Minneriya National Park

When should I go?

The best time is usually July to September. That's when the lake is lowest and the grass is best, so the herds are biggest.

From about October, the rain starts and the elephants often walk over to Kaudulla, the next park. We'll tell you honestly where they're more likely to be before you book.

Morning or afternoon?

For elephants, go in the afternoon. The herds usually come out of the forest onto the grass after about 3 pm and stay until the park closes at 6 pm.

Mornings are quieter, cooler and great for birds, but you'll normally see fewer elephants.

What else lives here?

Lots. The park has about 24 kinds of mammals and around 160 kinds of birds. Look out for spotted deer, sambar deer, wild buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles, pelicans, painted storks and eagles. Leopards and sloth bears live here too, but they're shy and rarely seen.

A little history

Minneriya Tank was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD, around 1,700 years ago. It was built to water rice fields, and it still does today. The land around it became a national park on 12 August 1997.