Bundala National Park on Sri Lanka’s southern coast is one of the island’s finest bird watching destinations and a designated UNESCO Ramsar wetland site — a mosaic of shallow coastal lagoons, scrub jungle, sand dunes, and salt marshes that provides critical habitat for both resident and migratory species. The park’s diversity is extraordinary: over 200 species have been recorded within its boundaries, making it one of the most species-rich birding sites in the Indian Ocean region.
Bundala is particularly famous for its wintering populations of greater flamingos, which wade through the shallow lagoons in flocks that can number in the thousands from September through March. Painted storks, Asian spoonbills, Eurasian spoonbills, and black-headed ibis nest in the park’s trees, while the lagoon margins attract a constantly changing cast of waders and terns. The park is also home to mugger crocodiles, water monitors, and the occasional elephant. Jeep safaris are the standard way to explore the park, and guides specialising in bird identification can be arranged through accommodation providers in Hambantota or Tissamaharama.
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