Most Striking Feature

Gal Oya national park offers you a rare opportunity of getting closer to exotic animals and birds. You can get out of your safari vehicle and explore the jungle on foot; something that adds to the excitement.

The reservoir within the park allows you to experience an intimate boat expedition; the only park where you can enjoy a safari by boat as well as by jeep.

Gal Oya park is famous around the world for ‘sitting-and-swimming’ elephants. The serene water of the Senanayake Samudraya reservoir is punctuated with a variety of islands. So, the elephants swimming from one island to the other, always make a picturesque scene.

Landscape & Views

About 45% of the Gal Oya national park is covered with the dry-zone forest. 33% contains an area of Savannah-like grasslands and 9% is mountainous grasslands. 10% consists of water bodies and 2% is covered with Chena, an area of virgin or secondary timberland.

The terrain of the Gal Oya, situated between the dry-zone forest and the Savannah, makes it one of the best sites for wildlife photography. The water stream which feeds the Senanayake Samudraya falls to the reservoir through a natural tunnel. That place is known as ‘Makara’ or ‘Makara Kata,’ meaning Dragon’s Mouth in the Sinhala language.

The mountains of Nilgala, Ulpotha, and Danigala with an elevation of 30 m to 900 m are situated in the national park.

History & Archaeology

Gal Oya is home for one of the Veddah clans, the indigenous hunter-dwellers who are still alive in Sri Lanka. In the Nilgala area alone, there are about 80 Veddah families living. The Henebedde Cave which you can find at the Danigala area --the home of the Henebadde Veddahs-- contains historic Brahmi inscriptions, something priceless for any history lover.

Biodiversity & Rare Species

Gal Oya national park is home to over 32 species of mammals, including the old-world monkeys –Langur and Toque Macaque which is endemic to Sri Lanka, the leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, water buffalo, and the deer.

The park is blessed with a dazzling array of colourful bird species which makes it a must-see destination for birdwatchers. The island named ‘Bird’s Island,’ found within the reservoir, is a rare nesting place for birds.

Access

The entrance to the Gal Oya National Park is at Inginiyagala which can be reached from Colombo:
From Ratnapura – Pelmadulla – Udawalawe – Thanamalwila – Wellawaya - Moneragala - Siyambalanduwa - Inginiyagala.

Visiting hours for the Park - 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mode of safaris - Jeep Safaris & Boat Safaris

Best time of the day to visit the Park - 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Best months to visit - Throughout the year. The sighting of the swimming elephant is from March to July.