Minneriya Safari

The call of the wild beckons nature lovers to a rendezvous with nature! Welcome to Elephant territory; get ready to witness hundreds of Elephants as they come to feed at the famous Minneriya Tank, historically important because it was built by the great King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.

Elephant lovers are especially in for a treat during the “Elephant Gathering” which occurs during the dry season when large herds of over 150-200 elephants and sometimes as high as 700 gather at the Minneriya tank. Be one of the privileged few to join in this rare annual event known to be the largest Wild Elephant gathering in the whole of South Asia.

The rendezvous goes on… the valuable fauna includes 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 09 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 25 species of fish and 75 species of butterflies, some endemic, others resident and migratory.

WOW! That’s a lot of wildlife in a day!

Price Includes

Entrance fees and water is provided – there is a cool box in the vehicle and if you’re exploring the area by bike your biking guide will carry water.

Suitability for children

Kids may not follow the explanation, however there’s plenty of space to play. If you are doing the visit by bike – note kid’s bikes are not available.

Approximately Duration

Approx. 2 hours + the driving there and back or to your next activity.

Difficulty

Moderate. We rank it as Moderate not because of a climb as the surface is flat but because of the heat.

Starting Time:

9.00 AM to 12.00 AM, 10.00 AM to 1.00 PM, 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM

To wear and bring

Light clothing, sun cream, a hat. You might want to bring a change of shirt or t-shirt.

Important

You might like to see Anuradhapura by bike – a fun way of seeing town. The bike ride takes approximately 1 hour. The terrain is flat.

Private or Group

The visit is private, guided by your chauffeur guide, national guide or site guide. That said, there may be other people around at the site.