Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Consider taking a tour with a specialist if you're keen to see the endemic species and
achieve a healthy birdwatching tally, particularly if time is short.
BEST PLACES FOR BIRDS
Sinharaja Forest Reserve
A slab of rainforest with around 160 bird species.
Knuckles Range
Little-known montane forests filled with hill-country and forest birds.
Bundala National Park
This wetland park is the classic Sri Lankan birdwatching destina-
tion.
Yala
&
Kumana National Parks
Superb low-country birdwatching with around 150 species
present.
Muthurajawela Marsh
Excellent wetland birding close to Colombo.
Pottuvil Lagoon
Numerous waders and waterbirds in this little-visited east-coast wetland.
Planning Your Safari
Where to Go
Where to go depends entirely on what you want to see and what kind of safari you want to
take. For example Yala National Park in the far southeast is the most popular overall park
and is fantastic for leopards, but it's also very busy and can become something of a circus
with minibuses chasing each other around in search of cats. If you want your leopard-spot-
ting quieter (and less certain), try Wilpattu National Park.
