Sri Lanka's Wild Gems: Safari Parks, Gardens & Nature Hikes 🐘🐆🦋🌿🌺

Calling all nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers! Unveil the wonders of nature parks and wildlife sanctuaries with this captivating travel guide.

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Safari Parks 🐆

Kumana national park Safari

@himanshisenarath

Kumana is an exotic bird sanctuary located about 45 km from Arugam Bay. This is a habitat for a wide variety of bird species. This also homes many immigrant birds at certain times of the year. In addition to birds, Kumana is also inhabited by leopards, elephants, deers, wild boar and many other animal species. A safari ride at Kumana National Park is an interesting activity for anyone who loves wildlife or simply an adventure. This activity is only ideal for groups of 4 or more.

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Yala National Park Sri Lanka

@himanshisenarath

Yala is one of the well known wildlife santuaries in the island. It is a home to leopards, elephants, deer, wild boar and many more wild animals. A safari ride at Yala National Park is an exciting activity for anyone who loves wildlife or simply an adventure. This activity is only ideal for groups of 4 or more.

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Udawalawe National Park

@himanshisenarath

Udawalawe is a well known wild life sanctuary in Sri Lanka. It is famous for being a habitat for wild elephants. Deer, wild boar and peacocks can also be observed in this sanctuary. Safari rides can be arranged in this park. This is ideal for groups of four or more.

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Minneriya National Park

@himanshisenarath

Minneriya National park is centered around the mesmerizing Minneriya reservoir. This tank was built by King Mahasen during the Anuradhapura Civilization in Sri Lankan History. The serene crystal blue waters draw in herds of elephants. This is the ideal spot for sightseeing elephants. The safari ride is ideal for groups of four or more.

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Ridiyagama Safari Park

@himanshisenarath

Ridiyama Park is a zoo where animals roam freely. This park features many foreign species of animals such as camels, white lions, ostriches and so on. The animals can be observed by a Safari ride. This is ideal for groups of four or more.

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Wilpattu National Park

@himanshisenarath

Majority of Wilpattu National Park is covered in dense jungle, making it one of the top national parks in the world for its leopard population. A safari ride in this park is great for anyone who loves wildlife or adventure. This activity is idea for groups of four or more.

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Bundala National park

@himanshisenarath

If you love birds, Bundala is a must-see bird paradise and a great way to escape the tourist crowds. In addition to birds, Bundala occasionally harbours leopards, elephants, reptiles, amphibians, and other animals. Bundala is close to Yala but is a less-famed safari destination. The park has five lagoons that serve as a wintering area for migrating waterbirds in addition to housing many different bird species.

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Kaudulla National Park

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If you are a bird-watcher Kaudulla is one of a good place to visit. Apart from the birds, you can spot elephants, Sambar deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Axis deer, sloth bear, and occasional Leopard. The centrepiece of the park is Kaudulla tank build by King Mahasen, surrounded by lowlands, hills, scrubland and forest. Even you can do a boat ride in Kaudulla tank while bird watching. Best to visit from June to September.

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Gal Oya Valley National Park

@himanshisenarath

The boat trip at Gal Oya Park would be a wonderful addition to your wildlife tour if you enjoy the outdoors and tranquilly. Popular for its breathtaking views of nature and man-made, enormous reservoirs that generate heavenly beauty. Southeast of the island is where Gal Oya National Park is located, and it is well-known for its boat safaris. Gal Oya has a wide range of bird species and terrestrial animals.

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Botanical Gardens 🌺

Hakgala Botanical Garden

@himanshisenarath

Hakgala is a botanical garden with a cold climate and beautiful terrain. There are a wide variety of plant species grown here. The flowers are beautifully maintained and are a breathtaking sight to see. Especially the roses.

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Peradeniya Botanical Garden

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A beautiful garden filled with a wide variety of flowering and non-flowering plants. For anyone keen on flora, this can be a great learning experience. For those love strolling in a park, this place is ideal. This is slightly away from the heart of the city, but you can surely drop in on the way or back to Kandy.

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Victoria Park - Nuwara Eliya

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Located in the heart of Nuware-eliya, Victoria park is the perfect place for an evening stroll. The climate is cold and the terrain is wonderful. This park features many species of plants. The flowers are exceptionally beautiful especially the roses.

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Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens

@himanshisenarath

Seethawaka Botanical gardens behold a beautiful landscape. It has a wide range of plants and the flowers are a sight to see. This place is ideal for a day outing. This located about 45km from Colombo and is the closest park to Colombo.

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Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, Hambantota

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This botanical gardens located in Hambantota features many exotic plants that grow in the in harsh dry conditions. Cacti, ferns and palmyrah treec are some major highlights. There are many endemic plant species including plants of significant herbal value. This place is ideal for nature lovers and those interested in botany. The climate is extremely hot and can be exhausting. Make sure to stay hydrated.

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Nature Hikes 🌿

Horton Plains National Park

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Horton plains is one of the well known hiking destinations. The plains are a very unique geographic terrain and is the home to wild sambur deer. The hike inside the park is about 9km long. There are three main landmarks that are covered on this hike namely mini world's end, world's end and Baker's falls. Both world's ends are cliffs with breaktaking views. Baker's falls is a mesmerizing waterfall. This is great for anyone who loves an adventure.

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Sinharaja Forest Reserve

@himanshisenarath

Sinharaja is a tropical rainforest in Sri Lanka. This has a great biodiversity. This is the home to many endemic plants and animals. A hike inside Sinharaja rainforest is an adventure you definitely must try. The climate is cool and the rainforest is serene. This is a experience heals the mind and soul. You might want to watch out for leeches, especially when the pathways are damp.

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Yagirala Rain Forest

@himanshisenarath

Yagirala rain forest reserve is a hidden gem and a less known hiking spot. This is great for anyone who loves an adventure. The forest is a home to many endemic plant species. The hike leads you to a Buddhist monastry on the mountain top. This place is ideal to take a break and relieve yourselves. The view is breathtaking.

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Don't miss this wild and wonderful adventure! Save this guide for later and get ready to be awed by nature's treasures in the parks and sanctuaries. From stunning animals to rare plants, it's a dream come true for all nature lovers. Happy exploring!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Himanshi Senarath

Hi, I'm Himanshi! I am from Sri Lanka 🌴. For those who don't know, it is a beautiful little island surrounded by the Indian Ocean. I am someone who loves travelling and exploring new places. I have visited a wide range of destinations throughout Sri Lanka. I'm a beach girl 🌊. So you will be able to find a lot of my guides based on beach destinations. I would like to share my experiences and insights with you, so you too could have a wonderful travel experience in our beautiful little island.

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