Bundala National Park
Southern Province
About Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park, stretched along the arid coast east of Hambantota, is Sri Lanka's premier wetland sanctuary - the country's first Ramsar site and a birdwatcher's alternative (or complement) to next-door Yala. Its chain of brackish lagoons, salt pans, dunes, and thorny scrub hosts almost 200 bird species; the headline act is the greater flamingo, whose pink battalions - sometimes over a thousand strong - winter on the lagoons between about September and March. Painted storks, spoonbills, pelicans, and rare black-necked storks stalk the shallows, while both mugger and saltwater crocodiles patrol the water and elephants wander the scrub. Because most visitors funnel into Yala, Bundala's tracks stay quiet - a jeep here at dawn, with mist over the lagoons and ten thousand birds waking up, is one of the south's great wildlife experiences.
Top Activities
- ✓Flamingo watching on the lagoons
- ✓Dawn birdwatching safaris
- ✓Crocodile spotting
- ✓Elephant encounters in the scrub
- ✓Photography of salt pans and dunes
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Take the dawn safari - birds are most active and the light is superb.
Bring binoculars; this park is about birds more than big game.
Pair a morning in Bundala with an afternoon Yala safari.
Quick Info
Best Time
September to March (migratory birds and flamingos)
Weather
Hot, dry and windy most of the year.
Estimated Daily Budget
6.1963°N, 81.2372°E
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