A safari in Sri Lanka is a must-do. Of course, you have the massive parks of Yala and Minneriya, which each attract hundreds of thousands of people every year. Whilst we of course went to Yala, we wanted another opportunity to see the wildlife of Sri Lanka. We were recommended a safari in Hurulu Eco Park just outside of Habarana. This is nowhere near as touristy as other places and is also considerably cheaper.
Here is everything you need to know before your visit. Enjoy.
Safari in Hurulu Eco Park | Your Quick Guide
What is Hurulu Eco Park?
Hurulu Eco Park is a small, local safari park which is open to a small number of jeeps each day. It is a quieter alternative to the larger parks in Sri Lanka and is home to plenty of wildlife. However, the main spectacle are the many elephants that roam the park. These incredible animals actually make their way here in large numbers during December and January as part of their migration. However, they are still here all year round. The park also is home to plenty of bird life (you will see lots of different species all around Habarana) as well as a small population of Sri Lankan leopards.
How to get to Hurulu Eco Park
Hurulu Eco Park is just outside of Habarana. Many – if not all – of the main hotels in the area will have shuttle services that regularly run here. If you are driving yourself, it is a short drive down the A6 (the main road through the town), but you will still need to rent a jeep to enter (to be honest, most of the time they can pick you up). The journey from a Habarana hotel will take no longer than 5 minutes.
Bookings and Costs
We were recommended a safari in Hurulu Eco Park by our driver and he then went to do the bookings. It was done through Akilla Village and Lake Adventures, a small local business on the side of the road which organises multiple activities in Habarana. We spent around $60.00 per person for our private 4 hour safari – about half the price of our one in Yala. The prices can be cheaper if you are happy to take a shared jeep.
What to Expect on a Safari in Hurulu Eco Park
Firstly, Hurulu Eco Park is significantly smaller than all of the main other safari sites in Sri Lanka. Whilst this is great in some ways, the main thing you need to be aware of is that you will always see other jeeps about. The drivers work together and frequently follow calls and advice, meaning that all of them will descend on a sighting of any big game.
Whilst this high ratio of jeeps to animals did sometimes get annoying, we found that we were able to get really close to the elephants. In Yala, the jeeps didn’t all congregate around one place as the park is huge, but we mostly saw animals from a distance and didn’t see nearly as many elephants. However, the only large animal we saw were the elephants and the overall biodiversity of the two places is not comparable. I know that Hurulu Eco Park has a small population of leopards, buffalo and crocodiles but if you want the best chance of seeing them, go to a larger park. If you are interested in just seeing the elephants – probably closer than anywhere else – then this one is for you. We had a magical time seeing them this close and were really lucky as we got to see a small baby too.
In terms of what to expect on the jeep, be prepared to be thrown about a lot. A lot of them will have an open-top and your drivers will encourage you to stand throughout the safari. We did enjoy doing this for a time and then just got battered by the bumps, so I’d suggest sitting down whilst you are moving.
Top Tips
- Wear sensible clothing for a safari. For some strange reason, we thought that the best outfits would be white tops. Don’t do this – our clothes got ruined by the sand!
- Open-top jeeps are great, but wear plenty of sun cream and a hat. Also bring a few bottles of water with you to last you for your safari.
- Go for an afternoon safari. Whilst you are unlikely to see a leopard, this time gives you the best opportunity. Also, the light is perfect for wildlife and landscape photography.
Final Thoughts | Safari in Hurulu Eco Park
A safari in Hurulu Eco Park is a great option for anyone staying in Habarana. Whilst Minneriya is just down the road, I couldn’t get over just how many wild elephants we saw. In just a small area, we must have seen close to 30 individuals from all different ages. It was a really magical experience. It isn’t the best option for anyone looking to do a proper safari, but it is an amazing experience nonetheless.
