‘The Gathering’ of elephants arguably makes Minneriya the best place in the world to watch elephants during the summer. As Minneriya forms part of a major elephant corridor, visitors throughout the year have opportunity to see elephant herds.
‘The Gathering’ of elephants arguably makes Minneriya the best place in the world to watch elephants during the summer. As Minneriya forms part of a major elephant corridor, visitors throughout the year have opportunity to see elephant herds.
The large Minneriya lake is a magnet for elephants from neighbouring areas as water sources begin drying up in June. As the lake shrinks, sprouting grass on the lakebed provides an irresistible attraction for elephants. The elephant congregation reaches its peak size in August-September, often reaching as high as 300. This annual event is known as ‘The Gathering’ when the elephants come for sustenance and to look for mates.
The park is also an important habitat for Sri Lanka’s two endemic monkeys, the purple-faced langur and the toque macaque.
Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer frequent the park. Leopards, Sloth Bear and Grey Slender Loris also inhabit the park but sightings are infrequent.
Among the rich migrant and resident birdlife are endemics like Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul, and the crimson-fronted barbet. Apart from Crocodiles and monitor lizards, there are 8 endemic reptiles including the red-lipped lizard.
The park offers safaris in the morning and evening.
The morning safari is prime time for bird watching and observing small elephant groups. There is time to observe the endemic purple-faced langur and toque macaque, and other small mammals.
The evening safari is best suited to watching larger herds of elephants congregate at the lake, where they stay for hours relaxing and displaying family and social bonds.
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