National Parks in Sri Lanka

Yala National Park is located on the Southern and Uva provinces, and the largest national park in Sri Lanka. Covering 878 sq. km.,the park has the highest population of leopards on earth. Its excellent terrain has with freshwater lakes and dense vegetation also provides home for several spcies of mammals, birds and reptiles.. There are full-day and half-day jeep safaris, camping grounds, and bunglows for accomodation.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Crocodiles

Best Time: February - July

Known For : World’s End (Horton Plains) Gommolli Kanda Ohiya

Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is popular for the famed ‘World’s End Cliff’, a long, steep plunge of 880m where the plateau comes to a dramatic stop. Other highlights of the park are the endemic species, bird area with endangered birds, Mini World's End,  and Baker's fall. There are camping sites, a canteen and trekking, but jeep safaris are not available.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Leopards, sambar deer

Best Time: January to March

6 Horton Plains Attractions

Udawalawe National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka that was established in 1972. It is especially known for being home to water birds and Sri Lankan elephants. You'll find a herd of more than 50 Sri Lankan elephants here and there are close to 600 of them in the park. There are morning and evening Jeep Safari available with a trained guide. Accomodation is available nearby.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Elephants, Monkeys, Land Monitors

Best Time: December to March

Teeming with elephants, leopards and more, Wasgamuwa National Park is undoubtedly a must-visit for a chance to explore Sri Lanka’s fascinating wildlife. Around 225 km from Colombo, the park is famous for its large number of Sri Lankan elephants, almost a whopping 150 in a herd! The best time to visit this National Park in Sri Lanka is from November to May. Ruins of ancient villages and palaces and the reclining Buddha are other attractions.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Elephants, iguana, peacock

Best Time: November to May

Wilpattu National Park is situated on the western coast of Sri Lanka, approximately an hour away from the ancient city of Anuradhapura. This national park in Sri Lanka is known for its large population of leopards, among the highest inthe country. Ancient ruins such as stone pillars have been discovered in the national park. Morning and Evening Jeep Safaris are available, and you can also take your 4x4 vehicle.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Leopards, Elephants

Best Time: February to October

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of the very few virgin rainforests in the world and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site national parks in Sri Lanka. The forest is 13 km in the stretch and the unique relation of flora and fauna makes it one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. There are several waterfalls which are accessible via a 3-hour hike.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: exotic birds, insects, amphibians

Best Time: January to March; August to September

Apart from being a 18,149 hectare national park in Sri Lanka, Kumana national park also encompasses of a 200-hectare natural lake swamp, visited by various species of migratory birds. The national park does not only secure the species of birds but also breeds and roosts them. Some of the regular birds that can easily be spotted are the Pelicans, Painted Storks, Spoonbills, White Ibis, Herons, Egrets and the little Cormorants.

Best Time: February to July

Bundala National Park is situated off the Sri Lankan coast, around 12 km away from the port town of Hambantota. Designated as a national park in Sri Lanka in 1993, Bundala is immensely popular for hosting over 197 migratory aquatic birds. Additionally, the park is also a UNESCO world heritage site and biosphere reserve. There are jeep safaris to explore the park but accomodation facilities are limited. 
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: flamingo, bear, leopard

Best Time: October to March

The Minneriya National Park is in the Northern province of Sri Lanka, is famous for its herds of elephants migrating for food, water and shelter, and forming a 'gathering' that can be witnessed by the visitors. The dry season is the best time to visit this National Park in Sri Lank, as the elephants migrate to the Minneriya Tank. There are guided jeep safaris and accomodation near the park. 
Timings: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Elephants,peacocks, spotted deer, monkeys

Best Time: December - March

It has been in existence for many years now, but it was given the recognition of a national park only in April 2002. The park spreads over 6656 hectares, and it is connected to the Somawathie Chaitiya Park and the Minneriya Wildlife Park. A reserve turned national park in Sri Lanka, Kaudulla sees herds of elephants families usually around 350 of them. Jeep safaris are available and there is a wildlife bunglow inside.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: Elephants, deer, peacock

Best Time: July to December

Gal Oya National Park is near the town of Ampara, at the Senanayake Samudra reservoir. Founded in 1954, the less visited but one of the unique national parks in Sri Lanka shelters numerous fauna, including an impressive diversity of birdlife. The highlight of a visit to Gal Oya National Park is unquestionably the boat safari across the reservoir; soak in the scenery amidst the waters and spot plenty of wildlife.
Timings: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Top Wildlife: langur, toque macaque, leopard, sloth bear

Best Time: March-July

Pigeon Island National Park is near the Nilaveli Beach in Sri Lanka. This national park is amongst the 17 national parks in Sri Lanka, but amongst the only two marine national parks in the entire region. This area is protected due to the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami, which caused a lot of damage to the marine and coral life. This national park is also known to have the best coral reefs in the entire country! The rocky island is also home to rock pigeons, based on which the national park gets its name.

Located adjacent to Yala National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park is home to a diverse array of species, ranging from Sri Lankan elephants to the endemic Atukorale’s dwarf toad. Designated as a protected area in 1995, Lunugamvehera National Park is a wildlife corridor for elephants migrating between Yala and Udawalawe National Parks.

Best Time: May to September

Maduru Oya National Park is home to the two main aspects of Sri Lanka’s tourism—plenty of diverse wildlife and fascinating Buddhist ruins. The park was established in 1983 and also shelters some members of the indigenous Vedda tribe. With a population numbering more than a hundred, Asian elephants are the best feature of this national park in Sri Lanka.

Hikkaduwa national park, located near Hikkaduwa town in Southern Province, Sri Lanka, is a marine national park, with a delightful variety of marine creatures. This zone is a low fringing coral reef, with a depth of 16 feet and length of 4 km. The site was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979 and later upgraded to a nature reserve in the year 1988. In September 2012, it was listed as a national park.

One of the more newest National Parks in Sri Lanka, Horagolla National Park is so-called because of an abundance of Hora trees that are indigenous to the area. This urban park is situated around 40 kilometres away from Colombo and is very rich in biodiversity, which includes some exotic flora and fauna.

Entry Fees: LKR 40 + LKR 300(Group Fee) for Sri Lankans and USD 10 + USD 8(Group Fee) for foreign nationals + 15% VAT.  Timings: 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Ussangoda is among the few National Parks in Sri Lanka that have biological, archaeological and geographical significance altogether. Steeped in religious myths and known for its red soil(high concentration of Ferric Oxide), Ussangoda National Park in the south of Sri Lanka stretches across land and water even providing an excellent breeding ground for Sea Turtles.   One of the more newest National Parks in the country, Horagolla National Park is so-called because of an abundance of Hora trees that are indigenous to the area. This urban park is situated around 40 kilometres away from Colombo and is very rich in biodiversity, which includes some exotic flora and fauna.

Madhu Road National Park, which is known for being home to an extraordinary number of exotic birds and mammals, including some that are endemic to the area, is just 25 kilometres away from the city of Mannar. Formerly a sanctuary until 2015, it was given the status of a national park in Sri Lanka when other state-owned forests were absorbed to create a vast protected area.
Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Chundikkulam National Park is situated in the North of Sri Lanka 12 kilometres away from the city of Kilinochchi and is home for some exotic waterbirds and shorebirds. Chundikkulam is surrounded by mangrove swamps, sea-grass beds, palm plantations and beautiful scrub forests that take the area to a whole another level.
Entry Fee: LKR 40 + LKR 300(Group Fee) for Sri Lankans and USD 10 + USD 8(Group Fee) for foreign nationals + 15% VAT.Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

About half an hour away from the historical city of Polonnaruwa, bordered by the Angammedilla Canal in the south, lies Angammedilla National Park. A relatively more recent addition to national parks in Sri Lanka’s, Angammedilla National Park is a habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The park was initially designated to protect the catchment areas of the Parakrama Samudra, a shallow reservoir in Polonnaruwa, and the Minneriya and Girithale irrigation tanks.

Created on 7 August, 1984, Flood Plains National Park is one of the four national parks located along the belt of Mahaweli River. It is famous for being an elephant corridor alongwith other parks located in the Mahweli river region. Flood Plains National Park has a signficant share of flaura and fauna spanning from floating plants and rare herbs to wild boars and leopards.

Known for being home to the endangered Sri Lankan Elephants and some endemic birds, Lahugala Kitulana National Park is located near to the city of Pottuvil and is considered to be one of the smallest National Parks in Sri Lanka.  There are three reservoirs named Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa inside the park that eventually flow into the Heda Oya River.
Entry Fee: LKR 40 + LKR 300(Group Fee) for Sri Lankans and USD 10 + USD 8(Group Fee) for foreign nationals + 15% VAT.Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Located on the island of Nedunitivu in northern Sri Lanka, Delft National Park is believed to be the only place in with Wild Ponies which is thought to have been brought by the Portuguese. Boat services from Sri Lanka to the island are available provided by the Sri Lankan Navy and private service providers. 
Entry Fee: LKR 40 + LKR 300(Group Fee) for Sri Lankans and USD 10 + USD 8(Group Fee) for foreign nationals + 15% VAT.Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM