Why Visit Lahugala National Park?
Experience Travel Group
ABTA, ATOL, and B Cert Logos
Experience Travel Group Start Planning
Call Explore
Experience Travel Group
Explore 020 7924 7133 Start Planning
Why Visit Lahugala National Park?
ABTA, ATOL, and B Cert Logos

Why Visit Lahugala National Park?

Lahugala National Park is one of the smallest in Sri Lanka and one of its most valuable conservation areas for elephants and endemic birds.

Speak to an expert 020 7924 7133 1-888-577-8452

Lying in the basin of the Heda Oya, 16km inland from Pottuvil on the east coast, Lahugala has a total area of 1,554 hectares, encompassing three tanks (ancient reservoirs), Lahugala, Kitulana and Sengamuwa. These tanks are largely silted up and support an abundance of beru grass – the Asian elephant’s favourite. 

The park was declared as a sanctuary in 1966 and upgraded to national park status in October 1980. It was closed to visitors during the civil war due to security issues, but it is now re-opened to tourism.

Nearby to Lahugala is the historic sight of Magulmahavihara, built for the King Kavantissa’s marriage to Viharamaha Devi. It's comfortably possible to combine a visit to this monument with a trip to Lahugala National Park.

As the park lies in the dry zone, the tanks' vegetation is a dry mixed evergreen forest with scrubs. Beru, a tall reedy grass, covers the tanks. The park is traditionally used as a feeding ground by elephants, with herds of up to 150 known to be observed between June and August. Other mammals include endemic toque macaques, grey langurs, sloth bears, golden jackals, the Indian muntjac, and spotted deer. The birdlife is diverse and includes various waterfowl, raptors and the usual dry zone forest birds.

You can visit Lahugala National Park from a hotel in Ella or Arugam Bay.

 

Selected Wildlife Holiday Ideas:

Sri Lanka's Big Mammals

Sri Lanka's Big Mammals

Calling wildlife enthusiasts. Travel off-the-beaten-track with expert guides in search of elephants, leopards, whales and far more.

The Birdlife of Sri Lanka

The Birdlife of Sri Lanka

A remarkable journey through the eclectic terrain and natural habitats of Sri Lanka in search of some of the 500 endemic and migratory bird species that have been recorded here.

Natural & Wild Sri Lanka

Natural & Wild Sri Lanka

Enjoy the incredible wildlife of animals without missing the astonishing scenery, glorious beaches and local life.

Nature & Wildlife Explorer

Nature & Wildlife Explorer

Gorgeous scenery, birdlife, and the varied animal population that Sri Lanka has to offer, staying in tucked away hotels.


~
Not sure what you’re looking for?
Let us inspire you
~

Every ETG journey is unique. Tell us your loves, your hates, your holiday ambitions, your hopes and fears, and we’ll share a suitcase so full of inspired holiday ideas you’ll need to sit on it to shut it tight.

Your next adventure starts with a conversation...

Start Planning

Call us 020 7924 7133

Call us 1-888-577-8452



Experience Travel Group
More Sri Lanka
Holiday Inspiration
  • Classic Holidays
  • Family Holidays
  • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
  • Luxury Holidays
  • Slow Holidays
  • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
  • Off the Beaten Track Holidays
Guide to
Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lanka Guide
  • Weather & When to go
  • Hotel inspiration
  • Experiences inspiration
  • Sri Lanka Travel Blog
Places in
Sri Lanka
  • 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
  • National Parks
    • 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
ETG - immersive holidays that give back, since 2004.
Don’t just see Asia - feel Asia.
Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and travel inspiration...

How it works
  • Get in touch
  • Booking with confidence
  • How much does it cost?
  • Financial protection
  • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
  • Working with in-country partners
  • My Online Account
  • Come and see us
  • Request a Brochure
About Us
  • Why choose ETG?
  • Our Story
  • Meet the Team
  • Reviews
  • Our Promise
  • In the Press
  • Our Offices
  • Jobs
Information
  • Our Rating System
  • Exclusive Signature Experiences
  • Your Protection
  • Travel Insurance
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Package Travel Regulations
  • Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) Travel Advice
Sustainability
  • Travel Better
  • Give Back Experiences
  • Partnerships
  • Carbon Roadmap
  • B Corp Certified
  • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
Get Social

facebook.com/experiencetravel twitter.com/ExpTrav instagram.com/experiencetravelgroup

  • Visit us on Facebook
  • View @ExpTrav Twitter Feed
  • Visit our Travel Blog
  • Follow our Instagram page
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Book Club

© Experience Travel Group Ltd
Registered in England, Company No. 5071391 | ABTA Member | 9324 ATOL Protected
Site by Livingstone Creative

Website Terms of Use | Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy

  • Sri Lanka
  • India
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Bhutan
  • Oman
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Cambodia
  • Laos
  • Indonesia
  • Borneo
  • Multi-country

Explore
  • Use our Smart Search
Get in Touch
Sri Lanka Holidays
  • Classic Holidays
  • Family Holidays
  • Sri Lanka & the Maldives Holidays
  • Luxury holidays
  • Slow Holidays
  • Nature & Wildlife holidays
  • Off the beaten track holidays
Guide to Sri Lanka
Curious Traveller's
Guide to Sri Lanka
Get Your Copy
Inspiration
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
  • Weather & when to go
  • ETG newsletter: inbox inspiration
  • Unique hotels in Sri Lanka
  • Unique experiences in Sri Lanka
  • Travel gems in the ETG blog
Jungle River Safari in South Asia
"The possible's slow fuse is
lit by the imagination"
Inspire Me
About Us
  • Our Story
  • Why Choose ETG?
  • The Important Bits
  • Meet the Team
  • Sustainability
  • Come and see us
  • Make an Enquiry
Get the Newsletter
  • Destinations
    • Bhutan
    • Borneo
    • Cambodia
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Laos
    • The Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Oman
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • Multi-country
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Classic Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Luxury Holidays
    • Slow Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Off the Beaten Track Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Guide
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Sri Lanka Travel Blog
  • Places in Sri Lanka
    • 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
    • National Parks & Sancturaries
      • 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
  • About us
    • Why choose ETG?
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Reviews
    • In the Press
    • Our Offices
    • Our Brochure
    • Travel Blog
    • Newsletter Signup
  • How it works
    • Get in touch
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Come and see us
  • Immersive Holidays
    • Immersive Family Holidays
    • Immersive Honeymoons
    • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Holidays by month
    • Family Holidays by Month
    • Download Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Give Back Experiences
    • Partnerships
    • B Corp Certified
  • Come and see us
  • My Online Account
  • Brochure
  • Travel Blog