Beautiful nature. We went there around 2pm so were a bit earlier than all others for the evening safari. Great thing was that we were the only car in the National park for the major part of the tour. We've seen many different animals and birds. Not that many elephants but one family we could watch up close and they were not bothered at all by us, that was magical. We were told that there are more elephants in another national park right now, but we're not disappointed at all, it was worth it to be in a quiet without many other tourists and to watch diverse wildlife of the place. We took a safari driver in Habarana but it seems that all of them are similar. Ours was very respectful to animals (didn't go too close and turned off the engine, when we were watching animals) and pointed out some animals we wouldn't notice by ourselves.

A place like no other! A park where that can be seen elephants so closely and it is a great experience to life. The dry zone of Sri Lanka has few national parks that are sanctuaries, and provides accommodations for Asian Elephants. Minneriya National Park is a prominent place where you can watch elephants. This place is located around the Minneriya Lake and that attracts elephants and other animals. We visited there as a Safari and witnessed a few groups of elephants, nearly 30 - 40 by the figure. No restrictions for Safari vehicles in number of passengers - we had 9 onboard!

In the early morning, when the park was quiet, we stumbled upon elephants, and soon, we found ourselves surrounded by large herds. Being so close to these majestic creatures in Minneriya National Park was truly unforgettable. It's a unique place, offering a serene setting to observe elephants in their natural habitat. The dry zone of Sri Lanka has limited sanctuaries, and Minneriya stands out, providing accommodations for Asian Elephants. During our safari, we encountered several groups, totaling around 30-40 elephants. Interestingly, there were no restrictions on the number of passengers in safari vehicles, and we enjoyed the experience with a group of 9 onboard!

I really enjoyed while I was traveling to Polonnaru passing this greenery place fully covered trees and lucky to capture some photos of deer and elephants. I don’t wonder to see elephants or deer here but when I saw dogs there, it was really hurt me, why people leaving innocent dogs near this jungle. I respect this nature and this is the home of wild animals and please enjoy the movements without disturbing their lives. please follow the instructions and traffic signs, always animals crossing the road and please also don’t throw your waste outside the road.

Fantastic afternoon out enjoying to sight of elephants in their habitat. Loads of them by one of the lagoons munching on the grass and having a dip in the water to cool down. Highly recommended

One of the best national parks in Sri Lanka. Nearly it has 9000 hectares and ideal place to watch elephants closely. This park is also known as best elephant gathering place in South Asia. You can see elephant herds with 5-25 elephants most of the time. Not only elephants but also you can witness several bird spices in there. The park usually opens from 6 am to 6 pm.

Amazing experience The security of the elephants and their food and drink are very good. Also, there is enough water in Minneriya Reservoir, so the only place where we can look after elephants freely is Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya national park is mostly known for wild elephant migration and we could witness one of Asia's largest wildlife elephant gathering. The area was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1997. Apart from the elephants it also attracts other Flora and Fauna due to rich water resource available from the Minneriya tank. This tank was built by king Mahasen. Elephants from Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee Districts travel here during the dry season. We obtained the entrance tickets from the reserve and started our journey by a 4*4. We got to see the large parade of elephants and how they interact with each other and worth the time and money spent for this travel...

The Minneriya national park is about 30 min drive from Sigiriya , it is most famous for the amazing (elephant gathering about i think 350 ), also near the lake you can see very wide variety of birds. Wherever you look you'll see something .. birds, monkeys, spotted deers and many other animals. Best to visit during September and October. It's a breath-taking experience ,we enjoyed it more than yala safari. Seeing the baby elephants feeding with their mother was amazing and We were lucky to see two male elephants preparing to start a fight to be with the females. Fees is around 90$ for a private jeep for two adults.

Just 30 minutes from sigiriya also just 2-3 hour enough to go around this park. Absolutely gorgeous park for all your animal viewing needs, the park is normally home to the one of largest collection of wild elephants in the country (over 500 elephants) We went in noon time so we just witnessed less then 50 elephants but much batter time is afternoon times when its a little hot outside where the elephants go out near the water to cool off, also even good if you visit during July and August You can enjoy almost all the animals. You can also hope to see a lot of peacocks, spotted deer, monkeys, eagles and other smallers animals. (Guide said) The Safari ride price is also very reasonable and drivers (guides) are kind enough to explain all the details and also their takings enough risk to entertain us. But comparing to other safari’s like “Yala” not that much variety’s of animals are here but enough elephants are there to impress us.

Loved our trip here. Much more a safari experience than Yala National reserve. Less tourists and more animals! The tracks were smaller and you feel like you were driving through the jungle (not the M25 in London, as at Yala) We were incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by herds of elephants with their calf’s. At one point you can leave your jeep and head to a large viewing platform, with 360 views across the landscape. Would 100% recommend

Minneriya National Park is an absolute gem of Sri Lanka's wildlife sanctuaries! I had the most incredible experience exploring this park. The highlight was undoubtedly the thrilling elephant gathering, where my dear friend Buddhika Dediyagala and I were lucky enough to witness hundreds of majestic elephants roaming freely in their natural habitat. Although the park is also the habitat of leopards, deer, and a myriad of bird species, we unfortunately weren't able to sight any leopards or deer during our visit. Nonetheless, the lush landscapes and scenic beauty of the park made it a photographer's paradise. The knowledgeable guides added depth to the experience by sharing fascinating insights about the park's flora and fauna. A safari in Minneriya National Park is a must-do for any nature enthusiast visiting Sri Lanka!

Amazing national park where the animals are free to roam. Plenty of elephants and birds - highly recommended. Note please do not visit the elephant sanctuary’s in Sri Lanka. The elephants DO NOT have freedom and are chained to perform for tourist (bath and feeding time etc). Please do your research.

It’s a great place to see a lot of elephants. I used to really like this place and I can say that I like the park itself, I just do not like how many jeeps are allowed into the park at one time. Many times during this trip there were so many jeeps on the pathways that we couldn’t move. Also, in many of the videos I have, there is very little silence and instead the sound of jeep motors idling can be heard. It was not like this before. In the past the jeep I was in would stop and turn its engine off and you could sit in silence and only hear the elephants walking through the brush and the branches cracking as they walk. Now, most of the sounds you hear are of jeep engines not nature. I hope they put a policy in place to limit the amount of jeeps in the park. I don’t think I’ll go back again unless I see a policy change. I would have given it a 5 star if there weren’t so many jeeps.

We arrived early in the morning, and there weren't many people around. Within minutes of entering, we spotted elephants! As we continued, we encountered large herds of them, and we were not too far away, which made the experience even more enjoyable. If you're looking to see elephants in a peaceful natural park setting, this is the place for you. The tranquility and proximity to these majestic creatures make it an unforgettable experience.

Great national park. Within minutes of entering I enjoyed a close encounter with an elephant happily munching away. Defo recommend a safari and visit here.

Great experience! We paid 20.000 for a jeep with 4 people. We drove through the park for 4 hours in total and we saw lotsssss of elephants. It was amazing to see the elephants in their natural habitat. Recommend this spot! Follow me on Instagram for more travel tips (@heidifromholland)

Best place to see wild elephants. There's a large number of herds and getting up and close with them was an unforgettable experience. Yes, there are other wildlife too here, but main attraction would be these giants. The entire safari could last up to 2 to 3 hours and seems to be less crowded and touristic than other national parks. So it was great. Very much enjoyed it!

Kaudulla National Park is a protected area located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is situated approximately 190 kilometers away from Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. The park covers an area of around 6,900 hectares and is known for its diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. Kaudulla National Park is primarily recognized for its large population of wild Asian elephants. The park provides a crucial habitat for these majestic creatures and is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. The park is also home to other animal species, including sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bear, and various species of birds. One of the main attractions of Kaudulla National Park is the Kaudulla Tank, a man-made reservoir that was constructed in the 1950s. The tank plays a vital role in providing water for the wildlife in the dry season and also offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can enjoy jeep safaris around the park, which allow them to observe the wildlife in their natural habitat. The best time to visit Kaudulla National Park is during the dry season, from June to September, when the water levels in the reservoir recede, attracting large herds of elephants to gather around the tank. It is recommended to hire a local guide or join a safari tour to make the most of your visit and ensure a safe and informative experience. Please note that the information provided above is based on the knowledge available up until September 2021, and it's always a good idea to check for any updated information or guidelines before planning a visit to Kaudulla National Park.

These are the photos of kaudulla tank please come here enjoy the nature but dont spoil it

One of the best place to see elephants. We saw more nearly 100 or more elephants. However we went on a rainy day so couldn’t see all them. Lot of birds are there. It was said, it is better to visit the park in the morning for bird watching and evening to see elephants. We went on the evening. Better to enter before 2.30 p.m. Has to leave the park before 6.00 p.m. Most the elephants were gathered near the lake. Didn’t seem dangerous to the visitors. There were lot of new borns and baby elephants. These elephants usually stay here at Kaudulla or go to Minneriya park. Has to take safari jeeps to enter the park. Usually they know the locations of elephants and take guests to those locations. Cannot get out of the vehicles. Additionally can have a off road experience on jeeps. Eagles and many more birds are there.

Really it is a lovely visit. We could see some elephants, wolfs and peockocs. Cost for safari depends on the season .

1. advice: go in the morning 2. advice: Minneriya from June to August, after that Kaudulla Full review: A tour in this park might very well be the highlight of your trip to Sri Lanka. We went on a tour on a wednesday morning with Shiran from "Minneriya & Kaudulla Jeep Safari". We originally wanted to go Kaudulla National Park, however since we were there in the midst of June, it was the season of Minneriya National Park (best time for Minneriya is June to August - after that the park is flooded an all the animals move to Kaudulla which is better in the months starting from mid August). Since the animals, parks, tours and prices are more or less the same, this review is applicable for both parks. We went in the morning and we are so glad we did, because in the afternoon there are over 100 jeeps on the same route and everything is really crowded. In the morning we were exactly two jeeps. If you look at other reviews and pictures you can see the crowds everywhere - of course so many vehicles also scare the animals away. We were picked up at 6 am at our hotel and drove there. You will be asked to pay before the tour at the entrance of the park. Our tour was 49500 lkr for 4 persons - which is not cheap compared to other offerings, but it was worth it. However, you might be able to get a better deal. The roads were rough, but out driver did very well and spotted every little bird everywhere. He also explained a lot about the animals, their habits and the surroundings. It was really interesting and you can clearly see, that he is in love with the nature around here. We saw deer, water buffalo, about 30 elephants and lots of different birds and eagle. Our diver was always patient and asked us, if we are ready to move on. He also made sure to not get to close to the animals or disturb them in their natural habitat. By 10 am we were back at the hotel.

Interesting temple in the Dambulla area. Tickets are 2000 rupees per person. It consists of 5 different caves with different statues of Buddha. To get to the temple you have to get up some stairs, but doable in 10min. Here are also many vendors that try to sell you flower. Don’t just take them, prices for foreigners are quiet high. Part of the area is the golden Buddha temple consisting of a great golden Buddha statue and a museum. Its included in the ticket and can be reached on your way down from the temple. Be careful of the monkies!

It’s a climb up the stairs for a few minutes and we did that comfortably but what made us uncomfortable is that this iconic temple did not have the right upkeep even after it demanding an entry fees from the visitors. When we were back to the main door where our shoes were kept during the entry, the person at entry demanded a donation! I mean, I was appalled. Now what is more disturbing is the caves where the lord is, is not maintained in good shape. There needs to be a mass programme to improve the cleanliness all around the temple. Nevertheless, these things didn’t matter to me as I went to the lord for his blessings.

Very nice old temple located inside a cave. Actually there are five massive cave temples, situated under a huge roof rock. There is an ancient rock inscription at the entrance of the temple, believed to be said, This temple is reserved for Buddhist monks. This may be because as per the history stories, ancient people lived under these caves. This theory was proved by Ibbankatuwa mass cemetery. There are two ways to the top of the mountain, the easiest way is King's Road. There is a big car park at the entrance too.

Our driver took us to the car park which was jam packed and full of people . If you need to go to the toilet before you climb the steps I recommend you go at the car park ones as there are none at the top . We had hiking poles so that helped there are many steps so if you aren’t fit take it easy and wear a hat and bring a water bottle . Make sure you buy a ticket at the ticket office. As it’s a holy site you have to make sure your knees and shoulders are covered and shoes removed . They have wrap overs and shoes can left in a place for a small fee . The temples and carvings of the Buddha’s are incredible and you are taken in by the intense history and work taken to complete this . It’s a working temple and we got to see and hear some monks chanting in one of the temples which was memorable moment . It’s so worth visiting if you have the time .

This is must visit attraction in Sri Lanka. The hike to the caves is exciting and the views from top are mesmerizing. The cave temple is serene and calm offering plethora of Lord Buddha statues in different forms and positions. The golden temple at lower level was equally good. Good luck!

If you are into temples also history, I would recommend checking this place out. Be prepared though, you need to be covered (at least a t-shirt and long skirt/shorts - past the knees). There's also lots of walking up stairs to reach the temple. In addition there are so many fruits shops besides the road those are amazing. Also there is clam and peaceful environment top of the mountain. It really gives you a better feeling 😌

Dambulla Royal Cave Temple is a captivating gem in Sri Lanka's cultural heritage. It houses the largest Buddha statue. The five caves adorned with ancient paintings and majestic Buddha statues offer a serene and spiritual experience. The vibrant frescoes and impressive rock-carved sculptures make it a must-visit destination for history and art enthusiasts. The temple's tranquil atmosphere and panoramic views add to its charm, leaving a lasting impression on visitors.

It's a modern giant golden Buddha and a museum. It is hard to miss it from the road and you will likely visit it before/after the caves. But beside admiring the magnitude there is really nothing else about it so just a quick visit and a photo on the way to/from the caves

30-minute barefoot hike up granite pathway yields a great view. Got at the top to visit the sacred spring at 5:45pm, was not allowed to buy a ticket - was told by officious official that the ticket office usually closed at 6pm, but had closed early. Locals were let in free. Life lesson learned: Buddha is NOT for me, but the view is beautiful.

To reach the cave temple carved in Dambulla rocks, you'll need to ascend a substantial flight of stairs, which I believe most people can manage. While climbing the stairs, you can appreciate the breathtaking scenery, as depicted in the photos. Along the way, you might come across some monkeys. Upon reaching the top, you'll be treated to lovely mountain views. Before entering the temple, you'll be asked to remove your shoes, and there's a place available to keep them for a fee of 100 Rupees per pair. Alternatively, you can choose to leave your shoes outside at your own risk. The area is generally clean, so going barefoot inside the temple or outside is okay. If you'd prefer not to, you can wear socks. Please note that appropriate attire is required, which means no shorts even for guys, either full-length pants or skirts that extend below the knee, along with a modest top. Inside the temple, we didn't observe any guides or signs explaining the significance of this place. You'll explore caves filled with numerous Buddha statues and wall paintings, making it a pleasant religious place to admire. However, it would be even better if there were more information provided. After completing the tour, you can retrieve your shoes and descend a different set of stairs. Along the way, you might encounter vendors selling fruits, and you may even come across friendly dogs. At the bottom of the stairs, there's a massive golden Buddha statue, but there isn't much else to do in the vicinity. overall, I would recommend you to visit this place for a 1 or 2 hours stop.

Fascinating Buddha temple embedded into the rock. Five caves featuring hundreds of statues, some of which carved directly into the stone. Beautiful paintings on the cave roof. Stunning views of the savanna below, especially at sunset.

Cave temple is pretty interesting and offers great view on surrounding area. Don't forget to take long trousers or some coverage for knees, otherwise you will have to rent it for small fee. Golden Buddha statue is really magnificent.

Ancient Buddhist temple well known for the water stream that drips from the rock roof of the main cave and gets collected to the pot. The climb to the top of the temple is a bit tough as there’s a lot of stairs to climb. You have to be careful from the monkeys, specially if you are carrying flowers as they are fierce. Entrance is free for locals, foreigners have to buy tickets. It’s worth the visit.

This was our second visit to the caves. The day was sunny and clear and the view on the way up and at the top is amazing. The caves with the large Buddha rock carving and the smaller Buddha statues are well worth the climb. The caves are over 2000 years old. Bring a sarong with you or if you don't have one you will be provided with one at the entrance to the caves.

Really Amazing cave Temple. Lot of Lord buddha Statues in the cave and Lot of beautiful paintings. There is a never ending water drooping place inside the cave, even in the dry season. There is a bowl that water drops are falling. But that bowl also not spilling, even in the rainy season.

Cave temple with hiatorical paintings and statues of Lord Buddah. They charge entrance fee only for foreigners. There are monkeys around the temple so please keep your belongings close to you. I guess the electric fence is not working. Huge car park available.

Temple closed before evening. So plan your visit. Need to climb some 70-90 steps to reach top of the cave to see wonderful paintings

Climb 50 or so steps up into the cave complex to see five beautiful cave temples. Make sure you cover and your shoulders and knees. The steps become tricky the close you get to the top and don't carry food, as there are many monkeys around. The temple complex is beautiful and definitely worth walking up to.

A nice place to visit. It costs 2000 per person and you pay for your shoes to be stored at the top which is 100 (you have to ask not clear) don’t get ripped off by people selling you flowers on the way up. You can buy them if you want (you don’t have to) make sure you negotiate hard though. Also once you take your shoes off it is ok to wear soaks apparently which is useful with how hot it is. You will need to have your knees and arm covered but if you don’t they have throws for you to use.

Walking to the top is a very interesting and very enjoyable hike. Very informative and the art inside is out of this world. We arrived at 10H00 when it was time for prayer and the other caves were closing. So it's important to take note of the time when you visit. Like any other temple, expect to cover up and taken off your shoes. Taking videos and photos is allowed.

Beautiful cave temple. Has 5 caves, each with many statues of buddha in different postures. The main statue is of reclining Buddha. Excellent view all around as one has to climb many steps to reach it. A huge golden statue of Buddha to exists next to the caves.

It takes a bit of effort to climb the stairs and reach all the way up the cave temple. There is an entry fee of 2000 srilankan rupees per person. Take a guide if interested otherwise it's just many many buddhas everywhere in the temple.

One of the most famous attractions of the city, please don't miss this out, when in Dambulla. Some important information, all foreigners need an entrance ticket (worth LRK 2000) for the cave temples. The Golden temple doesn't need any tickets to visit. There are multiple entries for the Rock temple and the Cave temples. Please note all the foreigners need to buy the tickets only from the trustees office, which most of the locals are unaware of. The hike to the temple is around 15-20mins depending on the speed. Moderately tough hike, if not wearing proper gear. Avoid the rush hours and sunny hours. Also, don't forget to wear appropriate clothes else you will need to buy/rent clothes to cover legs and arms for both males and females.

A very beautiful temple, Try to visit in the morning. Wear socks/shoes if you go to the cave temple It is very difficult to go into the cave during the afternoon as the rock gets heat from the sun.

This is an amazing place, a UNESCO site which describes the Cave and Golden Temple as a living Buddhist site that is focused on a series of five cave shrines. Inhabited by forest-dwelling Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BCE, these natural caves have been transformed continuously throughout the historical period into one of the largest and most outstanding Buddhist complexes in the Southern and South Eastern Asian region, showcasing innovative approaches to interior layout and decoration.

The temple is really nice and unique. Walking through the sculptures and paintings under the giant rock bare feet, with dogs and monkeys all around you, surrounded by peace and green, gives a sort of spirituality to this place. The only thing I haven’t appreciated was having to pay for a guy to keep my shoes outside of the temple.

The temple is good and has a breathtaking view. There is a bit of climbing involved, a little over 400 steps, to reach the top. The rock does get quite hot in the afternoon sun, making the climbing harder, especially for older people.

We loved the entire safari experience. I got the opportunity to see Elephant herds. We spent around 2 hours in the eco-park and witnessed Peacocks, Owls and Elephant.

We went to Hurulu eco park for the safari. We managed to see over 30 elephants. We had a great time. Our criticism is the way the safari system is run. The jeeps should not interfere with the daily lives of these gorgeous animals. Instead there are way too many jeeps. When one driver spots elephants, all of the jeeps chase after the elephants, startling them sometimes. While we are glad that we managed to catch these magnificent gentle giants, the safari industry must be regulated and revamped to make it more sustainable.

Very beautiful park. We saw a lot of elephants, birds and reptiles.. We`ve seen some elephants very close to the jeep. One of the best eco park to watch elephants and enjoy the green nature🐘☘️

One of the best parks to see Elephants. If you are planning a trip to Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana, this is one of the best places where you can have an amazing wildlife adventure. Not only the elephants you can see different types of animals. Better if you arrange your safari between morning hours or afternoon around 2.30-3.00.

Amazing park if you want to spot some elephants! We saw 50 in total from 1 to herds from 15 with babies. Total 3h park ride, everything included we payed 22000 rupee with a jeep, guide and park entrance. Highly recommend this park if you want to spot elephants in the wild

It was amazing. We got really close to the elephants thanks to our lovely driver recommended by our Hotel. We also saw a lot of birds. It was a great trip.

Wir durften vor einigen Tagen sehr viele Elefanten während einer Safari bestauen, weil sie sich aktuell gerade in dieser Region aufhalten. Wir hatten eine private Safari, welche unser Fahrer organisiert hat. Sind wir stehen gebliebem wurde der Motor ausgeschaltet, was ich sehr gut fand. Klar gehen die Jeeps dorthin wo gerade Elephanten zu sehen sind. Die Tiere haben für mich immer einen entspannten Eindruck gemacht und kamen teilweise sehr nahe an die Autos und habem weiter gefressen. Auch als Tourist kann man sagen, dass wir es nicht mögen, wenn die Tiere zu stark bedrengt werden (für unser Verständnis) aber unser Guide hat dies git gemacht und wir waren äusserst zufrieden. Andere Jeeps waren aus unsere Sicht etwas zu aufdringlich. Aber die wollen den Touristen, also uns lediglich ein gutes Erlebnis bieten 😉 (Translated by Google) A few days ago we were able to admire a lot of elephants during a safari because they are currently in this region. We had a private safari, which our driver organized. If we stopped, the engine was switched off, which I thought was very good. Of course the jeeps go where elephants can be seen. The animals always seemed relaxed to me and sometimes came very close to the cars and continued to eat. Even as a tourist you can say that we don't like it when the animals are harassed too much (for our understanding) but our guide didn't do this and we were extremely satisfied. In our opinion, other jeeps were a bit too intrusive. But they just want to offer the tourists, i.e. us, a good experience 😉

The Hurulu forest reserve is a very important habitat of the Sri Lankan elephant.The Hurulu forest reserve represents the dry-zone dry evergreen forests Sri Lanka. Very natural ,morning is the best time but it is opening little late like 7 am that is the only problem .Jeep safari is really good ,one view point is there that is really good .

We saw lots of elephants which was our main purpose. Only a few jeeps and this was what made the difference with other safaris. Very nice experience overall

Elephants plenty, other animals few. Too Many jeeps. Worth it if interested.

Hurulu National Park boasts beautiful landscapes and wildlife, but my experience was significantly dampened by over-tourism. The excessive number of jeeps inside the park greatly detracted from the natural beauty and tranquility one would expect. The park management needs to limit the number of vehicles allowed at any given time and increase the presence of trained rangers to ensure a more sustainable and enjoyable experience for all visitors. While the park itself has the potential to offer a remarkable encounter with nature, the current situation with overcrowding needs urgent attention.

We wanted to go to Mineriya but it was closed because of the season, so we ended up in Hurulu. We spoted many elephants and that was cute, but the park was was incredibly packed with jeeps. Every time we spoted an elephant a minimum 10-15 jeeps would gather arround. I wonder if that’s respectful for the animals… I think that if Minneriya had been opened, Hurulu wouldn’t have been so packed, so that’s something to consider. On the other side, there’s no much animal diversity

Amazing park! I got the impression most Jeep tour operators are about the same. Expect to see several groups and an occasional bull elephant, peacocks, monkeys and great vistas. A unique experience.

The safari organized by Seerock hotel, it was a very nice experience as the driver is desperate to show us more animals we enjoyed a lot as a family. All the safari trucks have option of opening the upper cover of the truck therefore we are free and the safari is very much enjoyable.

We saw lots of elephants and a wild buffalo. But I felt the money was not really worth it cause when you come to the main road too you can see many elephants on the side.

I did a lot of research to find the best ethical elephant safari in Sri Lanka and this is it. This park is not crowded, very lush, you see a lot of elephants, peacocks, hornbills and eagles. The jeeps are very respectful of the animals. Plus, it is cheaper than most parks (cost me 15,000 rupees for the jeep + entrance for one person, 20k if you are two people). I did the safari on a week day at 7am. The most jeeps we had in one spot was 10. Nothing compared to Yala or Udawalawe where you can have 50 jeeps in one spot. I highly recommend this place.

Für uns war es toll. Wir haben mindestens 40 elefanten gesehen, und nur 2 weitere Autos. Es war eine Private tour, gegen die Mittagszeit. Kann ich nur empfehlen! (Translated by Google) It was great for us. We saw at least 40 elephants and only 2 other cars. It was a private tour, around lunchtime. I can only recommend!

As far as elephants are concerned excellent sightings - but be careful of the operators - they gyp you in the blink of the eye. When we challenged with the rates displayed - he calmly refunds half the amount.

Totally breathtaking, the drivers were amazing and knew exactly where to go to see the elephants. Well worth the money

Rana was recommended to us and we found him to be a very helpful and accommodating person. Nothing was too much trouble and he was good at advising us on the best things to do depending on circumstances e. g. Although we wanted to go to Minneriya national park he suggested because of the flooding there that we went to the Eco Park where the elephants had moved to. We were not disappointed. He acted as our driver guide and we were very pleased with the three days we had with him.

We had a really nice Safari with Rana. Contrary to the majority of safari tour organizations we spoke to in Habarana, Rana was patient, genuinely friendly, and we had to pay a really good price.

Excellent service, excellent advise, would highly recommend. Rana is not only knowledgeable, kind and patient, he is passionate about providing the best customer service. Will definitely be using Rana in our return

Very reliable, friendly, knowledgeable, intelligent driver, and the best price you can find in Habarana for tours.

(Translated by Google) By chance, and because our bus from Tricomale did not go directly to Polonnaruwa, we had to change at Habarana. At that moment we decided to do the safari to Kaudulla and were lucky that we found this agency. The staff was very friendly and the price they gave us was the same as the one offered by the rest of the drivers on the street with the advantage of having two bottles of cold water and a good vehicle with a magnificent driver who was also very respectful of animals and had a very good eye for detecting birds and lizards among the trees. Highly recommended to hire the Safari directly with this agency. (Original) Por casualidad, y porque nuestro autobús desde Tricomale no iba directamente a Polonnaruwa, tuvimos que hacer transbordo en Habarana. En ese momento decidimos hacer el safari a Kaudulla con la suerte de que encontramos esta agencia. El personal era muy amable y el precio que nos dieron era el mismo que el que ofrecían el resto de los conductores de la calle con la ventaja de que te deban dos botellas de agua fría y un buen vehículo con un magnífico conductor que además era muy respetuoso con los animales y tenía muy buen ojo para detectar las aves y lagartos entre los árboles. Muy recomendable contratar el Safari directamente con esta agencia.

Beautiful nature. We went there around 2pm so were a bit earlier than all others for the evening safari. Great thing was that we were the only car in the National park for the major part of the tour. We've seen many different animals and birds. Not that many elephants but one family we could watch up close and they were not bothered at all by us, that was magical. We were told that there are more elephants in another national park right now, but we're not disappointed at all, it was worth it to be in a quiet without many other tourists and to watch diverse wildlife of the place. We took a safari driver in Habarana but it seems that all of them are similar. Ours was very respectful to animals (didn't go too close and turned off the engine, when we were watching animals) and pointed out some animals we wouldn't notice by ourselves.

A place like no other! A park where that can be seen elephants so closely and it is a great experience to life. The dry zone of Sri Lanka has few national parks that are sanctuaries, and provides accommodations for Asian Elephants. Minneriya National Park is a prominent place where you can watch elephants. This place is located around the Minneriya Lake and that attracts elephants and other animals. We visited there as a Safari and witnessed a few groups of elephants, nearly 30 - 40 by the figure. No restrictions for Safari vehicles in number of passengers - we had 9 onboard!

In the early morning, when the park was quiet, we stumbled upon elephants, and soon, we found ourselves surrounded by large herds. Being so close to these majestic creatures in Minneriya National Park was truly unforgettable. It's a unique place, offering a serene setting to observe elephants in their natural habitat. The dry zone of Sri Lanka has limited sanctuaries, and Minneriya stands out, providing accommodations for Asian Elephants. During our safari, we encountered several groups, totaling around 30-40 elephants. Interestingly, there were no restrictions on the number of passengers in safari vehicles, and we enjoyed the experience with a group of 9 onboard!

I really enjoyed while I was traveling to Polonnaru passing this greenery place fully covered trees and lucky to capture some photos of deer and elephants. I don’t wonder to see elephants or deer here but when I saw dogs there, it was really hurt me, why people leaving innocent dogs near this jungle. I respect this nature and this is the home of wild animals and please enjoy the movements without disturbing their lives. please follow the instructions and traffic signs, always animals crossing the road and please also don’t throw your waste outside the road.

Fantastic afternoon out enjoying to sight of elephants in their habitat. Loads of them by one of the lagoons munching on the grass and having a dip in the water to cool down. Highly recommended

One of the best national parks in Sri Lanka. Nearly it has 9000 hectares and ideal place to watch elephants closely. This park is also known as best elephant gathering place in South Asia. You can see elephant herds with 5-25 elephants most of the time. Not only elephants but also you can witness several bird spices in there. The park usually opens from 6 am to 6 pm.

Amazing experience The security of the elephants and their food and drink are very good. Also, there is enough water in Minneriya Reservoir, so the only place where we can look after elephants freely is Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya national park is mostly known for wild elephant migration and we could witness one of Asia's largest wildlife elephant gathering. The area was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1997. Apart from the elephants it also attracts other Flora and Fauna due to rich water resource available from the Minneriya tank. This tank was built by king Mahasen. Elephants from Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee Districts travel here during the dry season. We obtained the entrance tickets from the reserve and started our journey by a 4*4. We got to see the large parade of elephants and how they interact with each other and worth the time and money spent for this travel...

The Minneriya national park is about 30 min drive from Sigiriya , it is most famous for the amazing (elephant gathering about i think 350 ), also near the lake you can see very wide variety of birds. Wherever you look you'll see something .. birds, monkeys, spotted deers and many other animals. Best to visit during September and October. It's a breath-taking experience ,we enjoyed it more than yala safari. Seeing the baby elephants feeding with their mother was amazing and We were lucky to see two male elephants preparing to start a fight to be with the females. Fees is around 90$ for a private jeep for two adults.

Just 30 minutes from sigiriya also just 2-3 hour enough to go around this park. Absolutely gorgeous park for all your animal viewing needs, the park is normally home to the one of largest collection of wild elephants in the country (over 500 elephants) We went in noon time so we just witnessed less then 50 elephants but much batter time is afternoon times when its a little hot outside where the elephants go out near the water to cool off, also even good if you visit during July and August You can enjoy almost all the animals. You can also hope to see a lot of peacocks, spotted deer, monkeys, eagles and other smallers animals. (Guide said) The Safari ride price is also very reasonable and drivers (guides) are kind enough to explain all the details and also their takings enough risk to entertain us. But comparing to other safari’s like “Yala” not that much variety’s of animals are here but enough elephants are there to impress us.

Loved our trip here. Much more a safari experience than Yala National reserve. Less tourists and more animals! The tracks were smaller and you feel like you were driving through the jungle (not the M25 in London, as at Yala) We were incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by herds of elephants with their calf’s. At one point you can leave your jeep and head to a large viewing platform, with 360 views across the landscape. Would 100% recommend

Minneriya National Park is an absolute gem of Sri Lanka's wildlife sanctuaries! I had the most incredible experience exploring this park. The highlight was undoubtedly the thrilling elephant gathering, where my dear friend Buddhika Dediyagala and I were lucky enough to witness hundreds of majestic elephants roaming freely in their natural habitat. Although the park is also the habitat of leopards, deer, and a myriad of bird species, we unfortunately weren't able to sight any leopards or deer during our visit. Nonetheless, the lush landscapes and scenic beauty of the park made it a photographer's paradise. The knowledgeable guides added depth to the experience by sharing fascinating insights about the park's flora and fauna. A safari in Minneriya National Park is a must-do for any nature enthusiast visiting Sri Lanka!

Amazing national park where the animals are free to roam. Plenty of elephants and birds - highly recommended. Note please do not visit the elephant sanctuary’s in Sri Lanka. The elephants DO NOT have freedom and are chained to perform for tourist (bath and feeding time etc). Please do your research.

It’s a great place to see a lot of elephants. I used to really like this place and I can say that I like the park itself, I just do not like how many jeeps are allowed into the park at one time. Many times during this trip there were so many jeeps on the pathways that we couldn’t move. Also, in many of the videos I have, there is very little silence and instead the sound of jeep motors idling can be heard. It was not like this before. In the past the jeep I was in would stop and turn its engine off and you could sit in silence and only hear the elephants walking through the brush and the branches cracking as they walk. Now, most of the sounds you hear are of jeep engines not nature. I hope they put a policy in place to limit the amount of jeeps in the park. I don’t think I’ll go back again unless I see a policy change. I would have given it a 5 star if there weren’t so many jeeps.

We arrived early in the morning, and there weren't many people around. Within minutes of entering, we spotted elephants! As we continued, we encountered large herds of them, and we were not too far away, which made the experience even more enjoyable. If you're looking to see elephants in a peaceful natural park setting, this is the place for you. The tranquility and proximity to these majestic creatures make it an unforgettable experience.

Great national park. Within minutes of entering I enjoyed a close encounter with an elephant happily munching away. Defo recommend a safari and visit here.

Great experience! We paid 20.000 for a jeep with 4 people. We drove through the park for 4 hours in total and we saw lotsssss of elephants. It was amazing to see the elephants in their natural habitat. Recommend this spot! Follow me on Instagram for more travel tips (@heidifromholland)