Bundala Ntional Park Sri Lanka

Bundala National Park - covers an area of slightly more than 6,200 hectares in the southern district of Hambantota. The Park falls within the arid zone of Sri Lanka, with a general climate which can be classified as hot and dry. 

The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes bordering the coastline, and vegetation consists mainly of dry thorny scrublands which provide a natural barrier to the winds which would otherwise accelerate desertification in the arid countryside.

A total of 383 plant species have been recorded from the park, including 6 endemics and 7 species considered as nationally threatened.  It is also home to 32 different species of mammals, 5 of which are classified as threatened.

For keen birdwatchers, the wetland system harbours an incredibly rich bird life with approximately 197 species, including several species of migratory waterfowl. The lagoons in the Park become home for the wintering waterbirds, with vast numbers of birds gathering regularly.

This has led to the declaration of the Bundala National Park as Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar Site – a wetlands area of great international importance. Bundala national Park is also the last refuge for the impressive Greater Flamingo, in this part of Sri Lanka.

The best time to visit Bundala National Park is between August and April, when shore bird numbers of up to 20,000 individuals have been recorded. Mother Nature is in her element in Bundala.

History and the Description of the Bundala National Park:

The bio diversity of this park is immense: A total of 383 plant species have been recorded in the Park, including 6 endemics, and 7 species which are considered to be nationally threatened.

It is also home to 32 different species of mammal, 5 of which are classified as threatened. For keen bird-watchers, the complex wetland system harbours a rich bird life, with 197 species having been recorded, including several species of migratory waterfowl. This has led to the declaration of the park as Sri Lanka 's first ‘Ramsar' wetland – one of great international importance especially for migratory waterfowl.

There is a small population of elephants in Bundala which are fairly easy to spot in the open habitat. Visitors can be lucky and see a lone elephant walking along the beach, in perfect isolation.Leopards can also be found in the Park with their food source being the numerous Spotted, Sambar and Barking deer.

Marsh and estuarine crocodiles are both found in Bundala in addition to Monitor lizards and a variety of other reptiles.

Of the 197 bird species listed in the Park, every species of water bird found in the country is said to visit here. The rare Black-necked Stork and Great Thick-knee are particular birding highlights. It is easy to spot Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Red Shank, Spot-billed Pelican, Blue-faced Malkoha, Crested Hawk Eagle and Brown Shrike, to name but a few. Migrants and vagrants make the journey from as far as Siberia ; over 15,000 shore birds might be feeding at any one time between October and March.