Consisting of several wildlife parks, sanctuaries, and forest reserves, Sri Lanka is truly a remarkable island, most of them located just a few hours’ drive from the main city and the international airport. The country has a large geographical outline that has made this island nation full of pristine beaches, thriving natural parks, and impressive hills.

The country’s natural beauty and wildlife are as diverse as its rich history and culture. The country consists of natural parks and forest reserves that many nature and wildlife enthusiasts would love to explore. From diverse biospheres like Sinharaja to natural adventure parks like Yala and Udawalawa, the island has a lot to offer.

The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a treasure trove of biodiversity with many species of mammals and butterflies along with many types of insects, reptiles and amphibians that make it their home. The forest reserve is also a destination of many types of flora where many endemic trees can be found. The fauna of the reserve cannot be easily seen like their counterparts in the dry zone, this is mainly due to the thick vegetation, however the forest is considered to be home to many mammals, including some elephants and several leopards.

Yala is a national park located in the southern part of Sri Lanka that is home to many animals including the endangered Asian elephant, Sri Lankan leopard, wild boar, sloth bear and different types of deer. The park offers excellent opportunities for visitors to get out into the wild on an exciting jeep safari that offers excellent adventure.

There are many such getaways one could get into, Udawalawe National Park located in the southern part of Sri Lanka is another adventurous destination to explore wildlife. The Kumana Bird Sanctuary is a great place for bird enthusiasts to see many types of birds.