Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is one of the few remaining mega-herbivores in the world. The Sri Lanka elephant population about 2,500 � 3,000 Elephants and about 7% of world population. This large number of Elephants in a relatively small land, the chance of Elephant sightings is very high in Sri Lanka.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage first of its kind in the world is a unique place where abandoned and disable Elephants get lot of care and protection. This place is one of the world�s best Elephant breeding centers as well.
Jeep safaris in National Parks will give good opportunities to see the social behavior of the Elephants. To make it more exciting one can campout within the National Park for one night. Elephant back safari through a jungle track will be a memorable experience.
Sri Lanka's Best Elephants Locations
Yala, Habarana, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Maduruoya, Wasgomuwa, Lahugala, Galoya, Inginiyagala, Thanamalwila are best to see large number of wild elephants.
Domestic Elephants are found at Pinnawala, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kagalle.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
See baby jumbos wondering around their cramped foster home or bottle fed and bathed by their human foster fathers at Pinnawala, about 90Km from Colombo towards Kandy is the home to some 60 or more elephant orphans. A place you will really enjoy and never forget. Most orphans are accustomed to their curious human visitors are harmless.
Started in 1972 the Elephant Orphanage was relocated to at the present site in 1975 Bathing time at Ma Oya just in front of the orphanage is sharp at 10.00am and 2.00pm. Feeding time is about and hour earlier.
See baby jumbos wondering around their cramped foster home or bottle fed and bathed by their human foster fathers at Pinnawala, about 90Km from Colombo towards Kandy is the home to some 60 or more elephant orphans. A place you will really enjoy and never forget. Most orphans are accustomed to their curious human visitors are harmless.
Started in 1972 the Elephant Orphanage was relocated to at the present site in 1975 Bathing time at Ma Oya just in front of the orphanage is sharp at 10.00am and 2.00pm. Feeding time is about and hour earlier.
Medirigiriya
Visit Medirigiriya temple. Medirigiriya is famous for its 7th century Vatadage Temple atop a low rocky point. There are 3 concentric rows of pillars, making a total of 68, surrounding 4 large seated Buddha�s facing the four directions.
However our main concern here is to show the historical evidence of cultural association of elephant in Sri Lanka. Elephant wall (�Ath paura�) is a characteristic feature of the temples from ancient times to now.
In the evening do a jeep safari either at Kaudulla or Minneriya.
Minneriya National Park
Do a safari of Minneriya National Park by jeep. The Minneriya tank and the wetlands in this National Park provide very important habitats for animal and plant species found in this park. Wild elephants, various amphibians, local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this park. During the dry season large number of elephants moves in to this park. One can see more than 150 elephants at a time during this period. (Number is greater than the whole elephant population in Nepal or Bhutan!). There are bamboo trees, which are rare in other parks.
Udawalawe National Park
Transfer from park entrance to the campsite by 4WD jeeps. You can have a lunch at campsite.
In the evening do a safari of The Udawalawe National Park by jeep. This is a dry zone park, which was declared as a national park in 1972. The park falls between Udawalawe reservoir and the Walawe River and is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the mountain ranges that keep on winding endlessly on the Balangoda, Kalthota and Haputale escarpments. This park is world famous for its elephants, seen in all their playfulness, whole herds of them, adults and babies bathing and playing in the water or feeding.
IIn addition to the elephants, spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer, gray langur, water buffalo and jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this park. Serpent eagles, hawk eagles, white bellied sea eagles, black capped bulbuls, malabar pied horn bills, white necked storks, open bills, white ibis, white rumped-shama the forest Nightingale, stork billed kingfishers and peacocks are also found in fair numbers.
