North Central Province
Kaudulla National Park, near Habarana and Sigiriya, is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see large elephant herds around a reservoir. It's a sister park to Minneriya: in the dry season the herds move between the two, and safari drivers choose whichever park has the best sightings that day. Afternoon safaris are most popular.
| Kaudulla | Minneriya | |
|---|---|---|
| Famous for | Elephant herds at the reservoir | "The Gathering" in the dry season |
| Crowds | Often quieter | Can be busy at peak times |
| How to choose | Your driver checks where the herds are that day | Same |
Read more in where to see elephants and the Sri Lanka safari guide.
Check current details before travelling: prices, opening hours, access and seasonal conditions change.
It depends on where the herds are that day. A good driver checks and chooses the right park for you.
The dry season, when elephants gather around the reservoir.
Yes. Climb Sigiriya in the morning and go on safari in the afternoon.
Yes. Elephant safaris are a family favourite.
Minneriya National Park surrounds an ancient reservoir in the Cultural Triangle. In the dry season, as the water retreats and fresh grass appears, large numbers of elephants gather on its shores in what is known as the Gathering.
Sigiriya is the rock fortress most travellers picture when they think of Sri Lanka. A royal citadel was built on and around this granite outcrop in the fifth century, and its gardens, painted ladies and lion-paw gateway still make it the highlight of the Cultural Triangle.
Polonnaruwa was the island's capital in the medieval period. Its ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are compact and well preserved, set beside a great reservoir built by King Parakramabahu I.
Ritigala is the atmospheric ruin of an ancient forest monastery, hidden on a jungle-covered mountain between Anuradhapura and Habarana. Stone paths, bridges and double-platform meditation buildings sit among huge trees. It's far quieter than the main ancient cities: ideal if you love history and peaceful places.
Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you love, and we'll suggest a route that fits. There's no obligation.