From majestic elephants to vibrant birdlife, the Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka offers an unforgettable safari adventure for the whole family. Here are some of the park’s highlights.
Planning Your Trip
Before focusing on what to see, do keep in mind when planning your trip that the park is in the island’s North Central Province and it’s best to find accommodation close by. While you will need a 4WD vehicle, hotels within easy reach of Minneriya such as Water Garden Sigiriya offer convenient jeep safaris too.
The Gentle Giants
The elephants are one of the main draws especially during what is known as ‘The Gathering’; those visiting the park from their Sigiriya hotel from July to October can witness the gathering of hundreds of elephants at the Minneriya Tank as they feed, bathe, socialise and even look for ‘love’!
Other Wildlife
There’s much to witness at the Minneriya National Park on a safari; in the branches, you may see purple-faced langurs and toque macaques, while amidst the bushes you may glimpse cautious spotted deer and sambars. The Sri Lankan sloth bear also calls this sanctuary home as does the Sri Lankan leopard which you may spot if you’re lucky.
Diverse Birdlife
Birdwatching enthusiasts have much to look forward to especially in terms of spotting water birds such as spot-billed pelicans, painted storks and ruddy turnstones. Also recorded at Minneriya are a number of endemic birds including the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Sri Lanka hanging parrot and the Sri Lankan junglefowl.
Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+
