Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the last substantial area of primary lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka and one of the most biodiverse places in South Asia. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, the 11,187-hectare reserve contains 64% plant species endemic to Sri Lanka and is the stronghold for 19 of the island's 26 endemic bird species — including the Sri Lanka blue magpie, red-faced malkoha, white-faced starling, and green-billed coucal, most of which move together in mixed-species feeding flocks that follow experienced guides. The forest also shelters six endemic mammals, the purple-faced langur, endemic reptiles, and over 140 species of amphibians. The reserve is reachable from Kudawa in the north or Deniyaya in the south. Hire a trained guide at the park entrance, as the endemic bird flocks move quickly and a guide can locate them reliably in two to three hours of morning walking.