Kumana National Park
An east coast park of lagoons and mangrove swamp, the country's most important waterbird breeding ground.
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Kumana adjoins Yala on its eastern side and is centred on the Kumana villu, a mangrove swamp of some two hundred hectares fed by the Kumbukkan river, which is where the birds breed: pelicans, painted storks, spoonbills, herons and egrets nest here in large mixed colonies through the middle of the year. Elephants and leopards are present too, but the park is visited for the birds. It is far quieter than Yala next door.
What you actually see
- The breeding colonies - pelicans, storks and herons nesting in the mangrove swamp.
- The Kumana villu - the mangrove wetland at the heart of the park.
- The lagoons - a chain of water bodies along the coastal strip.
- The quiet - a fraction of the jeep traffic of neighbouring Yala.
When to go
April to July is the breeding season and the reason to come. The park closes for part of the year in some seasons. Early morning is best for activity.
Honest expectations
Outside the breeding months the park is much quieter and the colonies empty. The road down from Arugam Bay is rough. Facilities are minimal.
Nearby
Arugam Bay is north, and Yala is west.
What to pack for Kumana National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
