Located in the dry zone of the Moneragala district, the Lunugamvehera National Park links the Yala National Park and the Uda Walawe National Park providing an important corridor for elephant migration between the two. The park also protects the catchment basin of three man-made lakes that draw a host of birdlife to its shores, with common sightings being spot-billed pelican, black-headed ibis, Asian openbill, and painted stork. The shrub jungle and dry zone forests that surround the water bodies are home to the rare Marshall’s iora, only recently discovered nesting here, and endemic species such as the brown-capped babbler, grey hornbill, and the Sri Lankan wood shrike. Other than elephants, which are the main attraction of the park and often seen around the water bodies, sambhur, spotted deer, water buffalo, and mongoose are common sightings here.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass