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Wildlife · Bundala

Bundala: The Coastal Wetland for Birds

By Days of Iru and Opa
Bundala: The Coastal Wetland for Birds
📷 Colby Otero from Brooklyn, USA · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons · source

Bundala is a quieter alternative to neighbouring Yala, protected as a coastal wetland of international importance. Its lagoons, salt pans and scrub are a haven for birds, especially in the northern winter.

Birdlife

Bundala is best known for greater flamingos and a huge variety of migratory waders and waterfowl, at their peak roughly September to March. Resident species and raptors are around all year.

Other wildlife

You will also see elephants, crocodiles, monitor lizards and, on the beaches, turtle nesting sites.

Safari style

Drives are calmer and less crowded than Yala, focused on scanning the lagoons rather than chasing big cats. Bring binoculars.

Base

Tissamaharama and Kirinda are the usual bases, close to both Bundala and Yala.

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