Gal Oya National Park
About Gal Oya National Park
The Park was established in 1954 to protect the main catchment area of the largest tanks in Sri Lanka, the Senanayake Samudra and several other tanks. There are over 10,000 tanks in Sri Lanka, which were built by ancient kings and used to be the centres of agricultural activities.
WHERE
Gal Oya National Park is located in the south-east of Sri Lanka beyond the island’s central hills, to the west of Ampara, north-west of Arugam Bay. It covers an area of approximately 63,000 hectares. Inside the boundaries of Gal Oya National Park there are 3 mountains – Danigala, Nilgala and Ulpotha – the highest peak reaching 900 metres. To the west of the Park, in the hills was the last stronghold of Sri Lanka’s indigenous tribes, the Veddhas.
WHEN
March to July is the best time to see wildlife.
WHAT TO DO
Gal Oya National Park is the only park in Sri Lanka where it is possible to hire a small boat and experience a boat safari. There are many small islands in this reservoir, and it is often possible to see elephants swimming from one island to the other. Gal Oya National Park is home to 32 species of terrestrial mammals including Asian Elephants, Sri Lankan Leopards, water buffalo and sambar deer. The slow, yet elusive sloth bear inhabits the Park alongside the many easy-going and endemic Toque Macaque monkeys. Sri Lanka’s largest bird, the recognizable Lesser Adjutant is a resident of the Gal Oya National Park, as are several raptor varieties (birds of prey) including White-bellied Eagles and Grey-headed Eagles. There are 150 of Sri Lanka's 430 recorded bird species resident here. Kurulu Dupatha or Birds Island is home to a great number of birds nesting in the forest and in the rocky outcrops on higher ground.
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