Lunugamwehera Safari

Lunugamvehera National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s hidden wildlife treasures, offering an exclusive safari experience away from the crowds of the more popular national parks. Located between Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, this vast protected wilderness is renowned for its tranquil landscapes, rich biodiversity, and important role in conserving Sri Lanka’s elephant population and wetland ecosystems. Declared a national park in 1995, Lunugamvehera protects the catchment area of the scenic Lunugamvehera Reservoir while supporting a diverse range of wildlife including Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, and a remarkable variety of resident and migratory birdlife. The park also plays a vital ecological role by maintaining water levels for the wetlands of Bundala National Park and the downstream reservoirs of the Kirindi Oya region.

One of the park’s most fascinating features is its role as a natural wildlife corridor for elephants migrating between Yala and Udawalawe, creating exceptional opportunities to witness these majestic animals roaming freely within their natural habitat. The untouched scenery of open grasslands, forests, rocky outcrops, and peaceful waterways offers a truly immersive safari experience in Sri Lanka’s wild south. For travellers seeking a more exclusive leopard safari experience, the Galge Entrance near Yala Block V, also known as Weheragala, offers a rare opportunity to encounter elusive leopards in a far quieter and less commercialised environment. Unlike the busier regions of Yala, wildlife sightings here feel more intimate, authentic, and rewarding for passionate safari enthusiasts and photographers.