The Selective Edit
Be inspired by Sri Lanka
Explore a hand-picked selection of our favourite journeys, articles, experiences and special places to stay in Sri Lanka. Not one to be read in a rush, it’s time to grab a cuppa, and see where it takes you…
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Visit a conservation project in Wasgamuwa National Park
Visit a conservation project in the rich forests and grasslands of Wasgamuwa National Park where they are battling the conflict between elephants transiting on migration paths and the communities and farmers settled there.
Taste Sri Lanka
You’ve not experienced true Sri Lankan cuisine until you’ve eaten in Sri Lanka. From fine dining to street market eats, food plays a big role in socialising and community, so prepare your tastebuds and tuck in.
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Looking Beyond Yala: Selective's choice of the best Sri Lanka's National Parks
Yala holds the title of Sri Lanka’s most popular National Park for very good reasons. Its vast landscape varies from lush forest to dry grassland, and includes many wide lakes and lagoons, making it a haven for the island’s diverse wildlife. The world’s largest concentration of leopards make their home in Yala, as well as elephants, sloth bears, jackals, crocodiles, peacocks and hundreds of other species, and a longer peak season means your chances of spotting Sri Lanka’s ‘Big 3’ land animals (elephant, leopard and sloth bear) are at their highest. It also offers an extensive selection of luxury camps and lodges - unquestionably the broadest and the best in the country. So, would we recommend that everyone heads to Yala? Not quite…
Unfortunately, these accolades come at a cost: a high density of visitors, huge numbers of jeeps, and a significant daily human impact. Solitude, silence and serendipity are in short shrift. For many, this adds up to a real reduction in the enjoyment of the overall experience. However, with 26 National Parks to choose from, Sri Lanka has plenty of alternatives. We’ve put together our top picks of lesser-known parks where you can fully connect with Sri Lanka’s phenomenal natural world.