Why Bundala National Park will steal your heart
On the dry south-east coast, not far from Yala, lies a landscape of shimmering lagoons, salt pans, sand dunes and scrub. This is Bundala National Park, and it's one of the finest places for birdwatching in South Asia.
Bundala was Sri Lanka's first wetland to be protected under the international Ramsar Convention, and it is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Its lagoons attract huge numbers of resident and migratory waterbirds.
From roughly November to March, migrant birds arrive from the north to spend the winter here, sometimes including flocks of greater flamingos, which turn the lagoons pink. Resident species include painted storks, spoonbills, pelicans, herons, ibises and colourful bee-eaters.
It's not just about birds. Crocodiles bask along the lagoon edges, elephants sometimes wander through the scrub, and in season, sea turtles come ashore to nest on the beaches.
Because it's much quieter than Yala, Bundala makes a peaceful, relaxing half-day safari. It's perfect for photographers, nature lovers and anyone who wants to add something different to a Yala trip.
