Gal Oya National Park offers something different. At the heart of the park is Senanayake Samudra lake, which is Sri Lanka’s largest inland body of water.

This is the only place in Sri Lanka that offers a safari experience by boat. What makes it particularly interesting is that the elephants living inside Gal Oya National Park have adapted and can now swim from island to island, often across 30m deep waters in rainy season, and if you are particularly lucky you may see wild elephants washing in the water or even swimming a huge distance to the next island.

We love the amazing bird life and nature walks as well. Depending on where you are staying, it's also possible to meet with local vedda people, the aboriginal community living in the area. We feel Gal Oya National park is perfect for those looking for something a little different in Sri Lanka and it's ideal for slightly more adventurous families and couples.