Kaudulla National Park Elephant Safari | Habarana Sri Lanka

"Absolutely incredible and the best place to see natural habitat of elephants."

Source: TripAdvisor

Image Gallery

(Photo credits goes to original authors)

Directions (Google Maps)

Description

Some 22 KM north of Habarana, Kaudulla National Park was established in 2002 to provide another link in the migratory corridor for elephants, connecting with Minneriya and Wasgomuwa national parks to the south, and Somawathiya National Park to the north and east. As at Minneriya, the centrepiece is a lake, the Kaudulla Tank, where elephants collect when water dries up elsewhere. The best time to visit is between August and December, with elephant numbers peaking in September/October (slightly later than Minneriya’s “Gathering”) when up to two hundred congregate at the tank. Outside the dry season much of the park is under water, and elephants can be more difficult to spot. Other wildlife inhabiting the park’s mix of grasslands and scrubby forest includes sambar deer, monkeys and the inevitable (but very rarely seen) leopards and sloth bears, plus a characteristically wide array of bird life.

Flora and Fauna:

Elephant Gathering

The faunal species recorded in the park include 24 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 160 species of bird. In the drought period Sri Lankan elephants move to the Minneriya tank to drink and feed. Around the month of September the elephants move to the Kaudulla tank in search of more water and food.Despite the escalating human-elephant conflict, the number of elephants increased in the dry zone and 211 individuals have been counted in Kaudulla as recently as 2008.

Sri Lankan sambar deer, Sri Lankan axis deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Sri Lankan leopard, and sloth bear are other mammals found in the park. Kaudulla National Park is also one of the sites in which the gray slender loris is reportedly found in Sri Lanka. Following the discovery of a two-month-old albino Sri Lankan axis deer calf abandoned by her mother, it is supposed that Kaudulla is probably the only national park in Sri Lanka to have albino axis deer.

Large water birds such as spot-billed pelican and lesser adjutant visit the Kaudulla tank. Fish species in the tank include the freshwater Oreochromis mossambicus. Fejervarya pulla is an endemic amphibian to Sri Lanka that inhabits the National Park. Freshwater turtles, Indian flap-shelled turtle and Indian black turtle are the noteworthy reptiles.

The average annual rainfall is between 1500MM. – 2000MM. The rain is mainly from north-eastern monsoon. Dry weather condition prevails during the period from April–October in the year. The average annual temperature varies between 20.6 C – 34.5 C.

Top sights in Kaudulla

Elephant Gathering

Things to remember in Kaudulla

Bring water bottle with appropriate clothing for tropical conditions.
   • Clothing - Loose cotton or breathable fabric clothes.
   • Shoes - Good trainers/runners/ sneakers.
   • Hat - Broad brimmed hat to keep the sun away.
   • Sunscreen - Definitely a good idea in the tropic
Be aware of dust
Entrance Ticket Cost and Safari Jeep cost
Most preferred time : Afternoon

Places nearby

Pidurangala Rock
Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple)
Sigiriya Sanctuary
Sigiriya
Minneriya National Park (Habarana)
Kandalama Reservoir

Hotels nearby

Heritance Kandalama
Amaya Lake
Lake Lodge Boutique Hotel
Habarana Lodge
Hotel Sigiriya

Kalundewa Retreat
Popham's Arboretum
Jetwing Lake
Amaya Signature
Diyabubula, the Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway

YouTube Videos

References:
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/sri-lanka/cultural-triangle/habarana-around/kaudulla-national-park
https://www.kaudullasafari.com/about

Kaudulla National Park Elephant Safari | Habarana Sri Lanka