갈 오야 국립공원

Gal Oya National Park is located 376 km northeast from Colombo in Badulla District with part of it stretching into Ampara District.

Reaching Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park can be reached from Colombo via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Udawalawe, Thanamalwila, Wellawaya, Moneragala and then north from Siyambalanduwa to Inginiyagala. The park entrance is 20 km west from Ampara at Inginiyagala. Inginiyagala affords the tourists the opportunity of a boat trip around the great Senanayake Samudra reservoir. Ampara can be reached by domestic flight too.

Safari at Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park allows the visitors to enjoy its beauty and wild life by Boat safari as well as by Jeep safaris. Boat safari affords the opportunity to land in an island within the reservoir called “Bird Island” swarming with birds.

Gal Oya National ParkThe Jeep safaris that consist of two tracks of 5km and 13 km are ideal to catch the sights of elephants and leopards.Best time to visit Gal Oya National Park is from March to July. During this period, the boat safaris bring the spectacle of herds of elephants swimming from one island to another island in the great Senanayaka Samaudra reservoir.

The expanse, climate and terrain of Gal Oya National Park

Gal Oya National Parkspreads over an area of 25,900 ha. Together with Senanayake Samudra Sanctuary (9,324ha), Gal Oya Valley North-East Sanctuary (12,432ha), Gal Oya Valley South-West Sanctuary (15,281ha), the whole Gal Oya Reservation makes an area of 62, 937 ha of wildlife conservation.

The elevation of the park varies from 30 meters to about 900 meters, Danigala, Nilgala, and Ulpotha mountains being the highest peaks. Rain is received during the North-eastern monsoon that brings in rain the eastern coast and northern plains result in an average annual rainfall of 1,700 milli metres at the park.

Establishment of Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

The park was established in 1954 to protect the catchment area of the great Senanayake Samudra reservoir constructed by damming Gal Oya river and two other streams in 1948 in an irrigation project to open up some 162,000 hectares of forest for agriculture.

Vegetation of Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

The vegetation of the national park is of three types: forest, shrub and grassland. About 45% of the park is covered by evergreen forest and a further 33% national park contains an area of Savanna like grasslands and 9% mountainous grasslands, 2% chena and 10% water bodies. The park is home to rare plants used as herbal medicine.The evergreen forest is dominated by Artocarpus sp., Halmilla (Berraya Cordifolia), Etamba (Mangifera Zeylancia) and Kalumediriya (Diopyros Chaetocarpa) and Ebony (Diospyros Ebenum).

Wildlife of Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park is a sanctuary to 32 species of terrestrial mammals. The highest populations are common Langur (Presbytis Entellus), endemic Toque Macaque (Macaca Sinica), Leopard (Pathera Pardus kotiya) sloth bear (Melursus Ursinus), Elephant (Elephas Maximus), Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa), three species of deer and Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis).

Birdlife of Gal Oya National Park

About 150 species of birds of 334 species of Sri Lanka are seen at Gal Oya National Park. The Lesser Adjutant, Spot-billed Pelican and Red-faced Malkoha are some of the park’s resident birds. The Indian Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Grey Heron, and Lesser Whistling Duck are among the common water birds of the Senanayake reservoir. The White-bellied Sea Eagle, and Grey-headed Fish Eagle are the notable raptors of the area. Gal Oya National Park‘s butterfly species include the endemic Lesser Albatross.

Accomodation close to of Gal Oya National Park Sri Lanka

Gal Oya National Park has no accommodation options within the park. Rest house and bungalows are at Inginiyagala and a circuit bungalow is available at Eekgal Aru located 23km away from the park office. Rest houses are available at Inginiyagala.

Other National Parks

Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Minneriya National Park, Wilpattu National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park, Kumana National Park, Bundala National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Gal Oya National Park, Lunugamvehera National Park