Minneriya

PLACES TO EXPLORE

Sri Lanka compresses an astonishing diversity of landscape and culture into a landmass smaller than Ireland. Within a few hours’ drive you can move from ancient kingdoms carved in stone to rainforests dripping with endemic birdlife, from surf towns to elephant corridors, from colonial forts to cloud-wrapped tea estates. Each region holds its own character, rhythm and reason to arrive slowly.

Between July and October, the annual Gathering at Minneriya sees several hundred Asian elephants converge on the ancient Minneriya tank as its waters recede – exposing rich grazing grounds and creating what is widely described as the largest single elephant congregation on earth. Outside the gathering season the park remains exceptional for birding, wild buffalo herds and its intact dry-zone forest ecosystem.