This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 20 kilometers from Yala specializes in wetland birds and serves as a crucial stopover for migratory species. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Yala.
What It Is
You'll navigate through scrubland to reach brackish lagoons where pink flamingos feed in shallow water while pelicans and storks wade nearby. The experience is quieter than Yala, focusing on patient observation as hundreds of bird species move through reeds and open water.
Why Visit
Better for bird enthusiasts than Yala, with specialized wetland species. It is not the first thing you should see in Yala, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave.
More on Yala
It is in the Bundala National Park Area part of Yala. It is one entry in our list of things to do in Yala.
We plan trips to Yala and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.