Minneriya's quieter neighbour, sharing the same elephants and a fraction of the jeeps. Often the better call once the Gathering has moved on.
Kaudulla was declared a national park in 2002 around another ancient reservoir, and it forms part of the corridor elephants use to move between Minneriya, Hurulu and the forests beyond. When the grass at Minneriya is spent, this is frequently where the herds go.
It feels different from Minneriya: more woodland, fewer vehicles, and sightings that come to you gradually rather than all at once. That suits some visitors better, particularly anyone who found the jeep crowds at the peak of the Gathering more than they bargained for.
Besides elephants there are sambar deer, wild boar, and a decent chance of birds of prey over the tank. Leopard and sloth bear are both present and both genuinely rare to see — treat either as a very good day rather than an expectation.
