Safari in Gal Oya

renowned for elephants swimming in the lake

Gal Oya National Park is located in the east of Sri Lanka, around 125 km to the east of Kandy.

At just 259 sq km (100 sq mi) this is a very modestly-sized conservation area, although other neighbouring reserves roughly double that area, all of which is more-or-less connected by wildlife corridors all the way south to Yala.

The scenery here comprises undulating hills covered in evergreen forests, surrounding substantial areas of savannah grasslands.

The reserve is home to 32 species of mammals, including common langur monkeys, toque macaque monkeys, Sri Lankan leopards, Sri Lankan sloth bears, Sri Lankan elephants, wild boars, water buffalos and three species of deers.

Around 150 species of birds live within the reserve, notably including lesser adjutants, red-faced malkohas, spot-billed pelicans, Indian cormorants, Oriental darters, grey herons, lesser whistling ducks, white-bellied sea eagle and grey-headed fish eagles.

Gal Oya is the only national park in the country where motorboat safari is offered, with the very large Senanayake Samudra Reservoir lying at the heart of the reserve. This gives rise to a big highlight (and the main reason to include the area in your trip), that of viewing herds of elephants as they swim between the various islands, using their trunks as snorkels. This is always a gorgeous and very special scene and one which you are likely to have to yourselves. The lake also hosts a good population of mugger crocodiles.

Where the Gal Oya River falls into the reservoir, the water passes through a natural tunnel, known locally as the Makara Kata (Dragon’s Mouth).

Around 15 km east of Gal Oya lies the Buddhangala Sanctuary, where a stupa building dating back to around 150 BC is said to stand on a site where Buddha is supposed to have meditated on his third visit to Sri Lanka and which is now a pilgrimage site.

The best time of year to visit the Gal Oya area is generally considered to be during the Jun-Sep northeast dry season and, to a lesser extent, the Jan-Mar southwest dry season.

Temperatures are more or less constant year round, with daytime temperatures around 28C/82F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures up at a potentially uncomfortable 20C/68F.

The main issue is rainfall, which is highest Oct-Dec and has another smaller peak Apr-May. These periods are therefore usually best avoided.

Getting there

The Gal Oya area is usually reached by road. For our guests, this means combining it with various other locations on the island in a private guided overland safari, travelling in the company of an expert driver-guide. Popular connections include …

Kandy : 3-4 hours
Nuwara Eliya : 2-3 hours
Pattalam : 1-2 hours
Wasgamuwa : 3-4 hours
Yala : 3-4 hours

The Gal Oya area is not connected by train.

Where to stay

We presently only offer one property in this area, namely Mahoora Gal Oya Camp, which is an authentic tented mobile operation which can be set out for private groups of up to six guests

options to set out a mobile tented camp