How to plan your Wild Life Safari in Sri Lanka ?

Being an awesome place to see the incredible wildlife, Sri Lanka is considered the best safari destination outside Africa. It is an animal lovers’ paradise to witness different kinds of wild creatures.

Wild safari in Sri Lanka gives an exciting opportunity that any nature lover would dream to enjoy in the jungle. There is an opportunity to observe rare sceneries of wilderness and get a wide range of unique wildlife experiences.

Sri Lanka is considered the best safari destination outside Africa.

If you are a wildlife enthusiast, look no further than Sri Lanka to enjoy an awesome safari trip. Particularly, Sri Lanka is an ideal place to see herds of majestic elephants and gorgeous leopards. Heading out for a wild safari to see these wild giants is one of the best things to do on the island.

Safari tours allow you to get up close and capture the best shots of amazing wildlife in jungles. The wildlife safari experience in Sri Lanka will definitely be an eternal golden memory in your heart forever.

Thrilling sceneries of wild safari in Sri Lanka

If you haven’t already added a wild safari trip to your Sri Lanka bucket list, now is the time to do so. However, there are a few things you should know before you set off. Here are some important things to consider before planning your first safari trip to Sri Lanka.

1. There are so many wild safari options

First, you need to select the best adventurous tour in one of the national parks in Sri Lanka. There are 26 national parks in the country, while the most visited parks are Yala, Wilpattu, and Udawalawe respectively. Minneriya, Kaudulla, Wasgamuwa, and Galoya national parks are also popular destinations. Deciding the best park among them is the most important thing to consider while planning your trip.

Most visited national parks in Sri Lanka,

1. Yala

2. Wilpattu

3. Udawalawe.

Each of these national parks has its own unique fauna and is famous among visitors due to different reasons. Yala is famous for leopards, where it has the highest density of leopard population in the world. Wilpattu is the largest national park in the country, where you can capture many stunning shots of amazing wildlife. Udawalawe, Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Wasgamuwa are famous to see their large herds of elephants.

2. Don’t miss the great elephant gathering

Your safari trip won’t be completed without visiting the elephant gathering in Sri Lanka. This annual elephant migration is considered one of the great wildlife spectacles in the world. Minneriya National Park is the most popular place to see elephant gatherings.

Elephant gathering happens during the peak of drought season, around July-September. This migration occurs between Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Hurulu Eco Parks. You can find out the best place to see the elephant herds from safari tour operators.

3. Seek out graceful leopards

Major stars of the Sri Lankan wildlife scene are gorgeous leopards. These fastest big cats are the top predators in Sri Lanka jungles, where they roam freely as they wish. Sighting of leopards is the prime target of most Sri Lankan safari-goers.

The stars of Sri Lankan wildlife are gorgeous leopards.

Yala National Park is a world-famous safari destination to witness these graceful leopards. The dry zone forests of Yala are home to a huge diversity of wildlife, while leopards are the dominating ones. Those who are dedicated to seeking leopards will definitely meet them on Yala wild safari trip.

Sighting leopards is the prime target of many safari-goers.

Wilpattu is also famous for leopards, but its animals are a little more reserved, and can easily hide in the dense vegetation. Since it may take a longer time to get the reward of seeing them, it suits the best for patient safari-goers.

Our Pool of naturalists at Mahoora Camps will most definitely be able to help you out in this matter.

4. Look for elusive sloth bears

Sloth Bears are one of the Big Five in the Sri Lankan wilderness. They are considered a threatened species and listed vulnerable on the IUCN red list. Sloth bears are endemic to Sri Lanka and found only in the country’s northern and eastern lowland jungles. Although they live in many Sri Lankan dry zone national parks, they are quite rare to witness in the daytime.

Sloth bears are one of the “Big Five” living in Sri Lanka.

Wilpattu National Park is most famous for sloth bears, but they are quite elusive and difficult to see among dense vegetation. Nevertheless, if it is your lucky day, you will see these black guys in the park.

Sloth bears are quite elusive and rare to see in the jungle.

5. Capture the jaw-dropping sceneries

One of the biggest pulls of Sri Lankan safari is obviously the wildlife. However, it’s not just only the wildlife you’ll see, while touring national parks. Sri Lanka is indeed a beautiful country and the sceneries inside national parks are quite impressive too.

Remember to concentrate not only on the animals but also on the breathtaking scenery around you. You may capture the most beautiful, photogenic shots of Sri Lanka while enjoying your safari trip.

Sunset is the best time to catch some magnificent shots inside the parks. The fiery colours of the sky combined with darkness in the jungle make this wonderful view of Sri Lanka.

6. Enjoy bird watching

Sri Lanka’s national parks are abundant in lovely birdlife. The island is home to more than 400 species of birds and is extremely popular with bird watching enthusiasts. Among these birds, 34 species are endemic to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka acts as a winter destination and breeding ground for lots of migratory birds. Therefore, you’ll see lots of different varieties of birds around the tanks and reservoirs of national parks. Look carefully at the treetops and you may witness some beautiful birds during your safari trips.

7. Ready for the hot climate

Most of the Sri Lankan safari tours are available in dry zone jungles, where the temperature stays consistent throughout the year, around 30 °C or more. This hot tropical climate can give travellers a bit of a challenge. Thus, afternoon safari-goers must be ready for hot and dusty weather inside the parks.

Ready for the hot, sunny weather inside the parks.

It is important to carry a water bottle to stay cool and hydrated. Wearing a comfortable cotton dress will be more convenient to face the hot daytime during your journey. Make sure to apply plenty of sunscreens to escape from the oppressive sun. Remember to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself. These precautions and selecting the best safari attire will help you to enjoy your safari trip more comfortably.

8. Bring powerful cameras

Most wild animals are likely to keep their differences from the visitors. It means that it’s hard to get great shots of the wildlife using an iPhone. Be ready with a powerful zoom lens, because it is great at capturing moving objects a few hundred meters away. The best thing is to put your camera in sports mode and keep it ready all the time. It will make the snapping of moving animals easier.

Wildlife photography

You’ll need a powerful zoom lens to snap the best photographs.

9. Decide the best time

The rainy season in dry zone national parks is from September to December. Thus, the best time for a safari is between January to July, the dry period. It is easier to spot animals in this dry season because decreasing water sources bring them into the open frequently.

The first half of the year is the dry period and the best time for a wild safari.

As well as, some national parks close for a few months during the peak of the drought season. Yala National Park closes each September and reopens in October. It is important to confirm available tours from safari operators, during your intended travel period.

Animals come to open areas frequently in the dry season.

There are three types of safaris in Sri Lanka; Early morning, late afternoon, or full-day. Early morning safaris are great for bird viewings, while late afternoon ones are best for leopard and elephant sightings. Afternoon safaris are fantastic, but the heat of the sun is too much. Morning safaris are cool, but maybe sightings of animals are less.

10. Get help from your guide

Most of the tour guides on safari trips are locals with a whole wealth of knowledge, so they have invaluable experiences in the jungle. You can learn a lot about Sri Lankan wildlife from your guide. You can be friendly with the tour guide and he will share his experiences with you. This is the best way to get the most out of your wild safari trip in Sri Lanka.

11. Enjoy camping in the wilderness

Camping inside national parks in Sri Lanka gives a marvellous adventurous opportunity to enjoy Sri Lankan wildlife. It is a wonderful activity you can enjoy on the island. Camping includes both classical clamping and more luxurious glamping with great facilities. Camping in the wilderness is a blend of both adventure and leisure activity which gives you a remarkably adventurous experience in Sri Lanka.