Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Safari: What You Should Know

Sri Lanka is an island that has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources and beauty. The country consists of some of the best places to visit in Asia. Among these many attractions are the national parks of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has designated approximately 26.5% of the country’s total land area as protected land for the 26 national parks and 55 animal sanctuaries in the country. This proportion of land allocated to wildlife conservation is one of the highest in all of Asia, despite the relatively small size of the country. The wildlife parks and sanctuaries in Sri Lanka are run and administered by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, a government agency that operates under the purview of the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Resources.

The national parks have been constructed with the objective of conserving the biodiversity and ecosystems of Sri Lanka. They have also been fundamental in protecting endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna, promoting ecotourism and environmental education, and supporting the livelihood of the local communities.

National Parks in Sri Lanka

Tourists from all over the world travel to Sri Lanka at all times of the year. Sri Lanka is known to be an all year round vacation paradise. There are some tourists who travel to Sri Lanka with the sole intention of visiting the national parks and enjoying the Sri Lankan wildlife. Sri Lanka has a large and diverse collection of wildlife, which is officially protected under the wildlife conservation laws in the country. These laws have even prevented some endangered and endemic species from facing extinction. For example, there are only 30 remaining Hainan gibbons, the world’s rarest primate and possibly the rarest mammal, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Several measures have been taken to establish a protected area and implement community-based conservation programmes to protect these rare creatures. They were also the strength behind the recovery of the population of greater one-horned rhinos from less than 100 in the 1960s to over 600 in 2021.

Things to Remember While Going on Safari

The authorities have allowed visitors and locals to go on safari through these national parks, as long as they stick to the designated paths and follow the strict guidelines to maintain the park’s natural surroundings. The income gained from visitors helps to maintain the park and the care and rehabilitation of the animals. The most visited park in Sri Lanka is Yala National Park, home of the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, which has had over 500,000 visitors in the past year. In close proximity to Yala is the Udawalawe National Park, which has an abundance of birds and large herds of elephants. The parks are filled with a large variety of animals and birds, and these parks have the largest number of visitors each year.

The Best Time to go on Safari in Sri Lanka

If you want to visit the national parks in the south and west, such as Yala, Udawalawe, Wilpattu, and Sinharaja, the best time to go is from December to April, when the weather is dry and sunny and the wildlife is abundant. This is also the peak tourist season, so expect higher prices and more crowds. The national parks in the north and east, such as Minneriya, Kaudulla, Gal Oya, and Kumana, are best during May to September, when the weather is dry and cool and the wildlife is active. This is a low tourist season, so with special Sri Lanka safari packages, you can enjoy lower prices and fewer crowds

There are national parks in the central highlands, such as Horton Plains and Knuckles, which are best from January to March. This is also a good time to go on a hike and enjoy the views.

Sri Lanka Safari Holidays

Don’t miss out on this amazing, once in a lifetime experience. Travel to Sri Lanka and go on a safari adventure, and have an encounter with untamed nature. If you need assistance in finding the best packages, visit our website and our Apple Vacations travel experts will be waiting to guide and assist you to enjoy the best possible holiday in Sri Lanka.