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Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park
4.5
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
About
Minneriya National Park is a national park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Admission tickets
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$90.00
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See what travelers are saying

  • Kerryn N
    27 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Incredible experience with elephants but more regulation needed
    We hired an open jeep and driver for a 3 hour tour through the park. Although the description of the park said there were lots of different types of animals we only saw elephants - which was an amazing experience! The day we went there were many jeeps. Unfortunately this meant that there was a frenzy to get close to the elephants and at one stage an elephant was clearly distressed at being cornered by the jeeps. Our driver was good and tried to tell other drivers to make a path for the elephants to cross but many drivers just wanted to get as close as possible. There was no sign of any regulation by park rangers - this is desperately needed.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written December 26, 2023
  • Dr_Kippers
    75 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of elephants!
    If you want to see wild elephants, then this is the place. We saw over 70, and you would have to be very unlucky not to see any. However, we also had mixed feelings. We had a brilliant driver who kept a distance from the elephants and parked up in areas where he thought they would come our way, which they mostly did. Some of the elephants came very close to our jeep which was amazing. Other drivers were much less considerate and drove up to the animals. Some drive guidelines/training/regulation would be helpful to ensure animal welfare isn't compromised.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 14, 2024
  • Matt L
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful national park
    This is a stunning place with a lot of elephants on site. We saw 15 elephants during the half day morning trip (unsure on the name of our company) but this is a beautiful place and we were advised not to visit as we were already booked to visit Yala but if you can afford to do both i would recommend it as the elephant encounters we experienced (i know this is not the same for everyone) was worth every penny. We and a number of our vehicles did get stuck due to the ground conditions.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 18, 2024
  • traveller
    Sheffield, United Kingdom709 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Forget Africa and enjoy the Sri Lankan safari
    We had an excellent Safari with a young driver who knew the park and tried to find quieter spaces. I understand comments about the Grand Prix approach to the start of the Safari with so many vehicles but it’s a lovely park and one to enjoy. We saw dozens of elephants in several herds, including baby elephants, and the bird life was excellent too.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 2, 2024
  • Nik_sing
    Hong Kong, China73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An absolute mesmerizing!
    An absolute mesmerizing! Our visit to Minneriya National Park in Habarana was beyond extraordinary. Thanks to our expert safari driver, we had the privilege of encountering over 100 elephants in their natural habitat. From observing their daily routines to witnessing their playful antics, every moment was enchanting. Our kids were over the moon seeing so many elephants for the first time. This half-day adventure from Sigiriya is an absolute steal – unbeatable value for an unforgettable experience
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 3, 2024
  • Jay Miah
    Swansea, United Kingdom36 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth every penny to see the Elephants in the wild
    The best jeep safari I’ve ever been on. Seeing the elephants in the wild was something special. Do’s - Find an honest Sri Lankan who can help you with cost. Our Uber driver has helped us. Instead of paying 40 000 SLR offered by our hotel staff. We paid 9 000 SLR to the jeep driver who picked us up at 6am and returned us at 9:45am - Entrance fee to the park at 22 000 SLR for my wife and I Don’t - Pay 40 000 or more SLR with hotel Give it a go. I’ll never forget our experience today 28/07/2024
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 28, 2024
  • Explore Sri Lanka
    Galle, Sri Lanka106 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the best places to see the Elephants
    This is among the world's best locations to see wild elephants. The visitor's vehicle park is next to the Habarana - Polonnaruwa main road. A huge visitors' vehicle parking area is available. There is a ticket booth where you must purchase a ticket in addition to making arrangements for a safari vehicle. It takes close to three hours to finish this entire journey.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written August 15, 2024
  • Scenic Lanka Personal Tour Drivers
    Colombo, Sri Lanka244 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Discovering Minneriya National Park: A Tour Guide’s Perspective on Sri Lanka’s Elephant Haven
    As a tour guide at Minneriya National Park, I am constantly amazed by the park’s remarkable wildlife and stunning landscapes. Known for its incredible elephant gatherings, Minneriya offers a unique and awe-inspiring safari experience. Visitors have the opportunity to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, especially during the dry season when the park’s large reservoir attracts hundreds of elephants. Beyond the elephants, the park is home to diverse flora and fauna, including various bird species and endemic wildlife. Our goal is to provide an informative and immersive experience, ensuring that each guest leaves with a deep appreciation for Sri Lanka’s natural beauty. Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast or simply looking to connect with nature, Minneriya National Park is a must-visit destination that promises unforgettable moments. #ExploreSriLanka#ScenicLankaPersonalTourDrivers
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled on business
    Written August 16, 2024
  • Jet Lanka Tours (Dinu)
    Kandy, Sri Lanka45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Majestic Elephant Gathering and More
    Visiting Minneriya National Park was a highlight of my trip to Sri Lanka. The park is famous for its impressive “Gathering” of wild elephants, and seeing hundreds of these magnificent animals converging around the waterholes during the dry season was absolutely breathtaking. The park’s diverse landscapes, from lush grasslands to dense forests, provide a great backdrop for wildlife spotting. Besides elephants, I encountered a variety of birds and other animals, each safari drive offering new surprises. The peaceful environment and natural beauty made for a truly relaxing experience. I also appreciated the historical significance of the park, with its ancient irrigation systems hinting at Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. For the best experience, I’d recommend visiting during the peak gathering season and going with a knowledgeable guide to get the most out of your visit.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 24, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,019 reviews
Excellent
1,156
Very good
556
Average
181
Poor
64
Terrible
62

These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Saachi Rajiv
Dubai, United Arab Emirates32 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
We visited on 28 December at about 11 pm with out two children aged 5 and 2. The safari drivers did mention that due to rains only a few elephants were sighted the previous day. After much discussion they still urged that we take the ride which lasted about 2.5 hours. The cost was about 13,000 LKR (5000 for the driver and 8000 for entry with taxes and rental for car.). Peacocks and butterflies were more commonly visible while an eagle and some other exotic birds in smaller numbers. Going one way (about an hour) was exciting though while coming back the same route was taken and kind of felt dull because we knew the elephants aren’t going to show up anymore. Initially I was upset for spending that amount and not having achieved our objective of seeing elephants but then their movement can’t be controlled by the authorities whatsoever. It’s part of nature and luck. Very unfortunate though we will try again some other time in a season which is more suitable.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matt L
Dubai, United Arab Emirates22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is a stunning place with a lot of elephants on site. We saw 15 elephants during the half day morning trip (unsure on the name of our company) but this is a beautiful place and we were advised not to visit as we were already booked to visit Yala but if you can afford to do both i would recommend it as the elephant encounters we experienced (i know this is not the same for everyone) was worth every penny.

We and a number of our vehicles did get stuck due to the ground conditions.
Written February 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,293 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
This was very nice as the elephants were very close up and we had to wait until they decided to go. The park took a long time to go in and we only saw elephants by the lake and not much else but so many of them. It was not cheap about $US-00 and with all the jeeps there they made a lot of money that day!. The park only was designated in 1997 and before that was a wildlife sanctuary since 1938
Written November 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie B
London, England, United Kingdom63 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
You are guaranteed to see elephants ! But do you want to see elephants almost being boxed in by so many jeeps all fighting to get the best spot for their visitors ! A guaranteed good tip for the drivers.
The system needs to change . Timed entries might work to reduce the amount of jeeps at one sighting. The early sighting as you entered the park was the most crowded. I actually wanted to move on not hear a baby elephant calling for its mother as it had been separated by jeeps! Boy those elephants are patient.
Further in when the jeeps split off it was a little better.
Sri Lankan National Parks, protect your elephants if you want more tourists to visit.
I for one felt really uncomfortable and had I realised how crowed the elephants would be I would never have taken the trip!
Please please , time your entries, American parks are now doing that and they are so much better for both the wildlife and the tourist.
Your drivers are lovely and trying to earn a crust . I understand that but this practice is off putting.
I would not recommend this until things change.
Written February 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anthony S
Brisbane, Australia1,860 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Visited in a private safari Jeep and collected our guide at the gate. He was excellent and had a great knowledge of the birds as well as excellent spotting ability and he pointed out many species we would have missed without his assistance.

We spent four hours in the park and sited 42 species so an excellent result.
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gihe
Coventry, UK73 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
First off - a disclaimer. The national park is beautiful. But we went on a Jeep Safari with some company who's name I forget. And yes, we saw some elephants. There's something magical about seeing a family of elephants in the wild, munching on grass and seemingly at peace with the world. But then you zoom out and realise that you're sitting in one of about 20 jeeps, all crowded round the animals, trying to get closer while belching out thick diesel exhaust fumes. It was like being on the M25 at rush hour, just with a few elephants nearby. As I took part in this sorry scene, I felt a deep sense of shame and regret. Yes, I was a tourist and yes I was contributing to this. If you can live with that, then fine. For me, it's my last 'safari' - I'll watch the elephants on David Attenborough next time.
Written May 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kerryn N
27 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
We hired an open jeep and driver for a 3 hour tour through the park. Although the description of the park said there were lots of different types of animals we only saw elephants - which was an amazing experience!
The day we went there were many jeeps. Unfortunately this meant that there was a frenzy to get close to the elephants and at one stage an elephant was clearly distressed at being cornered by the jeeps. Our driver was good and tried to tell other drivers to make a path for the elephants to cross but many drivers just wanted to get as close as possible. There was no sign of any regulation by park rangers - this is desperately needed.
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janckae
Milan, Italy134 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
Natural park famous especially for the presence of elephants, which crowd the park during the dry season.
This presence, I was told, is due to the lake retreating in the warm season, and allows the formation of a wide expanse of fresh grass, which becomes a delicious food for elephants.
Entry allowed only with jeeps with drivers.
There is a large crowd in the late afternoon, when the animals come out of the forest to go eat near the lake.
I visited it immediately in the early afternoon, Recommendation as there is no traffic of other jeeps
I almost had the feeling of going on a private tour.
The thrill of finding yourself with elephants walking in their natural habitat was unforgettable.
Automatically translated
Written September 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dr_Kippers
75 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
If you want to see wild elephants, then this is the place. We saw over 70, and you would have to be very unlucky not to see any.
However, we also had mixed feelings. We had a brilliant driver who kept a distance from the elephants and parked up in areas where he thought they would come our way, which they mostly did. Some of the elephants came very close to our jeep which was amazing. Other drivers were much less considerate and drove up to the animals. Some drive guidelines/training/regulation would be helpful to ensure animal welfare isn't compromised.
Written January 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jet Lanka Tours (Dinu)
Kandy, Sri Lanka45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Friends
Visiting Minneriya National Park was a highlight of my trip to Sri Lanka. The park is famous for its impressive “Gathering” of wild elephants, and seeing hundreds of these magnificent animals converging around the waterholes during the dry season was absolutely breathtaking.

The park’s diverse landscapes, from lush grasslands to dense forests, provide a great backdrop for wildlife spotting. Besides elephants, I encountered a variety of birds and other animals, each safari drive offering new surprises. The peaceful environment and natural beauty made for a truly relaxing experience.

I also appreciated the historical significance of the park, with its ancient irrigation systems hinting at Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. For the best experience, I’d recommend visiting during the peak gathering season and going with a knowledgeable guide to get the most out of your visit.
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Minneriya National Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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