Habarana is in the district of Anuradhapura, and is situated close to 2 National parks. If you are planning on visiting either; Habarana would be the ideal base to ground yourself in. Each park is around half an hour away, and there are many different types of places to lodge in.
The main attraction in these areas would definitely be the huge creatures that roam the lands; the Asian elephants. These are great places for anyone who wants to see hundreds of elephants at a time.
These 2 places are part of the Elephant corridor which joins up with Wasgamuwa. The elephants roam from one park to another during the dry season in search of food and water.
Minneriya National Park
The large amounts of grass surrounding the reservoir, and a massive tank filled with water are part of the reason as to why many elephants are seen in this area. In fact, this park is the largest known meeting place for Asian elephants.
This is the perfect opportunity to observe the behaviour of these creatures while they’re in their herds of hundreds. This gathering takes place between August and September. This usually occurs in the afternoons, and is an absolutely breathtaking sight. Switch off your vehicle engine so you don’t disturb them, and enjoy the magnificence of nature before you.
Besides the obvious main attraction, you could also see leopards, sloth bears, deer, sambar, buffaloes, jungle fowls- the national bird of the island, and much more. The first two are quite rare, but it’s not impossible to spot them.
This would also be a great place for anyone with a pair of binoculars and a love for birds, as there is also said to be around 170 species of birds here, some of which are endemic. One of these birds would be the lesser adjutant; which is globally endangered.
Endemic amphibians and reptiles are also known to be spotted here, such as the slender wood frog and the common tree frog, and the red lipped lizard. Although crocodiles are larger, you may have a tougher time spotting them around the water bodies. This is because they usually tend to be mistaken for logs.
Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla is an alternative to the comparatively busier Minneriya.. Fewer tourists visit this area, so it is not very crowded, but you will still see as many elephants as you would in the latter.
The best time to visit this park would be between August and December. During the rainy season, most of the park is under water due to the fact that the water bodies are in close proximity to each other.
Other than the elephants; once again, you would also see buffaloes, deer, sambar, chevrotain, leopards, sloth bears monkeys, a variety of turtles and other amphibians and reptiles, and -birdlife.
If you wanted to, you could choose to take a boat ride across the lake and go birdwatching. There are around 160 species of birds here, some of which can also be found in Minneriya. Besides the multitudes of peacocks, eagles and Giant Eagles, which are considered hereditary birds to the island, can also be seen here.
Even if you don’t come at the time of the famous gathering; these parks are known for their abundance of these elephants in general. As they’re also blessed with multitudes of fauna and flora, there will always be something for you to see; be it a small bird or a gentle giant.
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