Lunugamvehera National Park
A quiet park built around a large reservoir that links Yala with Udawalawe, an elephant corridor with open plains, water birds and far fewer jeeps than its famous neighbours.
Wedged between Yala National Park to the east and Udawalawe to the west, Lunugamvehera, often referred to informally as Yala Block 5, was established in 1995 with a dual purpose in mind, protecting the catchment area feeding the Lunugamvehera Reservoir while also functioning as a genuinely important wildlife sanctuary in its own right. Its location turned out to matter more than anyone initially expected, the park now serves as a critical elephant corridor, allowing animals to move naturally between Yala and Udawalawe, while also providing habitat for elephants migrating in from the nearby Uva and Southern regions.
What draws safari goers here specifically is the contrast with its far busier neighbor, only a handful of jeeps, sometimes as few as four or five, enter the park on any given day, a dramatic difference from Yala's often crowded main blocks. That relative quiet doesn't come at the cost of wildlife either, leopards, elephants, wild buffalo, crocodiles, deer, sloth bears and a genuinely rich bird population all turn up regularly, guides here often building close, patient relationships with the terrain that pay off in genuinely memorable sightings, a leopard spotted climbing a tree just meters from a jeep being the kind of encounter regularly reported by visitors.
Safaris typically run five to twelve hours depending on the package chosen, park entrance tickets purchased separately from jeep hire, and the park connects closely enough with the adjoining Weheragala section that operators often combine both areas under a single entry ticket. For travelers who've already done a standard Yala safari, or who simply prefer a calmer, less trafficked wildlife experience, Lunugamvehera offers a genuinely comparable range of sightings without the crowds that have become synonymous with its more famous neighbor.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Around USD 19 for foreign visitors, plus jeep
- Opening hours: 6:00am to 6:00pm
- Time needed: Half day
- Best time: The dry season, May to September
Getting there
Near Thanamalwila, about 40km inland from Tissamaharama.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Lunugamvehera National Park?
- Around USD 19 for foreign visitors, plus jeep.
- What are the opening hours at Lunugamvehera National Park?
- 6:00am to 6:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Lunugamvehera National Park?
- Plan for half day.
- When is the best time to visit Lunugamvehera National Park?
- The dry season, May to September.
- How do I get to Lunugamvehera National Park?
- Near Thanamalwila, about 40km inland from Tissamaharama.