National Parks & Safaris - Sri Lanka - page 85

southern tip of the country, is being hyped as the best place in the world to see blue
whales.
BEST PLACES FOR ELEPHANTS
Uda Walawe National Park With around 500 elephants present year-round, this park of-
fers the most reliable elephant-spotting in the country.
Minneriya National Park Each August hundreds of elephants home in on this park in an
elephant spectacle known as 'the Gathering'.
Kaudulla National Park Over 250 elephants call this park home.
Bundala National Park Consistent elephant sightings in a beautiful watery setting.
Yala National Park Lots of elephants but surprisingly hard to see.
Birds
A tropical climate, long isolation from the Asian mainland and a diversity of habitats have
helped endow Sri Lanka with an astonishing abundance of birdlife. There are more than
400 species, 26 of which are unique to Sri Lanka; others are found only in Sri Lanka and
adjacent South India. Of the estimated 198 migrant species, most of which are in residence
from August to April, the waders (sandpipers, plovers etc) are the long-distance champi-
ons, making the journey from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra.
Birders may wish to contact the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka
( www.fogsl.net ) , the national affiliate of Birdlife International.
Tips for Birdwatchers
Visit a variety of habitats - rainforest, urban parks and bodies of water in the dry zone - to
see the full diversity of birdlife in Sri Lanka.
February to March is the best time for birdwatching. You will miss the monsoons, and the
migrant birds will still be visiting.
Waterbirds are active for most of the day.
Although morning is always the best time to go birdwatching, in the evening you will see
noisy flocks of birds preparing to roost.