Hambantota: Salt Pans, Wetlands and the Gateway to the Deep South
Hambantota sits on the arid south-east coast, where the climate turns dry and the landscape opens into scrub, salt pans and lagoons. Long a fishing and salt town, it now also has a large port and the Mattala airport nearby. For travellers it is most useful as a base between the beaches of Tangalle and the safari parks of the deep south.
Salt pans and lagoons
The Lewaya salt pans on the edge of town shimmer white and pink and draw flamingos and waders in the right season. The surrounding lagoons and the nearby Bundala National Park make this one of the best birdwatching corners of the island.
Safaris and wildlife
Bundala, a coastal wetland park, is 20 to 30 minutes away and is quieter than Yala while still holding elephants, crocodiles and huge flocks of migratory birds. The Ridiyagama Safari Park, a drive-through reserve, is another family-friendly option nearby.
Getting there
Hambantota is on the southern coastal road, about an hour east of Tangalle. Buses run along the coast, and the southern expressway now reaches the region, cutting the drive from Colombo considerably.
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