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    Minneriya National Park

    A Safari in Sigiriya

    Minneriya National Park is a popular wildlife safari destination about 45 minutes from Sigirya. The park consists of 8,800 hectares of evergreen forest. The man-made tank in the park was constructed in the 3rd century B.C. by King Mahasen and is the epicentre of the largest gathering of Asian elephants in the world, which draws many visitors for a safari in Sigiriya. The lake and the surrounding grasslands are hotspots for viewing these majestic giants, who come here in large herds as the main water source during the dry season to quench their thirst.

    Highlights
    • Witness over 300 elephants by the Tank during the dry season
    • Sloth Bears
    • Leopards
    • Over 170 species of birds
    • Mugger Crocodiles

    National Geographic voted the Minneriya Asian elephant gathering one of the world’s top natural phenomena, and from June to September, visitors come to get up close and personal with these wandering gentle giants.

    The park has over 24 species of mammals, the most famous of which are elephants, leopards, sloth bears, various deer species, wild buffalo, and monkeys.

    Some of the more popular bird species in the park are migratory birds such as pipers. Other forest birds include Malabar-pied hornbills, Rufus woodpeckers, and endemic species such as the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, green pigeon, and jungle fowl.

    The lake commonly sees nine species of Amphibians and over 25 species of reptiles, including crocodiles and water and land monitors. The park helps sustain local lake fishing, with many local village fishermen using the lake as their livelihood.

    Note: The park requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a wildlife tracker for the party to travel with it. Your hotel or many private operators can arrange the entire safari experience.

    Location and Hours of Operation

    Ambagaswewa Minneriya Wildlife Park Ticket Entrance is located on the A11 highway Polonnaruwa Road, about 6 km from Habarana.

    Opening Hours: Daily 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
    Tickets: USD 25 per foreign Adult. (Since it requires a vehicle and tour guide, the average charge per person is USD 150, including jeep hire for 3-4 hours, tickets and taxes. Prices current as of September 2024)
    Telephone: +94 113 671 490
    Website: https://www.dwc.gov.lk/

    Speak to Our Concierge
    Telephone
    +94 76 757 8865
    whatsapp
    +94 76 757 8865
    Address
    2D,
    Inner Bagatalle Road,
    Colombo 03,
    Sri Lanka.

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