Sri Lanka's last viable primary rainforest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to 19 of the island's 26 endemic bird species and endemic mammals found nowhere else.
Duration
Full day (6-8 hours)
Entry Fee
$10 USD
Difficulty
moderate
Budget
moderate
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.
Hire an official guide from the Forest Department at the Kudawa or Deniyaya entrance.
Start at 6am — the endemic bird flocks are most active in the first two hours after dawn.
The northern Kudawa entrance is more accessible from Colombo and Ratnapura; the southern Deniyaya entrance gives access to a different section of forest.
Best time of day: February to April and August to September (drier periods)
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