The 2022 Sri Lankan Wildlife & Asia Discovery

Minneriya National Park

As one of the best places to see wild elephants, a game drive within Minneriya National Park will surely be a highlight of your incredible wildlife-rich holiday. Home to over 200 elephants, you can expect to see these majestic animals come to feed and bathe during what is known as ‘the Gathering’; and flocks of birds, such as little cormorants, painted storks, herons and large pelicans as they fish in the shallow waters.

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Established in 1981, the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is one of 18 turtle hatcheries to be found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Unlike other hatcheries across Sri Lanka, all five species of turtles that visit this area nest in Kosgoda, including the Hawksbill turtle, Green turtle, Loggerhead turtle and Olive Ridley turtle. The centre functions mainly as a hatchery and makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching, and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages. However the care centre also works on sick or injured adults; treating them and releasing them back into the ocean.

Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home

Supported by the Born Free Foundation this complex is a halfway house for orphaned elephant calves. After rehabilitation, the baby elephants are released back into the wild so that they can re-integrate with wild herds, many into the Udawalawa National Park. Over 100 elephants have been rehabilitated at the Elephant Transit Home and subsequently released into the wild. The elephants are free to roam around and are never chained – Elephant Transit Home ensures that human contact is kept to a minimum in order to maximize their chance of survival when they are returned to the wild.