City: Sri Lanka
Top Things to do in Sri Lanka
The 10 Best Nature & Wildlife Areas in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7°N 81°E / 7°N 81°E / 7; 81
Restaurants in Sri Lanka
1. Elephant Freedom Project
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 521 reviews
Visit us and experience a special elephant encounter which is suitable for young and old, families, couples and single travelers. This is your chance to get a memorable impression of a day in the life of a Sri Lankan captive elephant who is not being used for working nor riding. The small family run Elephant Freedom Project offers refuge, freedom from work and hardship to the elephant Kumari. At the project she is free from working in the riding industry and the wood logging. The Elephant Freedom Project aims to give Kumari a good and safe home, which is made possible thanks to your visit! Booking in advance required.
Reviewed By lucyc832 - Auckland, New Zealand
The Elephant Freedom Project was the first stop in my 10 days in Sri Lanka, and it was the best thing I could have started with! Everything, from the lovely driver who collected me from Negombo - and stopped along the way to get fresh coconuts, to the incredible hosting family and amazing experience with Kumari the elephant, exceeded expectations. Everyone involved in the project is so respectful of the welfare of Kumari and it was beautiful to be able to spend time with an elephant whilst her keeper (the lovely Kumar) was taking her through her daily cleaning, walking and feeding - rather than seeing an elephant be forced to take rides and be in chains. The coordinator Kasun was also so helpful and informative (plus a great photographer) and I learned so much about Kumari along the way. As a solo traveler, I felt so welcomed as part of the family and highly recommend staying the night - even just for the AMAZING food prepared & lovely company of Ananda, Mali and Shashini. Absolute highlight of my trip to Sri Lanka!!
2. Pitawala Pathana
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By newtonjsurg - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Only the short trees, shrubs and grass found here as there are lots of seasonal wind blows across this plane. This plane extends about 10 hectares. Endemic fauna and flora are found here.
3. Ashram Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka itinerary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
At Ashram Sri Lanka, our tranquil retreat is more in-line with the Ashrams of the past. We offer simplicity. We offer a clean and peaceful space. Our Ashram is nestled in a beautiful environment, surrounded by nature in all its magnificence, with fields of greenery and flowers that envelop the senses. We share in nature’s space. We nurture our environment and show it compassion. We believe that our oneness with ourselves and our shared environment ultimately connects to the larger universe and beyond. A retreat with us will provide you with the time and space you need for introspection, reflection, contemplation and meditation. The ultimate aim of meditation is to seek freedom from the wheel of ‘sansara’ – the cycle of birth and death. Even though it is a difficult task, it can be obtained through effort and dedication. And if one aspires to achieve spiritual growth and its benefits through serious meditation Ashram Sir Lanka is the place for you.
Reviewed By Clavetteur - Marlow, United Kingdom
I had misgivings about booking a tour guide and driver for 20 days, but Sam's outstanding feedback here, and his very reasonable price tipped the balance. I'm happy to say it was a good decision. Sam has a thorough knowledge of great places to visit, and was always ready to adapt plans to suit us. He is also a very interesting person who makes new friends constantly, and who dedicates much effort and money to providing drinking water filters to disadvantaged families. At one point my wife said that I should try to find a Sam in each country we visit, but of course he is a one-off. Sam likes to show Sri Lanka as it is, and how the local people live. So lunch would often be typical Sri Lankan food in a roadside cafe (often rice and curry sauces) eaten with the fingers of the right hand. Unfortunately our stay at the Ashram was spoiled by the booming base sound coming from a three-day party in the local village. But Sam was quite willing to cut short our stay and move on. The Ashram is a place for chilling out and winding down, not suitable if your looking for action. Sri Lanka is a beautiful island with so many things to see and do. With hindsight, we would have liked more than two nights in Eliya, and would probably give Colombo a miss. Thank you to Sam for helping us fall in love with Sri Lanka.
4. Hanthana Mountain Range
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
The Hanthana Mountain Range lies in central Sri Lanka, south-west of the city of Kandy. The maximum height of the range is 3800 ft. The mountain range consists of seven peaks. The highest one being the Uura Kanda. The range is a favourite destination among the mountain hikers in Sri Lanka.
5. Udawalawe National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,361 reviews
This park is home to several hundred elephants and other rare plants and wildlife.
Reviewed By 804shanelles
We had a really great safari experience with our guide Lahiru. He was incredibly knowledgeable about all of the wildlife. We saw lots of elephants, including a less than three week old baby elephant. There were several species of amazing birds - pelicans, herons, a stork, kingfishers, eagles, hornbills - a turtle, crocodiles, water buffalo, deer, even the notoriously shy jackal made an appearance! In hindsight, we wish we had asked for a little information about the conservation efforts of the national park - we would have loved to have learned a little more about what they do and why. So be sure to have some questions ready if you’re interested in this side of things too! Contact Lahiru via what’s app: +94 76 272 6799
6. Royal Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,766 reviews
Reviewed By swift314 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
Beautiful gardens just outside of the town, quite large well laid out and easy to navigate , lots of unusual plants and trees with a large poulation of fruit bats at the top end of the gardens. Well worth a trip and easy to spend 3 or 4 hours here. Nice orchid house and a variety of animal and bird life.
7. Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 593 reviews
SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST is a world heritage and bio diversity hotspot which is also a major eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka. It is one of the few virgin forests left in the world. This evergreen rain forest, a UNESCO World heritage site, is one of the few virgin rain forests left to date. Damp mysterious and teeming with life, the Sinharaja forest reserve situated 120 KM South East of Colombo, is the last expensive stretch of virgin rainforest on the island. At just over 11000 hectares, line across the wet zone the Southern edge of the hill country, Sinharaja is an ecological treasure trove. It is staggering array of flora and fauna place it among the top bio diversity hotspot in the world. Sinharaja Forest Reserve - A UNESCO world heritage site - encompasses the largest single swath of remaining low land tropical rain forest in the country. Over 130 birds, species are found here including many of the 33 species endemic to the Sri Lanka. There also rich reptile population and myriads of insects species, many yet to be classified. Mammals scenes here including the purple faced langur monkey and the giant squirrel. Sinharaja is also home to the elusive leopard. It is preferable to explore Sinharaja on foot, which makes for the truly authentic jungle experience. Best starting point for visits are Deniyaya Mederipitiya to the East or Kudawa to the North.
Reviewed By malwana - Colombo, Sri Lanka
This is a very big rain forest and in a single tour we can see only a very small area. We stayed in Rainforest Eco Lodge and took the tour from there. There were many leaches but hotel provided us leach socks. Even the small kids around 4 -8 years old joined with us and they too enjoyed the tour.
8. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 625 reviews
Reviewed By mands_carter - Petersfield, United Kingdom
This place is well worth a visit to see real conservation in action. From hatching to release, these guys are very careful to preserve as many Turtles as they can. As well as the whole process of hatching and releasing Turtles, there are a lot of other things to understand about the work here. Please make a visit, buy your ticket (and if possible make a donation) to make sure that this vital work continues.
9. Kaudulla National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,024 reviews
A safari in the Kaudulla national park in Sri Lanka is a bucket-list aspiration for many tourists, which mean the place is an absolutely incredible wildlife spectacle. Located in the historic city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka, Kaudulla national park presents an ample of opportunities for travellers to spot majestic elephants in their natural habitats. In addition to the elephants, sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Asian spoonbill, grey-headed fish eagle, painted stork and openbill stork are common visuals at the park. Aside from these, one could rarely capture the glimpse of leopard and sloth bear in the forest. Going on a bumpy ride through an evergreen forest of Kaudulla national park along the small trails is a great adventure, wildlife enthusiasts can’t say ‘NO’ to. The Kaudulla reservoir being the life blood to the wildlife of the park, attracts herds of elephants during the dry season from nearby Minneriya, Wasgamuwa and Somawathiya national parks.
Reviewed By thebusyitinerary - Pune, India
Kaudulla or Minneriya is the obvious question when one is in Sigiriya area. Guides and jeep drivers decide on know positions of elephant herds and water level in the area. Our Jeep safari suggested Kaudulla, so off we went. We did have a few sighting of peacocks, deer, birds, monitor lizards, but these parks are for the majestic Asian elephant the largest mammal on land. After a bumpy ride through the greens we came across a vast expanse of grassland and so many elephants. There were everywhere, near us, ahead of us & everywhere we could see. This was a large gathering of approx 350 wild elephants. Our driver said that there are more baby elephants this year than last. This is the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants in such a large number. Park ticket costed us LKR 14800 for a group of 6 and jeep charges were LKR7500
10. Horton Plains National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,545 reviews
Reviewed By heshanthim - Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
The tour of the Horton Plains and the trek to World’s End was an absolute pleasure as it allowed us a sneak peek to the wonders of the diverse wilderness available in Sri Lanka and to various natural marvels that Sri Lanka has to offer. It is also the home to a large number of endemic birds and wildlife and is indeed a must do when one is visiting the beautiful Nuwaraeliya in Sri Lanka. The splendid tour and the experience of visiting the Horton Plains and the trek to the World’s End was guided by the very experienced and capable Naturalist Hashan attached to the Grand Hotel Nuwaraeliya and, Harshana who indeed drove us safely to and from the Horton Plains. I would definitely recommend them to all thinking of visiting Nuwaraeliya.
