Ceylon Investment Group (Pvt) Ltd - Nature and Adventure Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a rich and exotic variety of wildlife and forest reserves spread throughout the country. This has become a safe haven to thousands of reptiles, mammals, birds and insects. Below we have tried to bring together a list of the most popular sanctuaries, national parks and forest reserves as well.

Animal Sanctuariess

The animals to be seen in Sri Lanka's national parks include the elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, deer, monkeys, wild buffalo, wild boar (pig), porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, jackal, mongoose, loris (unique to Sri Lanka), and several varieties of lizards, squirrels, reptiles and amphibians. Each park however has its own specialties.

Situated 309 km. south of Colombo, Yala is approximately 1,259 sq.km. in extent and is located in the southeastern corner of the island. Its northern boundaries border on the Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary and it has the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The terrain is varied flat plains alternating with rocky outcrops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. Water holes, small lakes, lagoons and streams provide water for the animals and birds. The speciality here is the large numbers of elephants.

Situated 176 km. north of Colombo, Wilpattu is approximately 1,908 sq.km. in extent. It has a dense jungle cover which makes it a more exciting park where animals have to be tracked. There are numerous delightful little lakes - known as villus - and the leopard and sloth bear are the speciality rather than elephants.

The Maduru Oya National Park is located in the Dry Zone and is 300 Km away from Colombo and 58,849 hectares in extent. A wide variety of wildlife, including some endemic bird species and reptiles are found here. Maduru Oya is rich in ancient ruins found in different places and its southern parts provide Veddhas (indigenous people) their living environment. The purple faced monkey is among the important animal species that can be seen as well as the sambhur.

The Horton Plains National Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya district, 200 Km away from Colombo. The Panoramic scenic beauty of the Hill Country can be seen in the Park. The famous "Worlds End" is a major attraction within the Park. The slender loris and purple faced monkey are among the important animal species that could be seen here.

Situated 170 Km, South east of Colombo , The Uda Walawe National Park is approximately 30,821 hectares in extent. This Park, which lies within the Ratnapura and Monaragala Districts, acts as the catchment to the Uda Walawe Reservoir and is located in the Dry Zone. This Park comprises grasslands, thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees are found within the park. Large herds of elephants and deer species such as spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer and languor, wild boar, water buffalo and jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this Park and a variety of avifauna is seen.

Situated approximately 200 km. away from Colombo, the Wasgamuwa National Park lies within the Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts and has the Mahaweli river and Amban river as its eastern and western boundaries. Tropical intermediate dry mixed evergreen forest predominates its environment.

Situated at Inginiyagala, the Gal Oya National Park is 314 km. from Colombo and is most renowned for its elephant population.

Bundala National Park is the latest addition to the National Parks and is situated 260 km. away from Colombo. All species of waterbirds resident in the country and the migrant birds inhabit this Park.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is one of the least disturbed and the most biologically unique lowland rain forests in Sri Lanka. The forest covers an extent of about 11187 hectares from east to west. The length of the forest is about 21km and the width from north to south is about 3.7Km. It was declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978 and is nominated by UNESCO as part of its International Network of Biosphere Reserves. It was declared a National Wilderness Area in 1988 and lately a World Heritage Site in 1989. Sinharaja is situated in the South-West lowland wet zone of the country in the districts of Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. The average annual temperature of Sinharaja is 23.6 C. The annual rainfall is more than 2500mm and is well distributed during two monsoons, May to July and October to December.

Down the Amazon, Up the Niagara, along the Mississippi or fizzing white-water of the Ganges? The rivers of Sri Lanka have a talent to deceive. River rafting in Kithulgala.

Reached your peak? Every year thousands of pilgrims and priests from the world over toil up a 2,243m sacred mountain -some on crutches- for a midnight torch-lit ascent to venerate a footprint left by Buddha. Muslims insist Adam served time on one foot here for bad behavior; Portuguese missionaries claimed it the mark of St Thomas. For Hindus it belongs to Siva. Whoever it was had massive feet - the imprint is 1 meter long. So the legend about the eunuch emissary of the Queen of Sheba might yet hold water!

The additional plus is that beaches are empty whether on Midigamma, Ahangama, Polhena, Mirissa, Weligama or Hikkadua and three-wheeler drivers are so surf-friendly and sassy they will load up boards 5-high to whizz you down to secret coves. During April to November you can catch the tide on the East (best in June, July and August) while November to April provides varied breaks round the West coast for climate, quality and temperature it takes some beating.

During November and April you can surf on both east and west coasts. A rare phenomenon.

The fastest growing sport today, Kite Surfing which attracts ex-surfers and all age groups is the most extreme sport to take off at Hikkaduwa, Tangalle, Arugam Bay, Bolgoda and Kandalama lakes.

Scuba takes a dive for the better due to coral, fabulous marine life, including whale shark, barracuda, tuna plus a multitude of pelagic species around Bentota, Beruwela, Hikkadua, Galle, Weligama, Kirinda, Kalapitya and Uppaveli- the most popular sites.