Best Place to See Elephants in Sri Lanka
Learn everything you need to know about seeing elephants in Sri Lanka! Make sure you check off your bucket list item with our guide to Sri Lankan elephant encounters.
About Elephants in Sri Lanka
Elephants are found all over Sri Lanka, although primarily in the less populated northern regions, with a population currently estimated at around 7500 animals. Sri Lankan elephants are a subspecies of Asian elephant known as Elephas maximus maximus. They are the largest subspecies of Asian elephant, weighing up to 5.5 tonnes, and standing over 3m tall. Elephants in Sri Lanka are only slightly smaller than the largest elephants in Africa.
Very few Sri Lankan elephants have tusks, both male and female; those that do are known as Tuskers. Because of this, poaching is no longer a major threat to elephants in Sri Lanka. Elephants in Sri Lanka live in herds that can number hundreds, they can also live for around 70 years or more, and classified as endangered animals.
Did You Know?
Elephants are revered in Sri Lanka. To kill an elephant carries the death penalty, and one elephant was even provided with an armed guard whenever it was moved around the island.
Where to See Elephants in Sri Lanka
There are numerous places to see elephants in Sri Lanka. If you are in the right place, you may see wild Sri Lankan elephants wandering across the road or through fields. However, for your best chance of a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, there are four nature reserve locations to visit:
Yala National Park
About the reserve: Yala National Park is a huge area of protected land on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. It is separated into sections, given its size, and is the most visited reserve in the country. Yala is known not only for being one of the best places to see Sri Lanka’s elephants, but also having a high population of the stunning Sri Lankan leopard. Unlike in northern locations, where Sri Lankan elephants roam about more freely, the Yala National Park has a permanent residence of around 300 elephants.
When to visit: You can see Sri Lankan elephants in Yala all year round, except for during the rainy season which occurs in the south around September to October. During the rainy season, the park is closed for about eight weeks. It is recommended you visit Yala in the dry season of May to September, however. While elephants remain here at all times of the year, they can be difficult to spot when not required to venture out of the trees for water.
Kaudulla National Park
About the reserve: Kaudulla National Park is located in the northern reaches of the island, towards the eastern coast when heading out of Kandy. Its location makes it an excellent place to see Sri Lanka’s elephants. Kaudulla park is very popular, visited by tens of thousands of people each year, primarily to see elephants in Sri Lanka, but also for the high density of birds in the area. This reserve has ample room to sustain elephants, and is away from human activity often avoided by the animals, which means hundreds of elephants are sighted here.
When to visit: You’ll find elephants here all year round, but (as with Yala National Park) they’re not very easy to spot during the rainy season, as they stay in the forests. In the dry season however, from August to December, they emerge to head for the larger watering holes, one being the Kaudulla Reservoir. This makes it much easier to see Sri Lanka’s elephants.
Minneriya National Park
About the reserve: Minneriya National Park is one of the most history wildlife reserves in Sri Lanka, having originally been classed as a sanctuary in the 1930’s, but given greater protected status towards the new millennium. A major reservoir, known as Minneriya Tank, sits in the heart of the park, which attracts a vast array of life, including Sri Lankan elephants. Minneriya is one of the best places to see Sri Lanka’s elephants, with many hundreds of the giants travelling from several neighbouring districts to the park every year. The park is primarily a large flatland area, which makes it perfectly suited for wildlife spotting.
When to visit: Minneriya National Park is famous for what is known locally as ‘The Gathering’. This is when hundreds upon hundreds of elephants collect on the banks of the lakes around the park to drink during the dry season. This is known to be the largest gathering of Asian elephants anywhere in the world. From July until around November, you’ll be treated to droves of Sri Lankan elephants, making perhaps the best place to see elephants in Sri Lanka. They tend to come out at night to drink, but in the day they eat along the dense treelines and are very easy to spot.
Udawalawe National Park
About the reserve: Udawalawe National Park is found in the southern regions of Sri Lanka, just a little north of the more famous Yala National Park. It’s particularly popular with visitors to Colombo, being the closest major elephant reserve near the country’s capital city. Far smaller than nearby Yala, Udawalawe still has lots to offer, including fantastic elephant populations ranging up to 250 permanent residents, as well as a number of other mammals and birds.
When to visit: You can visit Udawalawe reserve at any time of year and almost be guaranteed elephant sightings. Your best chances are during the dry season of May to September, where elephants are drawn to riverbeds, however, there are elephants here all year round and because the park is quite small and open, there is always a very good chance you’ll spot a wild Sri Lankan elephant. Udawalawe is definitely the best place to see Sri Lankan elephants if you are visiting between December and June, or if you are in the south. While Minneriya offers better sightings when the dry season occurs in the north (July to November) Udawalawe is often considered superior outside this window.
Catching a Glimpse of Sri Lanka’s Elephants
It doesn’t matter if you go to Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Minneriya National Park, or Kaudulla National Park, you do have a good chance of seeing elephants in Sri Lanka at any time of year. A small island with the largest population of Asian elephants anywhere on the continent, it’s much easier to see elephants here than most other countries on Earth, which is why so many people are choosing to visit the beautiful country of Sri Lanka.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan ahead to improve your chances!
Spotting Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka: North or South Sri Lanka?
Elephant populations are higher in north Sri Lanka, but there is more wilderness here, which means it’s more difficult to spot them. The south, by contrast, has smaller elephant populations, but they are found in higher density in particular areas. So where to go?
If you are visiting during the dry season up in north Sri Lanka, which is July to November, then visiting the parks in the north will ensure you have the best chances of seeing wild elephants in Sri Lanka. If you are visiting outside of this window, your chances are better in the south of the island.
Image source: Mongabay
Important Things to Know About Encountering Elephants in Sri Lanka
Not all elephants in Sri Lanka are given the room and space to experience a natural and wild existence that all elephants in Sri Lanka should be provided. Some Sri Lanka elephants are kept privately and while not necessarily mistreated, are not afforded the same enriching lifestyle as their wild kin. However, when we say not necessarily mistreated, there are plenty of privately owned elephants that are regularly chained and paraded about for the enjoyment of the public, or offered as rides.
NEVER accept a ride on an elephant. Sri Lankan elephants are heavy animals with delicate joints designed to support their massive body weight, not the weight of riders as well. Rides on any elephant can be very bad for their health.
Conservation groups in the country have been fighting to stop Sri Lankan elephants going to places like temples and ‘sanctuaries’ in recent years. Sadly, elephants here are not often treated well, which is why it is best to avoid these locations in favour of wild encounters. We will preface this by saying not every scenario is identical, and there are a few examples of ethical management of non-wild elephants in Sri Lanka, often for rehabilitation and release, or protection of vulnerable animals, such as the Elephant Freedom Project.
For the most part though, we recommend you avoid any non-wild Sri Lankan elephant encounters unless you have thoroughly researched the institution that privately owns the elephants and are fully aware of the treatment these animals receive, and why they are not wild Sri Lankan elephants.
Worst Places to See Elephants in Sri Lanka
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a famous tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. Thousands visit this location to see elephants in a pictersque setting frolicing in the water. What’s hard to see, under the currents around their legs though, are the chains that force them to remain in place for holiday snaps. Avoid locations like Pinnawala.
Recent years have also seen much controversy surrounding the treatment of animals in Buddist celebrations and rituals, conservation group Rally for Animal Rights and Environment has decried the use of elephants in such circumstances, claiming they result in cruelty towards Sri Lankan elephants. As we’ve already highlighted, not every situation is going to be the same, but it’s impossible to know with certainty if you are supporting cruelty towards elephants in Sri Lanka by supporting such events. The best thing to do is to avoid these as well and seek out encounters with Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population.
How to Contribute to Responsible Elephant Watching in Sri Lanka
Elephant safari in Sri Lanka has seen a massive rise in popularity over recent years, as the country becomes a hotspot for western tourism. This is no bad thing, as the influx of interest spearheads financial growth of wild encounters, discourages captivity, and provides money for reserves to fund conservation efforts and expand natural habitats for elephants.
However, as with all wildlife viewing, it’s important to be cautious when getting involved in elephant watching in Sri Lanka. There are strict rules and guidelines about distance and disruption to elephants, but not all tour groups pay attention to these. Regulations are not always abided by, and in some instances overcrowding of vehicles can be very common, cutting off elephant movements, disrupting their behaviour, causing stress and unrest, and even splitting up animals.
Make sure you invest in using a reputable tour operator that respects the guidelines and natural behaviour of these elephants in Sri Lanka, even if it sacrifices wild thrills. Anyone promising close up views should be avoided. At Xplore Our Planet, we’re advocates of passive wildlife encounters, those that do not change the way that animals interact with the world. Find an operator that cares about the welfare of the creatures on which their income relies. If animals opt to interact and get close to you, then that’s their decision, but any operation that forces you in their path so you can get a better look is not providing ethical or responsible Sri Lankan elephant encounters.