Safari in Sri Lanka in February: which park?

February is the start of the main dry season in Sri Lanka's southern and north-western parks. As rain stops, waterholes shrink and animals gather at the remaining water, which makes them easier to find.

Yala and Wilpattu are both improving week by week in February. Udawalawe is reliable for elephants all year. The Cultural Triangle parks have smaller elephant herds than during the July to October gathering.

Migrant birds are present in February, adding to the variety in all parks, especially Bundala.

Morning drives generally offer the best wildlife activity and the most comfortable temperatures, with leopards and bears often active around sunrise. Afternoon drives catch animals coming to water as the heat eases, and the light at the end of the day is warm and good for photography.

Yala, in the south-east, has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, along with elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, buffalo and many birds. Block 1 is the most visited, with the best chance of leopards, but many jeeps gather at sightings.

Other blocks of Yala see fewer vehicles and offer a quieter experience, though leopard sightings are less frequent. Yala usually closes for part of September and October, so February is well within its open season.

Yala is about two hours from Tangalle and Ella, making it easy to combine with the south coast or the hills.

Wilpattu, in the north-west, is Sri Lanka's largest national park, with dense forest and natural lakes called villus. It has leopards, sloth bears, elephants and many birds, and far fewer jeeps than Yala.

In February the park is drying out, and animals gather at the villus. Leopard sightings are less frequent than in Yala, but the experience is quieter and wilder.

Wilpattu is about three hours from the airport and an hour from Anuradhapura or Kalpitiya.

Udawalawe, between the hills and the south coast, is the most reliable park in Sri Lanka for elephants, with herds seen on almost every drive. Its open grassland makes wildlife easy to see.

The Elephant Transit Home, nearby, rehabilitates orphaned elephants and has viewing at feeding times.

Udawalawe is about two hours from Ella and Tangalle, making it a convenient stop between the hills and the beach.

Udawalawe's open landscape suits families and first-time safari visitors, as animals are easy to see and drives feel less like a hunt for one elusive species.

Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu, three parks near Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, are known for elephants. The famous gathering, when hundreds of elephants come to Minneriya's reservoir, peaks from about July to October.

In February herds are smaller and spread between the parks. Drivers choose the park on the day, depending on recent sightings. Afternoon safaris are common after a morning at Sigiriya or Polonnaruwa.

The planners at Lankan Stays & Trails usually include one of these parks on Cultural Triangle routes in February and add Yala or Udawalawe for travellers heading south.

Bundala, on the south coast near Hambantota, is a wetland park of lagoons and scrub known for birds, crocodiles and sometimes flamingos. In February migrant waders are still present, and the park is quiet compared with Yala nearby.

Kumana, in the south-east, is also known for birds and occasional leopards, though it is better later in the dry season. Gal Oya, in the east, offers boat safaris to see elephants swimming between islands.

For most February routes, one of the big parks plus Bundala for birders is enough. Combining too many parks can mean long drives and early starts on consecutive days.