Located in the North Central Province, the Minneriya National Park is a relatively small park covering an area of 8,890 hectares. Don’t be fooled by its size because Minneriya is home to thousands of elephants and other wildlife such as leopards, Sri Lankan sloth bear, deer, buffalo, monkeys and mongooses.

While Minneriya’s not just about elephants, they are indeed the main attraction. It’s home to the world’s largest known gathering of Asian elephants, with up to 350 elephants congregating around the Minneriya Tank. This spectacle happens during the dry season when the elephants migrate to Minneriya National Park in search of food, water and shelter. However, elephant herds can be seen all year round since the national park is a part of the elephant corridor that connects Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National Parks.

What can we say? Minneriya is a must-visit for all nature and wildlife lovers. Conveniently located in close proximity to other popular attractions like Sigiriya, it’s the perfect addition to your Sri Lanka itinerary.