Sri Lanka’s Elephant Havens: Where to See Majestic Giants in the Wild



Travelers visit Sri Lanka for different reasons, and one of the reasons is to see the wild. You can book a Sri Lanka Wildlife Tour Package, embark on a wildlife safari, and will get to see elephants in their natural habitat.

Although there are sanctuaries where you can visit to see the elephants in Sri Lanka, the exciting way is to see them in the wild. You will get an authentic experience of seeing these giants in the wild.

In this article, we have details about elephants in Sri Lanka and the best places to visit. We have listed the top parks to visit in Sri Lanka to see elephants as they roam around their natural habitat.

About Elephants in Sri Lanka

The estimated number of elephants in Sri Lanka stands at 7500, and they mainly inhabit the sparsely populated northern areas of the country. Sri Lankan elephants belong to the Asian elephant subspecies identified as Elephas maximus maximus.

Asian elephant subspecies in Sri Lanka grow to reach maximum weights of 5.5 tonnes while extending to heights above 3m. Sri Lankan elephants maintain almost identical sizes to the maximum dimensions of their African counterparts.

Only a small fraction of Sri Lankan elephants have tusks, which are present in both sexes; scientists call these individuals tuskers. The population of elephants in Sri Lanka remains safe from poaching due to the rarity of tusks among elephants in that region.

The Sri Lankan elephant lives in large herds that reach hundreds in number and survives for more than 70 years and faces endangered status. 

Where to See Elephants in Sri Lanka

There are different places where you can visit to see elephants in Sri Lanka. However, not all places offer a chance to see these giants in the wild.

The following are top national parks to visit in Sri Lanka to see the elephants in the wild. The safari will be memorable.

Yala National Park

Situated along the southern Sri Lankan coastline, Yala National Park is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka to see elephants. This park is huge and protected from poachers.

Being the largest nature reserve in Sri Lanka and receiving the most visitors, it has been divided into sections. Travelers visit Yala for remarkable chances to see Sri Lanka's elephants and also Sri Lankan leopards.

 There are over 300 elephants residing permanently in Yala National Park, and they are allowed to move around the park without much restriction.

Best time to visit:

Yala Park is open for tourists throughout the year except during the rainy months from September to October. The park is closed during these months.

Hence, the best time to visit Yala National Park is during the dry season from May through September. You can spot the elephants during these months around the water sources.



Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla National Park is located in the northern part of Sri Lanka near the eastern coastline beyond Kandy. The park is strategically located, making it easily accessible.

The Kaudulla Park attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year because it provides exceptional opportunities to see elephants and also different bird species.

This park is huge enough for four hundred elephants to live there. Visitors embark on a tour around the park and will get to see elephants up-close in the wild.

Best time to visit

The best time to plan a visit to Kaudulla National Park is during the dry season from August through December.

It is the time when the elephants get out of the forest in search of water at water sources. This makes it easy to spot them around the park. During the rainy season, elephants get deep into the forest, making it difficult to spot them.

Minneriya National Park

The Minneriya National Park is one of Sri Lanka's oldest conservation areas. It was established as a sanctuary in the 1930s. It was later elevated to a national park.

This park is home to hundreds of elephants and other wild animals. It stands as one of Sri Lanka's top locations to see the elephant population because hundreds of them migrate from neighboring districts during the annual period. The extensive level terrain in the park provides ideal conditions for wildlife observation.

Best time to visit

The local community in Minneriya National Park refers to this enormous elephant congregation as 'The Gathering.' The best time to visit Minneriya National Park and easily spot elephants is during the dry season. Elephants gather at the lakes surrounding the park in search of water.

If you get to visit from July to November, you get a chance to see a giant gathering of elephants at the park. This establishes Minneriya National Park as the top spot for elephant sightings in Sri Lanka.

These elephants emerge during nighttime to drink water, but during daylight hours they feed within dense forest edges, where spotting them is easy.

Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is located in the southern part of Sri Lanka next to the well-known Yala National Park. This park attracts many tourists from Colombo because it stands as the nearest significant elephant sanctuary to the Sri Lankan capital.

Udawalawe National Park is smaller compared to Yala National Park, but it is home to 250 permanent elephants and various mammal and bird species.

Best time to visit

Udawalawe Reserve offers excellent conditions for watching elephants throughout the year. You can easily spot elephants at the park during the dry season when they migrate toward riverbeds. Therefore, you should plan to visit this park from December through June.

FAQS

Where do you see elephants in Sri Lanka?

The best places to visit in Sri Lanka see elephants include Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, and Minneriya National Park.

Where is the most ethical place to see elephants in Sri Lanka?

Top ranked ethical place to see elephants in Sri Lanka are Elephant Transit Home and the Millennium Elephant Foundation. 

What is the most famous elephant in Sri Lanka?

Nadungamuwa Raja is popular elephant in Sri Lanka.

Can you bathe elephants in Sri Lanka?

Yes, visitors are allowed to bathe elephants in Sri Lanka. 

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