Gal Oya is the only place in Sri Lanka where you can witness wild elephants swimming across open water. This off the grid national park is known for tranquil boat safaris, remote forest landscapes and deeply immersive nature experiences. Ideal for wildlife lovers seeking rare moments, privacy and encounters untouched by mass tourism.

• Famous for swimming wild elephants
• Sri Lanka’s only boat based safaris
• Remote, uncrowded, deeply immersive wilderness
• Rich birdlife and rare forest mammals
• Best visited from May to August
• Supports conservation and indigenous communities

Gal Oya National Park, tucked away near Ampara in Sri Lanka’s east, is a place where the wild moves slowly, silently and powerfully. Unlike traditional jeep safaris, here you drift along the Senanayake Samudraya reservoir, Sri Lanka’s largest inland body of water on a boat, watching elephants wade and swim between islands with astonishing grace.

These boat safaris offer a rare and intimate view of wildlife. Along the water’s edge, you may spot elephants grazing peacefully, crocodiles basking in the sun or deer cautiously drinking. Bird lovers will delight in the abundance of eagles, herons and kingfishers soaring over calm waters.

Gal Oya also offers guided jungle walks with members of the Vedda community, one of Sri Lanka’s last remaining indigenous groups, adding a powerful cultural layer to the wildlife experience. With very few tourists and no crowds, it’s perfect for photographers, couples and nature purists.

Sri Lanka Tailor-Made recommends Gal Oya for travellers seeking rare wildlife encounters, solitude and authentic immersion. It’s not the most famous park, but perhaps it’s the most magical. Because when you see an elephant swim across a lake in silence, you are not just observing nature, you are part of it.