ABOUT MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK IN BRIEF
From the moment you plan your vacation at Minneriya, one of the most popular national parks in Sri Lanka; we assure you no disappointment. The park which is located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka, is among the best three national parks in Sri Lanka. With an area of 8890 hectares, the park is abundant in endemic wildlife species, flora and fauna. Minneriya National Park was established in 1997 and is transformed into an exquisite and an ideal wildlife tourist destination.
THE PARK
The park offers tourists a change of scenery as soon as you enter the territory. The shrubby areas and the mixed evergreen forest invites all tourists to have an experience for lifetime. King Mahasen was the mastermind behind the Minneriya Tank that acts as the centerpiece in the national park. The national park of Minneriya consists of a mixed combination of dry lands, wetlands, grasslands and chena lands which were once used for agriculture. One can capture some endemic wood types at the entrance of the park as Satinwood, Halmilla, Rosewood and Weera trees.
WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
An extraordinary diversity of wildlife creatures consider the Minneriya National Park as their home for a long time. The best wildlife attraction in the park is Elephants. During the season from June to October, herds and herds of Elephants are spotted at the Minneriya Tank who come searching for water.
Within the park there are many species of wildlife animals and creatures. In number, there are around 24 types of mammals, 09 species of amphibians, around 26 species of fish varieties, 25 species of interesting reptiles, about 75 species of butterflies and 106 bird varieties for your viewing around the park. Some of the popular mammals within the park include Elephants, Sambar Deer and Leopards.
During the season between June to October, which is considered as the migration period from parks to parks, large numbers of Elephants are spotted together crossing borders of the popular parks of Kaudulla, Wasgamuwa and Minneriya. The local guides are aware of elephant spotting areas at any given time.
Capture these momentary experience to your camera and you may even get lucky enough to capture a hunting Leopard crossing your path.
What more could you see at Minneriya is beyond the explanations. The park has been an ideal sight for all nature lovers and especially for bird lovers. Minneriya is home to over 400 species of beautiful and colorant birds creating the entire area a perfect bird watching sight for anyone interested. The trees are crowded with beautiful and unseen endemic and migrant birds during seasons.
Don’t let the long tongued frogs and lizards in competition to slip away from your eyes as they can only be captured by careful observation. While the frogs and lizards are abundant in the park, one could also miss the opportunity to capture some creatures as White Pelicans, Painted Stork and Grey Herons. It would be affordable to lose their sight, but never ever some popular wildlife creatures as Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl, Hanging Parrot, Brown-Capped Babbler and Grey Hornbill. Other wildlife creatures that are sighted in the park include, Sambar Deer, Macaque, Sloth Bear and Purple-Faced Langur. Let your camera be the lucky one to capture wild groups of creatures of their own kind looking out for each other in danger, scheming together to hunt down a prey or innocents enjoying their day light freedom.
YOUR SAFARI EXPERIENCE
As you choose to visit Minneriya, you have made the decision to experience one of the most essential and adventurous tours in Sri Lanka. The journey to the park and there on into the thickness of the forest will be on a jeep. The jeep safari throughout the day would let you stop where necessary and see any wild animal in close proximity where you can make your click to remember for the rest of your life. Even though leaving the jeep would be restricted, you may enjoy the breeze and the warmth of the earth once you stop for meals.
The park would be slightly hot tempered and gives you the ideal feeling of a wildlife safari. Not to mention that the sanctuary of Minneriya is unlike any other. One could experience nature at its best. On your way you might need to stop the jeep a while until an elephant or herd of elephants or any other wild creature crosses your path without disturbing their routine.
Let this rare life experience in Sri Lanka be a one full of memories. From the commencement of your tour to the end of it, you will experience nothing but extreme excitement, thrill, adventure and entertainment. Back in your camp, feel free to relax and enjoy the traditional Sri Lankan dishes or any other culinary preferences prepared by our experienced chefs. As you enjoy dinner at an amazing atmosphere throughout, embrace the cool breeze. Enjoy your luxury tents overlooking the serenity of the surrounding. Spend the night at your tent listening to the call of the wild and leave footprints in the morning.
Your safari experience in Sri Lanka would undoubtedly be one that creates beautiful memories. Make your stay even more interesting and special by making your choice right.
