Through the eyes of nature

Gal Oya

Nature lovers looking for an experience in the wild where spirits are free will find just that at Gal Oya Sri Lanka. This is a national park located in the Southeastern part of the island and is well-known for its exotic wildlife and evergreen forests that surround the Senanayake Samudraya and other water bodies. Bird watching is a popular activity among those who visit this nature reserve, but the unique attraction is spotting the magnificent elephants of Gal Oya. If you are lucky, you can even see them swimming from island to island in the Senanayake Samudraya.

Three Asian elephants in the wilderness of Sri Lanka

Adventure seekers will be glad to know that jeep safaris and boat safaris are available in this beautiful nature reserve. A boat ride on the Senanayake Samudraya is not only an opportunity to see elephants, but also one can find Bird Islands off the shores of the tank – an experience that birdwatching enthusiasts will love, especially during nesting season. Gal Oya is home to 150 species of indigenous birds like the Grey Heron, Lesser Whistling Duck, and Oriental Darter.

The body of water in the centre of the park is part of the Senanayake Samudraya which was a project initiated in 1948. What is now a 100,000-acre basin is used for the cultivation of paddy, potatoes, chili and sugarcane. The Rathugala village not far from here is home to the indigenous native people of Sri Lanka called ‘veddhas’. To this date, they follow the concept of living as one with nature. Visitors can explore this unique culture by getting to know the Veddhas and their ways of life.