Dehiwala Zoo (National Zoological Gardens)
Western Province
About Dehiwala Zoo (National Zoological Gardens)
The National Zoological Gardens at Dehiwala, opened in 1936 on the site of a 1920s private menagerie, is one of the oldest zoos in Asia and an enduring Colombo family institution. Its thirty landscaped acres hold around three thousand animals across a broad ark - Sri Lankan leopards and sloth bears alongside African lions, giraffes, and zebras - but its most enjoyable corners are the immersive ones: the walk-through aviary where hornbills sail overhead, the butterfly garden's drifting colour, the reptile house's unhurried pythons, and the aquarium's freshwater giants. Generations of Sri Lankan childhood memory live here, and continuing welfare-driven renovations keep improving enclosures over concrete-era designs. For families with a Colombo day to fill - or travellers whose safari luck ran dry - it makes an easy, shaded outing twenty minutes from the city centre, pairable with Mount Lavinia's beach next door.
Top Activities
- ✓Walk-through aviary
- ✓Butterfly garden
- ✓Sri Lankan leopard and sloth bear exhibits
- ✓Aquarium and reptile house
- ✓Combine with Mount Lavinia beach
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Weekday mornings beat the weekend family crowds.
Animals are most active before 10am - work the outdoor exhibits first.
Skip any animal-performance shows; the walk-through exhibits are the highlight.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round; weekday mornings
Weather
Warm and shaded; mornings are coolest for animals and visitors.
Estimated Daily Budget
6.8564°N, 79.8758°E
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