Use Hambantota as your starting point for the wild and sacred places of the deep south.
Wildlife & Nature
The quiet wilderness
Bundala
Where wetlands meet the coast, Bundala is a landscape of lagoons, scrubland and wide open skies. It is particularly known for its birdlife, including migratory birds that arrive during the season, making it a beautiful place to spend a morning surrounded by nature.
A world of wings
Hambantota Bird Park
A peaceful place for those who enjoy the quieter side of nature. Wander through the park and discover a variety of birds in landscaped surroundings, making for an easy and relaxing outing from the Rest House.
Into the wild
Yala National Park
For a deeper journey into the wild, head towards Yala. Its forests, open plains and lagoons are home to elephants, leopards, crocodiles and an extraordinary variety of birds and other wildlife.
A safari closer to home
Ridiyagama Safari Park
A little beyond Hambantota, Ridiyagama offers a different way to experience Sri Lanka's wildlife. Travel through open landscapes and encounter elephants, lions, zebras and many other animals in a spacious safari setting.
The Sacred South
The sacred south
Kataragama
Follow the road east and the landscape gradually changes from coast and wilderness to one of Sri Lanka's most important sacred places. Kataragama brings together pilgrimage, tradition and devotion, creating an experience that is very different from the wildlife and coastal landscapes around Hambantota.
A quiet walk
Dry Zone Botanical Garden
Discover a different side of Sri Lanka at the Dry Zone Botanical Garden in Mirijjawila. Designed around the plants and landscapes of the island's dry zone, the gardens offer shaded paths, tropical greenery and a peaceful setting for a slow morning or afternoon away from the coast.