About this experience
Kumana National Park is Sri Lanka's premier avian wilderness — a vast mosaic of lagoons, mangroves, and dense jungle where the air is thick with birdsong. Your private jeep pushes deep into the park, your driver-tracker cutting the engine whenever wings flash through the canopy or a bird drops to the waterline. You scan the lagoon edges for waders, watch herons stalk the shallows, and pick out pelicans, spoonbills, white ibis, painted storks, egrets, cormorants, and endemic species among the treetops. Beyond the birdlife, the park's 20 lagoons and inland water pools are home to elephants, leopards, golden jackals, wild boar, European otters, and rare turtles and crocodiles. With 115 kilometres of track threading through the interior, you reach habitats that most visitors never see — binoculars up, engine off, the jungle doing the rest.
Your booking secures the entire jeep for your group alone — up to six passengers — so the pace and the route are entirely yours. Choose a 5-, 6-, or 12-hour safari depending on how deep you want to go. At checkout, select "Jeep With Tickets" to have Lakpura include your park entrance tickets, or choose "Jeep with No Tickets" and purchase them at the gate yourself. Free pickup and drop-off is included for any location within 5 km of the park gate. A professional guide is available as an optional extra — a worthwhile addition if you want every sighting identified and placed in context.
Frequently asked questions
What wildlife can I see in Kumana National Park?
Kumana, on the east coast next to Yala, is best known for its birds: the Kumana Villu mangrove swamp is an important nesting ground for water birds. The park also has leopards, elephants, sloth bears and crocodiles, and it sees far fewer visitors than Yala.
When is the best time to visit Kumana National Park?
The dry months are usually best. Birdwatchers often aim for roughly April to July, when large numbers of water birds nest in the Kumana Villu swamp.
What time does the safari start, and how long is it?
Choose a half-day morning safari (5.30 am to 11.30 am), a half-day evening safari (1.30 pm to 6.30 pm) or a full-day safari when you book.
What is included in the price?
A 4x4 safari jeep (up to six passengers), an experienced driver who is also your tracker, and free pickup and drop-off from anywhere within 5 km of the park gate. Park entrance tickets are included when you choose Tickets: Yes. Not included: hotel pickup and drop-off beyond 5 km of the park entrance gate, food and beverages, and gratuities.
Are the park entrance tickets included?
You choose when you book. With Tickets: Yes, the park entrance tickets are included in your booking. With Tickets: No, you book the jeep only and buy the entrance tickets yourself at the park gate, paid in cash.
Do children pay the park entrance fee?
Park entrance fees are set by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Children under 6 years old enter the national park free of charge. Children aged 6 to 12 inclusive pay the child ticket rate, which is lower than the adult rate and is set separately for Sri Lankan, SAARC and other foreign visitors. Visitors aged 13 and over pay the adult rate for their category. The department revises its fees from time to time, and the rate in force on the day of your safari applies.
Can young children join the safari?
The minimum age for this safari is 5 years. There are no infant or child seats in the jeep, and children may not sit on an adult's lap, so every child takes a seat and counts towards the maximum of six passengers. Game drives are long and bumpy, so bring water and snacks for children.
Is the jeep private?
Yes. The jeep is reserved for your group alone, with up to six passengers, and you choose the number of guests (1 to 6) when you book. A group of more than six needs a second jeep.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pickup and drop-off are free from anywhere within 5 km of the park gate. They are not included if you are staying further away.
Do I get a guide?
Your driver is experienced and also acts as your tracker, spotting animals and finding the best viewing places. You can also add a guide when you book by choosing Guide: Yes.
Is the safari suitable for everyone?
It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Pets are not allowed.
What should I bring?
A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent, a light jacket for an early-morning drive, and a camera and binoculars. Wear comfortable, light clothing in neutral colours. Food and drinks are not included, so bring snacks if you want them.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start of your safari for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.
Traveller reviews
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Kumana National Park on TripAdvisor
Rating, photos and reviews below are for this place on TripAdvisor — not for the experience itself.
4.5 / 5 · 131 reviews
#1 of 13 things to do in Ampara
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Great activity from Arugam Bay
Beautiful park! We went in the afternoon and saw a leopard very close, as well as one farther away, birds, elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, and much more, but it’s really down to luck.
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Kumana: Where Nature Whispers and History Waits
his is a park bird lovers should not miss. Located in the southeastern corner of Sri Lanka, Kumana has preserved its pristine natural beauty. The drive from Arugam Bay is among the finest—evoking memories of colonial-era…
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Half day jeep safari of Kumana national park
Four of us did a half day jeep safari at Kumana national park from 5 A.M. to 11 AM. with Mr. Shantha in his jeep. He is an expert on the Kumana and nearby areas such as Kudumbigala. He took us on the trail very safely ti…
Ratings, photos and reviews provided by TripAdvisor for Kumana National Park.
