Bundala National Park

Bundala protects a chain of brackish lagoons, salt pans and dunes along the deep south coast and was the first Ramsar site declared in Sri Lanka. It is a bird park above all: greater flamingos winter here in numbers, along with migrant waders from as far as Siberia, and close to two hundred species have been recorded. Elephants, crocodiles and all five of the island's turtle species use the park as well.

Background

Protected as a wildlife sanctuary from 5 December 1969, Bundala was upgraded to national park status on 4 January 1993 at 6216 hectares; regazetting in 2004 reduced it to 3698 hectares. In 2005 UNESCO declared it the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka, and the National Bird Ringing Programme was launched here the same year. Its five shallow brackish lagoons measure, in hectares, Malala 650, Bundala 520, Embilikala 430, Koholankala 390 and Mahalewaya 260; three hold salt pans. The land rises from sea level to 10 metres. Surveys have recorded 383 plant species and 324 vertebrate species, among them 32 fish, 15 amphibians, 48 reptiles and 32 mammals. Of the 197 bird species, 58 are migratory.

Source: Wikipedia, "Bundala National Park"

What's there

• The flamingos - greater flamingos wintering on the lagoons from September.
• The migrant waders - shorebirds arriving from northern Asia for the winter.
• The dunes and salt pans - coastal habitats between the lagoons and the sea.
• The turtles - all five Sri Lankan species nesting on the park's beaches.

When to go

September to March is the migration and wintering season and the reason to come. April to August is much quieter for birds. Early morning is best.

What to expect

Flamingo numbers vary considerably year to year and some seasons are poor. The park is small and half a day covers it. Jeep drivers often rush it as an add-on to Yala.

Nearby

Tissamaharama is northeast, and Yala is beyond it.

Key facts