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Minneriya National Park

Sri Lanka, Cultural Triangle

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Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank (reservoir), Minneriya National Park is home to one of the largest gatherings of Asian Elephants in the world.

From your base in the Cultural Triangle, your driver will take you to the park entrance where you will be met by your own private jeep and tracker, providing you with the ultimate private safari experience.

Although a great place for elephant spotting all year round, the scarcity of water during the dry season between June and September forces more and more elephants to gather on the shores of Minneriya Tank. By late August, the awe-inspiring site of up to 300 elephants can be seen during a phenomenon known as The Gathering. It is the largest gathering of Asian elephants that can be seen anywhere in the world. Observe baby elephants playing, bull elephants tussling for dominance and the great matriarchs surveying the scene. It is not a sight you will forget in a hurry.

In addition to the elephant, you can expect to see up to 23 other species of mammal, such as Sambar or Axis Deer or two of Sri Lankas endemic primates, the Purple-faced Langur and the Toque Macaque. You may even be lucky enough to catch sight of some of Minneriyas most elusive inhabitants, the Sri Lankan Leopard and the Sloth Bear. The park is also home to a vast array of reptiles and birds including the beautiful Painted Stork, the Pelican and the Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot.

Tie in an afternoon safari at Minneriya with an early morning Hot Air Balloon ride, taking in the awe-inspiring view as you float over the National Park.

The park is best visited as a half day trip, as the animals tend to hide out of the lunchtime sun. We generally suggest an afternoon trip, arriving at the park around 3 pm and returning as the sun sets.

Minneriya Safari - loved the elephants gathering but felt uncomfortable with the vehicles racing for pole positions but knew what to expect and our jeep guide was a lovely trainee volunteer park guide with great knowledge of other wildlife and trees.

Diana, October 2012

Minneriya, an ideal starting reserve. Plenty of elephants (being watched by a large number of vans) to start but having left the hordes we saw plenty of birds, and then monkeys, dear - and not forgetting the rattle snake. We had a guide from the reserve whose knowledge was excellent.

Gary, September 2012

You can include this experience as part of an Experience Travel Group holiday designed exclusively with you.

Boutique Maldives & Sri Lanka Holiday

Boutique Maldives & Sri Lanka Holiday

A classic Sri Lanka and Maldives holiday with unique cultural experiences and beautiful boutique hotels throughout.

Essential Sri Lanka with East Coast

Essential Sri Lanka with East Coast

The east coast has calm seas and the island's best weather from May-September, making it a fantastic option for a summer holiday.

Sheer Indulgence in Sri Lanka

Sheer Indulgence in Sri Lanka

Discover the highlights of Sri Lanka while enjoying famous, luxury hotels like Aman and Tea Trails.

Map centered on Minneriya National Park. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.

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Experience Travel Group

020 7924 7133 Get in touch

Call
  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Borneo
      • Indochina
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Classic Sri Lanka Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Ultimate Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Off the Beaten Track
    • Slow Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Why choose Sri Lanka
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Free Country Guide Download
  • Info on Sri Lanka
    • Nature and Wildlife
      • Overview
      • Bundala National Park
      • Flood Plains National Park
      • Gal Oya National Park
      • Horton Plains National Park
      • Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
      • Kumana National Park (Yala East)
      • Lahugala National Park
      • Lunugamvehera National Park
      • Maduru Oya National Park
      • Minneriya National Park
      • Somawathiya National Park
      • The Knuckles Range
      • The Sinharaja Rainforest
      • Udawalawe National Park
      • Wasgamuwa National Park
      • Wilpattu National Park
      • Yala National Park
    • Getting Around in Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • Chauffeur Guides & Transportation
      • Vehicles in Sri Lanka
      • Internal Flights
      • Helicopter in Sri Lanka
    • Honeymoons in Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Weddings
  • Regions of Sri Lanka
    • Overview
    • The Cultural Triangle
    • Colombo, Negombo & Around
    • Kandy and Around
    • The Hill Country
    • West Coast Beaches
    • Galle and Around
    • The South Coast
    • Puttalam & the North West
    • The East Coast
    • Jaffna & The North
  • About us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Reviews
    • Our Press
    • Our brochure
    • Our Blog
  • How it works
    • Why choose us?
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Trip planning process
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Contact Us
  • Holiday Types
    • The Revitalise Collection
    • Immersive Escapes
    • Honeymoons
    • Family Travel
      • Holiday Inspiration by Theme
      • Where to go when
  • Inspiration
    • Inspire me
    • Travel Soon
    • Plan Ahead
    • Month by month weather guide
    • Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
    • Giving Back
  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • My Booking
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