Four parks, full of wild elephants
Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu sit close together near Habarana, and the elephants walk between them during the year. Gal Oya is a wilder, far-away extra.
Minneriya
Home of the Gathering, where hundreds of elephants meet on the grass.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Kaudulla
Where the herds go next, when Minneriya fills up with rain.
From LKR 17,000 per jeep
Hurulu
The rainy-season backup, a few minutes from Habarana, with the cheapest tickets.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Gal Oya
A wild, far-away park around Sri Lanka's biggest lake. Hardly any crowds.
From LKR 14,000 per jeep
Which park should I pick?
It depends on the month. Here's where the herds usually are.
or Kaudulla
or Minneriya
or Hurulu
or Kaudulla
or Hurulu
Based on how the herds have moved in past years. Nature changes a little every year, so we check before you book.
| Minneriya | Kaudulla | Hurulu | Gal Oya | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best months | July to September | October to December | December to April | All year (drier months are easiest) |
| Herds | Very big. Often 100 to 300 elephants at the peak. | Big. Often 100 to 300 elephants when the herds move here. | Smaller family groups, usually 10 to 30 elephants. | Scattered herds. Famous for elephants that swim between islands. |
| What it's like | Wide, open grass all around a huge old lake. Easy to see everything. | Open land around a big lake, a bit wilder and quieter than Minneriya. | Thicker bush, rocky tracks, more of a jungle feel. | Remote hills, forest and a huge lake. Very few other jeeps. |
| Ticket | US$25 adult · US$12.50 child (5–11) | US$25 adult · US$12.50 child (5–11) | US$10 adult · US$5 child | Confirmed when you book |
| Jeep from | LKR 14,000 | LKR 17,000 | LKR 14,000 | LKR 14,000 |
Ready to see the elephants?
Private jeeps from LKR 14,000 for the whole jeep. Up to 6 people. Park tickets shown upfront and paid in one go.