Birdwatching Wonderland: Bundala National Park is a mesmerizing maze of waterways, lagoons, and dunes that glitter like gold during the evening sun. It’s a wetland sanctuary of immense importance, recognized under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The park hosts thousands of colorful birds, from diminutive bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed storks. Keep an eye out for the greater flamingo, which makes Bundala its winter home, with up to 2000 recorded here at once. Additionally, you’ll encounter civets, giant squirrels, and plenty of crocodiles. The park stretches nearly 20 km along a coastal strip between Kirinda and Hambantota1.

Elephants and Marine Turtles: Depending on the season (December being the best month), Bundala is home to 15 to 60 elephants. Between October and January, four of Sri Lanka’s five species of marine turtles (olive ridley, green, leatherback, and loggerhead) lay their eggs on the coast within the park1.

Abundant Avian Life: Bundala shelters almost 200 species of birds within its 62-sq-km area. Many of these birds migrate from Siberia and the Rann of Kutch in India to winter here, arriving between August and April (with December to March being the peak time)1.

Crocodiles and More: Besides the avian wonders, Bundala also boasts crocodiles, making it a diverse and captivating wildlife destination1.

When you visit, don’t miss the visitors center at the main gate, where you can even check out the skeleton of a fearsomely huge crocodile! 🦜🌿🐊.