Off the Beaten Track

*A full 82% of Sri Lanka's land is controlled by the state in some from or another and is therefore subject to a raft of legislation to combat destructive activity and protect sensitive areas like the scores of natural forests. The boxed text only includes information about 11 of the 20 national parks and three other green space from among the 63 sanctuaries, a long list of forest reserves and countless wetlands both with and without official titles.

*Given the overcrowding at some of the better known natural areas, new attention has been directed to other deserving national parks, such as Lunugamvehera (which serves as a link between Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, allowing elephants to pass freely between the two) as an alternative to Yala and Wasgomuwa instead of GalOya or Minneriya.

*Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which currently recognises three coastal zones Bundala National Park the 915 hectare Madu Ganga Estuary near Balapitiya, 80km south of Colombo on the A2, site of one of the last pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka and the Annaivilundawa Tanks Wildlife Sanctuary just west of the A3 about 100km north of Colombo, a cluster of ancient manmade, freshwater reservoirs that are now a safe haven for awesome wetland biodiversity.

*For further listings of out of the way green escapes, contact the government conservation departments or consult LOCAL ternative Sri Lanka a responsible travel map.

*Sri Lanka is a year round wildlife watching destination but generally the best times correspond with the main November to April tourist season. At this time of year all the big parks are open and the dry conditions mean that animals start to gather around water holes, making them easier to spot (this is especially so between February and early April). If you come in the May to October southwest monsoon season, head to the parks around the Ancient Cities and in the east of the island.

*The north of the country remains much more of an unknown quantity for wildlife viewing and there are currently no protected areas open to the public but that is likely to change fast.