Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Natalia
Bundala National Park is one of the best national parks in Sri Lanka for birdwatchers. It’s a wonderland for birdlife, home to almost 200 different species of birds, including some endemic species. Despite being a wonderful park in its own right, Bundala National Park is often overlooked in favour of Kumana National Park, Yala or Udawalawe. Other parks are generally better for seeing bigger animals, but in terms of birdlife Bundala is an amazing place. On top of that, it’s less visited than other national parks which means you can enjoy the wildlife without the crowds found in Yala! Find out everything you need to know about this bird paradise with this Bundala National Park Safari travel guide!
Wondering where else to visit in South Sri Lanka? Make sure to check out our amazing south Sri Lanka itinerary!
Bundala National Park Information
Bundala National Park opening times 2024 – 6am to 6pm everyday, with last entry at 4.30pm.
Bundala National Park entrance fee 2024 – The ticket price to Bundala National Park is $10 USD converted into rupees on the day of your visit.
On top of this there is a vehicle fee of 250 rupees, a service charge of $8 USD and 15% tax. You also need to arrange a tour guide and driver which will incur an extra cost.
We booked our safari through Srimal Safari due to the great reviews on Trip Advisor. Srimal is an expect when it comes to spotting birds and is very knowledgable about them too, which makes for a great safari experience.
How to get to Bundala National Park
Bundala National Park is located around a 30-minute drive away from the town of Tissamaharama, also known simply as Tissa. Tissamaharama is best known for its proximity to Yala National Park – one of the best places in the world to see leopards.
Safaris to Bundala National Park can be arranged from Tissa, so it’s best to stay in the town if you plan to visit the park.
Getting to Tissamaharama, and by extension Bundala National Park, isn’t possible by train as there are no railways in this part of Sri Lanka. The best way to actually get there depends on where you are coming from, but your main options are to take a bus or a taxi.
Direct buses are available to Tissamaharama from both Ella and Mirissa. Buses are an extremely cheap way of getting around Sri Lanka, which is great if you’re travelling on a budget.
As an estimate you should expect to pay around 200-300 rupees from Ella to Tissa, or 300-400 rupees from Mirissa to Tissa. If you plan to take the bus we recommend asking a local or someone at your accommodation how to get to Tissa by bus and how much it should cost.
For some more information make sure to check out our guide to public transport in Sri Lanka!
Taxis are a more expensive way to get around, but if you have the budget for it then the prices are fairly reasonable. A taxi from Mirissa to Tissamaharama should cost around 7,000 rupees, and a take from Ella to Tissamaharama should cost around 5,000 rupees.
Best time to visit Bundala National Park
The best time to visit Bundala National Park is between September and March as migratory birds are found in the park during these months. Visiting during these months gives you the chance to see a greater variety of birdlife.
If you’re an avid birdwatcher then it’s best to do an early morning safari at Bundala as birds tend to be more active at this time of day. Alternatively, if you opt for an afternoon safari you have a better chance of seeing elephants and other mammals in the park.
If elephants are your priority though, we recommend deciding between either Yala or Udawalawe National Park.
Bird and animal species
Bundala National Park is home to 197 bird species, making it one of the best national parks for birdwatching in Sri Lanka. The park is also home to a variety of other animals, but the incredible birdlife is the main attraction.
Bird species found in Bundala National Park include bee-eaters, storks, ibis, hornbills, spoonbills, sandpipers, kingfishers, and several eagles including the white-bellied sea eagle and crested serpent-eagle.
Bundala National Park is known for its migratory birds, with over 50 different migrant species visiting the park every year. Greater flamingoes previously migrated to Bundala National Park in their thousands, but in recent years these numbers have decreased dramatically.
Endemic birds found within the national park include the brown-capped babbler, Sri Lankan woodshrike and Sri Lankan junglefowl.
Other notable species found within Bundala National Park include elephants, monkeys (macaques and langurs), jackals, fishing cats, wild boar, deer, crocodiles, monitor lizards, snakes and more.
The elephant population in Bundala National Park is relatively small, so you have a better chance of seeing these amazing creatures by visiting Udawalawe National Park.
Some websites report that there are also leopards in Bundala National Park, but our guide told us this isn’t actually the case. If there are any leopards in the park then they’re extremely rare – so you’re best off visiting one of the best places in the world for leopard sightings at Yala National Park!
Booking a safari in Bundala National Park
As we mentioned earlier we did our safari in Bundala National Park with Srimal Safari. It was a great experience and Srimal helped us to see some fascinating birdlife throughout our visit.
The best way to book a safari in Bundala National Park is to contact a guide directly. As we had such a great safari with Srimal we recommend booking with him as he’s sure to make it an incredible visit to the park.
To book your safari to Bundala with Srimal just visit the Srimal Safari website and go to the contact section of the website. You’re able to contact him via email or whatsapp and you can agree a price depending on your group size.
The alternative is to book a safari through your accommodation or another operator such as with Get Your Guide who offer a couple of Bundala National Park safari tours, click here to find out more!
There is also this fantastic private safari tour with Viator from $30 USD per person.
Where to stay near Bundala National Park
The towns of Tissamaharama and Hambantota are ideally located for safaris to Bundala thanks to their proximity to the national park. Hambantota is closer to the park but Tissa is a bigger town so was our preferred choice of where to stay.
Tissamaharama
Richards Cabanas
Richards Cabanas is consistently rated as one of the best places to stay in Tissamaharama and for good reason. The property boasts a lovely swimming pool, which is perfect for cooling off in after a safari in Yala or Bundala National Park!
Rooms at the property are comfortable and air-conditioned, making for a relaxing stay. To top it off the family that run the property are extremely hospitable and will do anything they can to make sure you have an amazing stay!
Prices at Richards Cabanas start from 9,270 rupees per night, with breakfast normally included in the price.
Click here to take a look at the wonderful Richards Cabanas on Booking.com!
Wild Lotus Yala
Wild Lotus Yala is another brilliant accommodation option in Tissamaharama. It’s an ideal place to stay if you’re travelling in a group as the property’s villa can sleep up to 11 people! Alternatively, the bungalow sleeps up to 4 people.
The property offers comfortable and modern rooms, with all bedrooms fitted with air conditioning to help keep you cool. One of the best things about Wild Lotus is the swimming pool, which is the perfect place to relax and cool off!
Staff at the property are extremely attentive and willing to help with anything you need. Delicious food is available on site if you don’t want to drag yourself away from the pool for too long!
Prices start from 16,360 rupees per night, but depending on your group size it’s possible to stay for as little as 3,645 rupees per person per night!
Click here to see the amazing Wild Lotus Yala on Booking.com!
Hambantota
The Oasis Beach Resort
Oasis Beach Resort is a one of the best accommodation options in the Hambantota area. Situated along the coastline, the resort is just a short walk away from the beachfront.
The property boasts a decent-sized swimming pool as well as comfortable, modern and air-conditioned rooms. Staff at the property are very friendly too and are happy to help in any way they can.
Prices start from 11,920 rupees per night.
Click here to view the Oasis Beach Resort on Booking.com!
Shangri La Hambantota Resort & Spa
The Shangri La Hambantota Resort & Spa is one of Sri Lanka’s top luxury resorts. Ideally located for a safari to Bundala National Park, the resort offers three swimming pools, a golf course, a spa and much more!
The resort is child-friendly, which makes it a great place to stay for families travelling in Sri Lanka. Overall, it’s one of the best places to stay for a safari to Bundala!
Prices vary depending on your dates, so click here to take a look at the amazing Shangri La Hambantota Resort & Spa on Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
Tips for visiting Bundala National Park
Bring binoculars – Avid birdwatchers will know that binoculars are essential if you want to get a close look at the birds you encounter. In some cases binoculars may be provided by your safari operator in Bundala National Park, but it’s worth bringing your own if you can.
Zoom lens – A high quality zoom lens is essential if you’re hoping to get good pictures of the birdlife you see in Bundala National Park. Most of the time you’ll be observing birds from a distance, so without a zoom lens it’s almost impossible to get close-up shots.
We personally have a 70-300mm zoom lens, and at times on ur safari we could have done with a larger zoom. There are a great selection of lenses available on Amazon for a variety of cameras – just make sure the lens is compatible with your camera before you buy!
Bundala is for birds – For birdwatchers a safari in Bundala National Park is bound to be a highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka, but if you’re hoping to see bigger animals such as elephants or leopards then it’s best to visit other parks. Bundala is definitely still worth a visit, just make sure to go on safari in Udawalawe, Yala or one of the many other national parks too!
To see the elephants that roam this park you are best doing an afternoon safari, as sightings are common then.
If you enjoyed doing these then we highly recommend doing an ethical whale watching tour in Mirissa to see blue whales!
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