Sri Lanka's best coastal birding, with almost no crowds.
Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park is a Ramsar wetland and UNESCO biosphere reserve about 20 minutes from Tissamaharama, and is Sri Lanka's best coastal park for birds, with elephants, crocodiles and no crowds.
- Migrant and resident birds, crocodiles, quiet drives
- December - March
- About 20 minutes
- Private jeep US$68 for 4 hours
A Ramsar wetland on the coast
Bundala is a Ramsar wetland and a UNESCO biosphere reserve: waterways, lagoons and coastal dunes rather than the dry forest of Yala.
Thousands of birds use it, from little bee-eaters to open-billed storks, and the lagoons hold greater flamingos in season.
Elephants and other wildlife
Between 15 and 60 elephants use the park depending on the season, and December is the best month to see them.
Crocodiles, wild boar, spotted deer, grey langurs and jackals are all regular sightings, and the beaches are a nesting site for sea turtles.
Yala or Bundala?
Book Yala if seeing a leopard matters most to you. Book Bundala if you care about birds, want a calmer drive with far fewer jeeps, or are visiting while Yala Block 1 is closed.
The price is the same for both parks on our own jeeps, so the choice is only about what you want to see.
Gates
Bundala main gate on the Hambantota road
Available here
Safaris in Bundala
Planning
Bundala questions
What guests ask before they choose this park.
01What is the best time of day for a Yala safari?
Early morning is best: the 4:30 AM start puts you at the gate as it opens, when leopards and elephants are still active and the light is good for photographs. The afternoon drive from 1:45 PM is the next best, ending in golden light.
02What is the best month to visit Yala?
February to July is the best stretch: the park is dry, animals gather at waterholes and leopard sightings are at their most frequent. Bundala is best from December to March, when the migrant birds are in.
03Is Yala closed in September?
Yala Block 1 usually closes for about six weeks from early September to mid-October each year for maintenance, but the exact dates are set annually by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Ask us for this year's dates - when Block 1 is shut we run safaris in Bundala or in Yala Blocks 5 and 6 instead.
04Will I definitely see a leopard?
No one can promise a leopard - this is wild country and the animals move where they like. Yala Block 1 has the highest leopard density in Sri Lanka, our trackers know the territories, and a longer drive improves your chances, but we will never guarantee a sighting.
05Which park is best for elephants?
Udawalawe is the most reliable park for elephants, with herds visible all year on open grassland. Yala holds around 350 elephants and Bundala has between 15 and 60 depending on the season, with December the best month there.
06Which park is best for birds?
Bundala is the best park for birds: it is a Ramsar wetland and UNESCO biosphere reserve where lagoons and dunes draw thousands of waterbirds, especially from December to March. Yala is also one of Sri Lanka's 70 Important Bird Areas, with more than 215 species and 6 endemics.