided tours
• Nearest City: Polonnaruwa

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s most visited and second-largest national park, covering 979 square kilometers. It is located in Southern Province and Uva Province, bordering the Indian Ocean. The park is famous for its high density of leopards, making it one of the best places in the world to spot these elusive big cats.

Key Features

• Location: Southeastern Sri Lanka (Hambantota District)
• Size: 978.8 km²
• Climate: Dry semi-arid, with rain mainly during the northeast monsoon
• Best Time to Visit: June to September (dry season)
• Wildlife:
  • Mammals: Sri Lankan leopards, elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, wild boar
  • Birds: Over 215 species, including endemic Sri Lankan junglefowl
  • Reptiles & Amphibians: Crocodiles, monitor lizards, various snake species
• Flora: Dry-zone forests, grasslands, lagoons, and coastal vegetation
• Historical Significance: Contains ancient Buddhist sites like Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara

Visitor Information

• Entry Fees: Required (varies for locals and foreigners)
• Safari Options: Jeep safaris available with guided tours
• Nearest City: Hambantota, Tissamaharama, and Kataragama

Wasgamuwa National Park is located in Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts, Sri Lanka. It was originally designated as a nature reserve in 1938 and later upgraded to a national park in 1984 to provide a refuge for wildlife displaced by the Mahaweli Development Project.

Key Features

• Location: Matale & Polonnaruwa Districts, Sri Lanka
• Size: 39,322 hectares
• Climate: Dry-zone with an annual rainfall of 1,650–2,100mm
• Best Time to Visit: November to May (for elephant sightings)
• Wildlife:
  • Mammals: Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, leopards, water buffalo, wild boar, sambar deer
  • Birds: Endemic species like Sri Lanka junglefowl, painted storks, and white-bellied sea eagles
  • Reptiles & Amphibians: Mugger crocodiles, estuarine crocodiles, water monitors
• Flora: Dry-zone forests with riverine vegetation and grasslands
• Historical Significance: The park contains ancient irrigation tanks and ruins of Chulangani Chaitya, built by King Mahanaga

Udawalawe National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous wildlife reserves, known for its large elephant population and diverse ecosystems. Located on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, the park was established in 1972 to provide a sanctuary for animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir.

Key Features

• Location: Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
• Size: 30,821 hectares (119 square miles)
• Climate: Dry-zone with an annual rainfall of 1,500mm
• Best Time to Visit: May to September (dry season, when animals gather near water sources)
• Wildlife:
  • Mammals: Sri Lankan elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar deer, wild buffalo
  • Birds: Painted storks, pelicans, kingfishers, grey hornbills, junglefowl
  • Reptiles & Amphibians: Crocodiles, monitor lizards, various frog species
• Flora: Dry-zone forests with Hopea cordifolia, Memecylon petiolatum, Erythroxylon zeylanicum, and Jasminum angustifolium.
• Historical Significance: The Udawalawe Reservoir, built on the Walawe River, plays a crucial role in sustaining the park’s ecosystem

Minneriya National Park, located in North Central Province, Sri Lanka, is famous for its elephant gatherings, where hundreds of elephants congregate around the Minneriya Tank during the dry season. The park was originally declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938 and later upgraded to a national park on August 12, 1997.