What to expect
- A private 4×4 with a spotter, not a shared jeep
- Afternoon entry at 2:30pm when the herds come down to graze
- Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu, chosen by current sightings
- Bird life including painted stork, serpent eagle and openbill
Where to do it
- Minneriya National Park, the Gathering, June to October
- Kaudulla National Park, an alternative when Minneriya is dry
- Hurulu Eco Park, reliable when both are quiet
- Udawalawe, year-round elephants in the south
Best season
June to October for the Gathering, when up to 300 elephants come to the receding reservoir. Sightings are good year round across the three parks.
Good to know
Stay seated while the vehicle is moving, keep arms inside, and never stand between an elephant and water. Our drivers hold park licences and keep a 30-metre distance. No flash photography.
