Bundala Bird Watching Safari

Bundala National Park is Sri Lanka's premier birding destination for waterbirds and migratory species, a Ramsar-listed coastal wetland of interconnected lagoons and brackish pans that attract flamingos, painted storks, Asian spoonbills, and hundreds of thousands of shorebirds from as far as Siberia and Central Asia each winter. Jeep safaris traverse the park's sandy tracks between the lagoons, where close approaches to roosting flamingos and foraging painted storks are routine.

The park also hosts elephants, small crocodiles, and star tortoises, but birding is the headline experience.

Shorta Tours arranges Bundala Bird Watching Safari as part of a tailored private itinerary, providing expert guides, comfortable private transfers, and hand-picked operators to ensure a seamless and truly memorable experience.

Bundala was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1990 — Sri Lanka's first — recognising its crucial role as a wintering and staging ground for migratory shorebirds on the Central Asian flyway. The park was upgraded to National Park status in 1993 and added to UNESCO's network of Biosphere Reserves in 2005.

The seasonal flamingo concentrations at Bundala's Kirinda lagoon became well known through wildlife films and documentary photography in the 1980s, establishing the park as a pilgrimage site for birdwatchers.

Today, Bundala Bird Watching Safari remains one of the highlights of visiting south coast, drawing guests from around the world who seek its unique combination of history, nature, and authentic Sri Lankan character.

Entry requires a national park ticket and licensed jeep; licensed birding naturalists available from Tissamaharama. Dawn departures (5:30–6 am) are essential for best birding conditions.

Shorta Tours provides specialist birding guides with knowledge of seasonal rarities and the locations of key species within the park.

Essential items to pack: Binoculars, camera with telephoto lens, hat, sunscreen, neutral clothing, water, insect repellent..