Ever wanted to see a leopard scratching a tree or watch a herd of elephants walking right next to you? You might think that you need to travel to Africa for these experiences, but the island nation of Sri Lanka offers all of this and more. Rich in biodiversity, Sri Lanka is home to 140 species of mammals, 435 species of birds, and 174 species of reptiles. While you won’t be able to see them all, here are many of the safari wildlife highlights.

Leopards

Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park has the highest concentration of leopards in the world! These are Sri Lankan leopards, one of eight subspecies of leopard worldwide. Seeing one is cause for great excitement (kudos to our safari driver, Isuru, for capturing that great shot above). Because leopards are nocturnal, they’re not necessarily easy to find during the day, and you may need to and wait for a while before you find one. When you do see one padding silently through the grass, it’s magical.

Bears

Leopards may get all the glory on a Sri Lankan safari, but spotting a Sri Lankan sloth bear is even rarer — there are only around 500 of them left in the wild. The highest density of them lives in Wasgamuwa National Park, but we were incredibly lucky to see one at Yala National Park.

Elephants

Sri Lanka also has its very own elephant: the creatively named Sri Lankan elephant, one of three subspecies of Asian elephant. There are about 7,000 of them in the country, and they’re very large, so your chances of seeing one at either Yala National Park or Udawalawe National Park (especially the latter) are nearly 100%. We saw them munching on grass, throwing dirt on themselves to keep cool, and just hanging out.

Deer

I’m not sure it’s possible to visit these parks without seeing a herd of spotted deer, but that didn’t make me love them any less! Actually, while Sri Lankan axis deer (a.k.a. Ceylon spotted deer) may seem plentiful in the national parks, their population is considered vulnerable —as a result of both hunting and deforestation, only a few thousand of these deer remain today on the island.

We also saw several sambar deer at Yala National Park, but none close enough to photograph.

Crocodiles

Sri Lanka is home to two kinds of crocodiles: the mugger and the saltwater. The saltwater–the world’s largest living land reptile–is larger and more aggressive. I didn’t get close enough to check, but given their lakeside location, these were most likely mugger crocs.

Monkeys

You’ll find two monkey species in Sri Lanka: the toque macaque and the purple-faced langur (above, you’ll see two of the latter watching a group of spotted deer). Both are endemic to the island, and while all of these primates are endangered, you’re still likely to see one or the other (or maybe both) when you visit the parks.

Water Buffalo

Wildlife experts aren’t certain about the origins of Sri Lanka’s buffalo. The island may retain its own wild population of Asian buffalo, but it might have been replaced—or interbred—with domestic herds over time. Either way, you’ll see buffalo in the national parks, often cooling off in water holes.

Birds

It feels strange to lump all birds into one large category — there are so many of them — but since this isn’t a bird-specific post, I’ll take the risk. Peafowl (above) abound, as do Asian green bee-eaters …

… and changeable hawks (photo taken by my husband through a monocular).

Less common — and, therefore, more exciting, at least to some — is the black-necked stork …

… and who doesn’t want to see a Sri Lankan junglefowl (unofficially known as Sri Lanka’s national bird)?

With a little effort, you’ll see much more than this: painted storks and blue-tailed bee-eaters, spot-billed pelicans and Malabar pied hornbills, pond herons and Oriental darters. Keep your binoculars handy!

Essential Tips for a Sri Lanka Safari Wildlife Adventure

• Where should you go to see all of these amazing creatures? I visited multiple sections of Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park and saw all of the animals mentioned above. You can also try Horton Plains National Park for a mountain adventure, Minneriya National Park for one of the largest concentrations of Asian elephants in the world, or the less-visited Wilpattu or Gal Oya National Parks for quieter experiences. For birds, don’t miss Bundala National Park.
• What’s the best time to visit? This depends on (a) what you want to see and (b) how hot and/or wet you want to be while seeing it. In general, you’ll likely be most comfortable between November and early April. But there’s an argument to be made for visiting some parks in their dry seasons, when animals are easiest to see as they cluster around water sources.
• How do I see the animals? Booking a safari tour is key to having a great experience — especially if you get a good driver who knows how to find and identify the animals. There are dozens of providers out there, but I had a great experience with Wanderluxe Ceylon. Walking around on foot in areas with leopards, elephants, and buffalo is not only inadvisable, but illegal; Horton Plains is the only one of these national parks where you can see critters while out on a hike.

Want to keep exploring Sri Lanka?

Here are a few more adventures to inspire your trip:

• 🚂 Train Travel in Sri Lanka: Scenic Journeys to Remember — ride through misty hills, tea fields, and storybook stations
• 🌿 4 Must-Do Activities in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s Hill Country — escape the heat as you sip tea, visit temples, and wander gardens
• 🏰 Exploring Galle Fort, Sri Lanka: A Walk Through History — trade the jungle for cobblestones in this seaside colonial gem