The Kanneliya Rainforest is one of Sri Lanka’s lesser-known forest reserves, yet astonishingly, is one of the world’s 21 biodiversity hotspots. The reserve is also a major catchment area for two of the most important rivers in the region, the Gin and Nilwala Ganga (river), which feed many other rivers and streams.
The main attractions in this tropical rainforest include the cascading Anagimale Waterfall, an ancient tangled giant creeper, the little waterfall of Narangas Ella and a massive Nevada tree with an observation platform – a great spot to look out over the lush reserve.
Marked as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2004, the forest covers an area of 5,306 hectares and boasts a diverse range of flora and fauna. Some 220 faunal species (of which 41 are endemic) have been recorded, including 86 species of mammals, 36 species of snakes (17 endemic forms), and several varieties of fish, butterflies, dragonflies, amphibians and reptiles. Of the 33 endemic birds in Sri Lanka, 20 are found here. Flora includes over 500 types of trees and a wide variety of medicinal herbs and rare plants.
Neatly tucked away just 63 kilometres from Galle Fort, the outskirts of the Kanneliya forest houses around seventy-eight villages. Your trek will be led by a local naturalist from one of these villages, someone who very likely has spent his entire life within the reserve. The most popular and recommended trek is approximately 2 hours and takes you past the Nevada tree to the beautiful Anagimale Waterfall. The tracker will walk you through the forest, showing you unique plants and trees, and pointing out any animal sightings along the way. If you’re feeling adventurous you can crawl through a mini cave underneath the rainforest floor. You will stop at the waterfall for refreshments and a quick break, before heading back to the entrance of the forest.
You can chose to enjoy a packed meal served in the shallows of an idyllic lake. The scenery is straight out of The Jungle Book and the opportunity to be out in nature makes this a fantastic experience for families and children,
Longer treks of 3.5 hours or 5 hours are also available.
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