Sri Lanka wildlife holidays

Explore wildlife-filled national parks on a Wildlife holiday in the rainforests, highlands and arid plains of Sri Lanka. Search for leopard and sloth bear by jeep in Wilpattu National Park, or for elephant and buffalo in Udawalawe.

Small group wildlife tours to Sri Lanka

Take a wildlife tour on the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, a wildlife lover's paradise. Travel across the rolling grassland and through teak plantations and rainforest to see sambar deer, wild boar and elephant in Udawalawe National Park. If you look up, you might see magnificent birds of prey including the impressive white-bellied sea eagle.

Get away from the more touristy National Parks and take a jeep safari in Wilpattu. Famous for its natural lakes which attract herds of elephants and buffalo. It’s also world-renowned as a location to see the solitary and hard to spot leopard.

Experience the wildlife of Sri Lanka at your own pace. Our Sri Lankan wildlife tours range from Relaxed to Full-On. Get off the beaten track with our expert itineraries and local tour leaders.

Sri Lanka wildlife tours

Sri Lanka in Depth

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Highlights of Sri Lanka

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Best wildlife destinations in Sri Lanka

Game drive in Wilpattu
Discover Sri Lanka in Depth with a jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park. Spotted with over 60 lakes across the arid plains, Wilpattu is an ideal location to search for elephant and sambar deer taking a drink or bath in the cool water. If you're lucky, you may even spot a leopard.

Family camping at Udawalawe
With a backdrop of mountains and a mixture of rolling grassland, teak plantations, rainforest and scrub, the Udawalawe National Park provides natural habitat for plenty of wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see elephant as well as being home to deer, wild boar, buffalo, jackal and even the odd leopard. After an afternoon game drive by jeep in the park, we’ll return to camp with plenty of time for a BBQ and star gazing. Just one of the experiences on our action-packed Sri Lanka and Maldives Adventure.

What to expect on a wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka

When is the best time to go on a wildlife tour in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka offers year-round high temperatures in coastal regions but is cooler in the hills. It also has two monsoon periods; April to September in the southwest and October to March in the northeast. The best time to take a wildlife tour in Sri Lanka is before or after monsoon season.

What should I pack for a wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka?
Select your clothes bearing in mind that the climate in Sri Lanka is tropical but the upland areas are cooler and more temperate. Lightweight rain wear is essential, as well as warmer clothing for highland walks and chilly evenings and nights in the mountains. Lightweight shoes and sandals are also recommended.
Monkey in a tree in Sri Lanka
How much activity is there on a wildlife tour of Sri Lanka?
Most of our Sri Lankan Wildlife tours are graded as ‘Moderate’ pace. They are ideal if you want a holiday which combines exciting activity and experiences with plenty of time to relax and unwind.

How many people will there be on a small group wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka?
We limit our small groups to a maximum of 18 people. For family tours, in general you will travel with three to five other families. We find this group size optimum for finding likeminded fellow travellers while being small enough to get to the heart of your destination.

What is the accommodation like on a Sri Lankan wildlife tour?
On our wildlife tours in Sri Lanka we stay in a mix of hotels, heritage properties, campsites and homestays. Standards do not equate to the standards in the UK but accommodation is chosen to be comfortable and well-located to discover the country's greatest sites.