Kumana National Park

Kumana National Park

Province :  Eastern Province Area : 365 sq. km Altitude: 27 - 90 m Vegetation : Mangrove & Marsh

Colombo to Kumana National Park is an all island west to east crossing adventure, located in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka bordering the northern side of Yala. Kumana shares a border with Yala National Park and has most of the same wildlife as its famous neighbor such as Elephants, Leopards, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, European Otter as well as the endangered Fishing Cat, but with lesser number of tourists.  It was formerly known as Yala East National Park, but desiganted as a separate national park in 2006.

Kumbukkan Oya river forms the southern boundary of the national park. Some 20 lagoons and tanks support the extensive birdlife of the national park. Because of its lagoons, it’s one of the best places in Sri Lanka for birdwatching particularly its large flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds.   Kumana boasts vast open plains, the river and ocean, caves, temples, paintings and carvings amongst other sites. and not to mention the wildlife consisting of leopards, elephants, bears and birds amongst the thousands of flora and fauna species which convert this park into an intricate ecosystem. 

Kumana National Park is the probably the best place to see a leopard in the true wild turf. The Leopards of Kumana are a lot more elusive and a lot more inquisitive. They have not been disturbed by humans over the years because the reaches of this park are not easily accessible.

Apart from these elusive exotic creatures this park holds elephants by the hundreds, deer by the thousands and tree climbing bears snatching fruits.  

It has a humongous variety of bird species that increases in number during between April to July each year when thousands of migratory birds join them in the Kumana swamp area. Some of the endemic inhabitants in Kumana include Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, great thick-knee while migratory birds include Pintail snipes, glossy ibis, purple heron, water cock and many more of such bird species.

Also...Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was filmed here… 

Main Attraction : Leopards, Elephants, Sloth bears, bird-life.