Bundala National Park
A coastal wetland and biosphere reserve famous for its birds, with flocks of greater flamingos, pelicans and painted storks, plus crocodiles, elephants and monkeys.
Along a narrow coastal strip in the Hambantota district, where brackish lagoons, tidal mudflats, scrub jungle and sand dunes run parallel to the Indian Ocean, Bundala holds the honor of being Sri Lanka's very first Ramsar designated wetland, recognized in 1990 or 1991 depending on the source, under the international Convention on Wetlands of Importance for Migratory Waterfowl. Originally declared a wildlife sanctuary back in 1969, it was formally upgraded to national park status in January 1993, and in 2005 UNESCO added biosphere reserve status too, making it the fourth such reserve in Sri Lanka and the country's only coastal biosphere reserve.
Birds are really what put Bundala on the map, with roughly 197 to 200 recorded species, the overwhelming majority of them aquatic, storks, pelicans, ibises, cormorants and sandpipers moving through the shallow lagoons in genuinely striking numbers. The undisputed star, though, is the greater flamingo, migrating in from as far as northern Asia each winter, flocks sometimes numbering up to 2,000 individuals during the November to January peak, their pink silhouettes reflected across the park's brackish water pans in one of Sri Lanka's most photographed wildlife spectacles.
Beyond the birdlife, Bundala holds real mammalian and reptile interest too, a resident elephant population, physically smaller than their cousins elsewhere but reputed to carry a notably more short tempered disposition, alongside saltwater crocodiles resting along the lagoon banks and four of Sri Lanka's five sea turtle species coming ashore along the beach fringe to nest. Considerably less visited than nearby Yala, Bundala largely avoids the weekend crowds and jeep congestion that can build up at its more famous neighbor, making it a genuinely rewarding, quieter alternative for travelers prioritizing birdwatching over leopard chasing.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Around USD 15 for foreign visitors, plus service charges
- Opening hours: 6:00am to 6:00pm
- Time needed: Half day
- Best time: September to March, for migrant birds
Getting there
About 15km east of Hambantota. Safaris run by jeep from the park entrance.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Bundala National Park?
- Around USD 15 for foreign visitors, plus service charges.
- What are the opening hours at Bundala National Park?
- 6:00am to 6:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Bundala National Park?
- Plan for half day.
- When is the best time to visit Bundala National Park?
- September to March, for migrant birds.
- How do I get to Bundala National Park?
- About 15km east of Hambantota. Safaris run by jeep from the park entrance.