Kumana National Park

Kumana is Yala National Park’s smaller, less-visited sister — it was even once known as Yala East. As such, you’ll get all the great fauna and flora that Yala is famous for, without the large crowds that follow.

Spread over 357-sq-km, Kumana’s numerous lagoons make it the perfect sanctuary for birdlife. May-June is nesting season for the nearly 255 species of birds, which have been recorded in the National Park.

It’s not all about the birds, though. It’s not uncommon to see leopards, elephants, buffalo and crocodiles. There are even a smattering of very rarely seen bears in the park.

Kumana also has great religious significance — it is the site of the annual Hindu "Pada Yatra" pilgrimage, where thousands of devotees make their way through the park on the way to the Kataragama festival.