Starting from : Sigiriya (Transfer Time – Approx. ½ hr one way)
Time Duration : Approximately 3 hrs Afternoon safari from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm
Meals : Not Included
Minneriya National Park is situated in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, 182 kilometers from Colombo. The park was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938 and as a national park in 1997. Protecting the catchment of the Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area is the main purpose of declaring it as a sanctuary. The tank was built by the King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD and carries a significant historical value. The park serves as the feeding ground for the elephant population living in the forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts. Minneriya is one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs of Sri Lanka)
The Minneriya habitats consist of low-canopy montane forests, abandoned chenna lands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and wetlands. The national park’s faunal species include 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies.
During dry seasons, a large number of elephants (around 150-200, sometimes even 700) move towards the grass fields of the reservoir from Wasgamuwa National Park for food and shelter. The Minneriya tank serves the large herd of elephants.