Wildlife in the South Coast

The south coast is a prime location for exploring the wildlife in Sri Lanka. Those hoping to see elephants in Sri Lanka will be delighted by Uda Walawe National Park, home to approximately 500 elephants which often move in unusually large herds of up to 100. There are also Sloth Bear, leopards, buffalo and deer here, as well as the water monitor lizards and crocodiles which lurk on the edge of the lake. Also worth visiting is the Uda Walawe Transit Home, which rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves before releasing them back into the wild.

Take a boat trip out to sea from Mirissa Harbour to view the largest animal on earth – the Blue Whale – as well as Sperm Whale and dolphins. Also fascinating are the antics of the flying fish which, upon the approach of your boat, take to the air and skim over the surface of the ocean for an astonishingly long distance.

Those interested in exploring marine life in Sri Lanka should also visit the Turtle Conservation Project in Rekawa. Go on a guided night walk between March and December to see the magical sight of female marine turtles hauling themselves up the beach to lay eggs. The TCP protects these nests until the hatchlings emerge and return to the sea.

There are also several opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving along the south coast of Sri Lanka, such as at the lively Unawatuna beach. Expect to see eels, sting rays, nudibranchs and brightly-coloured tropical fish, as well as the occasional sea turtle. Explore more opportunities for seeing wildlife in Sri Lanka.