Camping in Sri Lanka is by the best experience one can have whilst being close to nature. Amid the scenic jungle location, you can also go rainforest camping which allows you to get profoundly engrossed in the sound of the water. You can combine the camping expedition with other water activities like white water rafting, maybe bird watching or even trekking to waterfalls amongst others. The tropical island of Sri Lanka is home to numerous national parks and natural areas where travelers can go camping and get a first-hand view of wild elephants, leopards and many species of birds. There’s quite a lot of spots around the island which are suitable for camping, but the most scenic being Yala National Park, Horton Plains, Knuckles Mountain Range and Kitulgala. With choices ranging from classic camping sites to more relaxed glamping setups, camping in the island of Sri Lanka can be a remarkable experience.
Yala National Park
If you’re looking for a face-to-face encounter with the wilderness, camping at Yala National Park is quite an experience for wildlife enthusiasts. There will be nothing else between you and wild as the camping site is in the buffer zone of the national park. You will wake up to the birds singing and drift away to sleep to the sounds of the animals. After sundown, you will have your mind blown as the dry climate will give you a spectacular sight of the vibrant sky with no light pollution except your campfire and this will unfold constellations with magnificent clarity. Listening to the sounds of wildlife while watching the stars by the campfire is a rare experience.
Knuckles Mountain Range
The camping experience in the Knuckles Mountain Range is truly a surreal escape from the city – to live and breathe the fresh air. Existing with wildlife inside a Nature Reserve is an extremely immersive and unique experience. Camping in the Knuckles Mountain Range gives you a sense of privacy and seclusion as your accommodations is set midst a shelter of tall trees that hides the beams of the sun. Your morning will consist of you sitting outside the verandah of your tent, sipping a cup of warm tea or coffee while listening to the water flowing in the bordering river known as Thelgamu Oya. Sounds amazing doesn’t it?
Kitulgala Forest Reserve
Kitulgala, a small town, is one of the wettest places in the western part of Sri Lanka. It is also the base for white-water rafting. Nonetheless, it comes to life in January, February and March – mainly in February, the driest month. Many people make the trip down on the weekends from other areas to experience the beautiful scenery and play in the river. At Kitulgala, the Kelani river is wide but it is shallow apart from one channel near the opposite bank, but in the drier months it offers a secure and appealing place to swim, play and wash. Fun fact – the Academy Award-winning “The Bridge on the River Kwai” was shot near Kitulgala. A camping experience can be arranged outdoors along with a couple of other adventurous activities like white water rafting, jungle trekking and pre-historic cave exploration.
Horton Plains
Horton plains is described by a magnificent landscape of progressing hills, enclosed in upper montane forest and wet grassland and is absolutely one of the world’s best nature reserves. It is home to a diversity of fauna and flora – 57 species, 29 endemic to Sri Lanka – and 24 species of mammals such as giant squirrel, wild boar, elk, porcupine, hare and leopard. There is also 87 species of birds – 14 of which are endemic to Sri Lanka – for those bird enthusiasts. Horton Plains also features many attractions such as “Chimmini Pool”, “Baker’s Falls’” and the famous “World’s End”. This camping location is not like others where the camping is pre-set before you get there. Horton Plains is a hands-on participatory camping location, giving you the chance of getting as involved as possible in the procedure of setting up camp and even aiding the cook. Activities in the park include bird watching, special study tours for flora and fauna, trekking and participatory camping while activities just outside the park include cycling and mountain biking and Off-the-road 4WD Jeep adventures.