Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa lies between the Mahaweli and Amban rivers with the Knuckles foothills rising to the west, and it was created partly as a refuge for animals displaced by the Mahaweli irrigation scheme. It holds a resident elephant population of a few hundred, sloth bear, leopard and a good bird list, and it gets a fraction of the visitors that the northern parks do. A long-running research project on elephants and on reducing conflict with farmers operates from here.

What you actually see

• The resident elephants - a few hundred living in the park year round.
• The river boundaries - the Mahaweli and Amban framing the park.
• The Knuckles foothills - the range rising along the western edge.
• The quiet - a park where a sighting is usually yours alone.

When to go

November to May is the drier window here, the reverse of the north-central parks. Early morning is most productive. The park can be difficult to reach after heavy rain.

Honest expectations

Sightings are less frequent than in the Gathering parks and the bush is thick. The access road is rough and long. Facilities near the entrance are minimal.

Nearby

The Knuckles range is west, and Habarana is north.