Popham Arboretum
A dry-zone woodland near Dambulla grown by an Englishman from scrub, using a method of selective clearing.
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Sam Popham bought seven acres of degraded scrub near Dambulla in 1963 and set about growing dry-zone forest on it by a simple method: cutting back the scrub around whatever tree seedlings appeared and letting them go, rather than planting. It worked, and the arboretum now covers around thirty-six hectares of mature dry-zone woodland with labelled trails. Night walks are run to find slender loris, which are reliably seen here.
What you actually see
- The regrown forest - dry-zone woodland raised from scrub by selective clearing.
- The slender loris - reliably found on guided night walks.
- The labelled trails - paths through the woodland with tree identification.
- Popham's bungalow - the house he built and lived in on the site.
When to go
January to April is the driest. Night walks run through the year and are the main draw. Early morning is best for birds.
Honest expectations
The arboretum is small and the daytime walk takes an hour. Night walks must be booked and the loris are not guaranteed. Facilities are simple.
Nearby
Dambulla is nearby, and Sigiriya is northeast.
What to pack for Popham Arboretum
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.