Quick answer
On Ella's trails you are likely to meet estate and village dogs, which are usually friendly or indifferent and sometimes follow hikers up Ella Rock; toque macaques and purple-faced langurs in the trees; many birds; and insects. Snakes are present but rarely seen. Do not feed animals, keep food out of sight from macaques, avoid petting dogs you do not know, and watch where you put hands and feet. Rabies exists in Sri Lanka, so seek medical advice after any bite or scratch.
Key takeaways
- Estate and village dogs are common on Ella's trails and are usually harmless.
- Toque macaques and purple-faced langurs live in the trees around Ella.
- Macaques may grab food, so keep snacks out of sight.
- Snakes are present but rarely seen; watch where you put hands and feet.
- Rabies exists in Sri Lanka; seek medical advice after any bite or scratch.
Estate and village dogs
Dogs are the animals you meet most on Ella's trails. Estate and village dogs live around tea lines and homes, and many are used to hikers. Some bark as you pass; many ignore you; a few adopt walkers and follow them all the way up Ella Rock and back.
Most dogs are harmless, but avoid petting dogs you do not know, especially near their homes or with puppies. If a dog barks or approaches aggressively, stop, stand calmly, avoid eye contact and move away slowly. Picking up a stone or pretending to usually deters them.
Do not feed trail dogs, as it encourages them to follow and beg.
Dogs on Ella's trails are also often well known to locals, who can tell you which ones are friendly. Guesthouse dogs sometimes accompany their guests on walks; enjoy the company, but do not encourage dogs from town to follow you onto the railway.
- →Common and usually harmless.
- →Avoid petting dogs you do not know.
- →Stand calmly if a dog is aggressive.
Monkeys
Two monkeys live around Ella. Toque macaques, small and reddish-brown with a distinctive cap of hair, are bold and opportunistic, and may grab food or bags. Purple-faced langurs, larger, darker and shyer, feed in the trees and rarely bother people.
Keep food out of sight on the trails, especially near summits and viewpoints where people picnic. Do not feed monkeys; it makes them aggressive. If a macaque approaches, avoid eye contact, do not show teeth by smiling and move away calmly.
Purple-faced langurs are endemic to Sri Lanka and listed as endangered; spotting them is a privilege.
Monkeys around Ella are most active in the early morning and late afternoon, when they move through the trees to feed. Watching a troop of langurs from a distance, quietly, is one of the nicest wildlife moments on the walks.
- →Toque macaques: bold, may grab food.
- →Purple-faced langurs: shy, endemic, endangered.
- →Never feed monkeys.
Snakes and insects
Snakes live in the tea, grass and forest around Ella, including some venomous species, but they are rarely seen and usually move away from people. Bites on hikers are uncommon.
Watch where you put hands and feet, especially on rocky sections and when stepping over logs. Wear closed shoes, stay on the path and avoid long grass. If you see a snake, stay still, then back away slowly.
Insects include leeches in wet weather, mosquitoes at dawn and dusk, ants and the occasional wasp. Repellent and long sleeves help.
- →Snakes: present, rarely seen.
- →Closed shoes and watch your step.
- →Leeches, mosquitoes and ants.
Birds and other wildlife
Ella's trails are good for birds. Look for bulbuls, barbets, sunbirds, flowerpeckers, drongos and, with luck, endemic species such as the Sri Lanka grey hornbill or yellow-eared bulbul. Early mornings are best.
Giant squirrels, mongooses, lizards and butterflies also appear. Lankan Stays & Trails guides point out wildlife on the walks, which adds a great deal for curious hikers.
A pair of binoculars is worth carrying.
Rabies and bites
Rabies exists in Sri Lanka, carried mainly by dogs, but also possible in other mammals including monkeys. Any bite or scratch from an animal, even a minor one, needs prompt medical advice.
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for several minutes, then seek medical help the same day. Badulla, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Ella, has the nearest major hospital. Consider pre-travel rabies vaccination if you plan a lot of rural walking.
- →Wash any bite or scratch with soap and water.
- →Seek medical advice the same day.
- →Consider pre-travel vaccination.
Frequently asked questions
Are there dogs on Ella Rock?
Yes. Estate and village dogs are common on Ella Rock and other trails, and some follow hikers all the way to the summit. Most are harmless and used to people. Avoid petting dogs you do not know, and stand calmly if one barks aggressively.
Are there monkeys in Ella?
Yes. Toque macaques and purple-faced langurs live in the trees around Ella. Macaques are bold and may grab food, so keep snacks out of sight. Langurs are shy, endemic to Sri Lanka and endangered. Never feed monkeys.
Are there snakes on Ella hiking trails?
Snakes live in the tea, grass and forest around Ella, including some venomous species, but they are rarely seen and usually move away. Wear closed shoes, stay on the path and watch where you put hands and feet.
What should I do if a dog bites me in Sri Lanka?
If a dog bites or scratches you in Sri Lanka, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for several minutes and seek medical advice the same day, as rabies exists in the country. Badulla has the nearest major hospital to Ella.
Can you see wildlife on Ella hikes?
Yes. Ella's hikes pass birds such as bulbuls, barbets and sunbirds, monkeys, giant squirrels, mongooses, lizards and butterflies. Early mornings are best. Endemic species such as the purple-faced langur and Sri Lanka grey hornbill are possible.
Should I feed the dogs on Ella trails?
It is better not to feed dogs on Ella's trails, because it encourages them to follow and beg from hikers. A kind word is enough. If you want to help, support local animal welfare groups that vaccinate and care for street dogs.
Are there elephants or leopards on Ella hikes?
Elephants and leopards are not a concern on Ella's main hikes, which pass through tea estates, villages and eucalyptus forest. Wild elephants live in lowland areas south and east of the hills, and leopards are rarely seen outside national parks such as Yala.