Elephants in the Mist: A Safari Adventure in Minneriya, Sri Lanka

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience an African safari before—Chobe National Park in Botswana, specifically—and it remains one of my fondest travel memories. The sheer vastness of Botswana’s wilderness, the diverse range of animals roaming freely across its plains, and the heart-racing thrill of spotting wildlife from leopards to sable antelopes to crocodiles all combined to create an unforgettable adventure. So, when I found myself at Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, I wondered if I would still be intrigued. I knew that comparing a Sri Lankan safari to an African one would be inevitable, but I also reminded myself that each place has its own unique magic.

I had heard much about the famous elephant gatherings at Minneriya—a congregation of wild Asian elephants that can sometimes number in the hundreds during the dry season. Even though the dry season had given way to sporadic drizzles by the time of my visit, I was still eager to see what this lesser-known safari could offer. And while it certainly doesn’t rival the grandeur of Botswana’s savannahs or its array of predators and prey, Minneriya has its own charm—one defined by lush greenery, gently rolling landscapes, and of course, a generous population of wild elephants.

The Call of the Wild

The call of the wild beckoned and the adventure began with an air of anticipation. Armed with a camera, long lens and a cap to shield myself from the elements, I climbed into the back of a 4×4 jeep. It was late afternoon, the best time to witness the famed “Gathering of Elephants” at Minneriya, where herds of wild elephants congregate around the park’s central reservoir during the dry season. Although it wasn’t quite dry when I visited — a light drizzle had been falling intermittently all day — it only added to the adventure.

The ride was bumpy and I had to hang on tight to prevent myself from knocking into the sides of the vehicles. But, that only added to the thrill. As the jeep bounced along the muddy tracks, I took in the sights and sounds of the park. Minneriya spans over 8,800 hectares of forest, wetlands, and grasslands, providing sanctuary for a wide variety of wildlife. The rain had given the park a fresh, earthy scent, and the foliage shimmered under a thin veil of moisture. The occasional calls of peacocks echoed through the air, mingling with the rhythmic splatter of raindrops.

A Different Kind of Wild

It didn’t take long for the elephants to appear. The guides, with their trained eyes, knew exactly where to go. Suddenly, we rounded a bend, and there they were: a small herd of elephants grazing peacefully in the open grasslands, just a stone’s throw away.

Our jeep came to a halt, and all of us sat in awed silence.

Adult elephants flapped their ears lazily as they kept a watchful eye on their surroundings and nuzzled one another, while a few younglings playfully tangled their trunks. The drizzle had turned into a fine mist, adding an ethereal quality to the scene. Everyone stared in silence.

The ground beneath us was wet and squelchy, and the tyres of the jeep occasionally slipped in the mud, making us feel like true adventurers. It was a far cry from the sanitised zoo visits of my childhood — this was raw, wild, and real. Watching the elephants in their natural habitat, utterly unbothered by our presence, was inexplicably humbling. There’s something about seeing animals in the wild. Their grace power is palpable and you can feel their power.

Despite the overcast skies, the mood among the jeeps was one of exhilaration. The faces of me and my fellow travellers lit with wonder. Minneriya’s elephants seemed unfazed by the human attention, continuing their business as though we weren’t even there. Watching them interact was like getting a glimpse into a secret world. The older elephants showed remarkable tenderness toward the calves, nudging them along or sheltering them under their bellies whenever the rain grew heavier.

On my Botswana safari, it felt like a competition of sightings: “Did you see the leopard?” “Wait, there’s a giraffe on the other side!” In Minneriya, the focus is unequivocally on the elephants; it was a more relaxed, singular kind of wildlife viewing.

As the safari drew to a close, the rain eased up, and the evening light bathed the landscape in a soft, golden hue. Other wildlife began to catch my attention. Amid the serene waters of Minneriya, a different scene unfolds. Painted storks stood gracefully, their vibrant pink and white plumage a striking contrast against the soft, rippling surface of the lake. Below them, the water buffaloes lounged, their strong, dark forms drifting lazily through the water, as if in perfect harmony with the land.

The park was alive with activity, every creature playing its part in nature’s grand symphony. But the elephants remained the stars of the show, their presence both commanding and serene.

The day was beginning to give way to night and our driver started to make our way through the dense forest once more. By the time we exited the park, my boots were caked in mud, my hair was damp, and my heart was full.

How to Get to Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka

Jetstar flies from Singapore to Colombo, operating five return services each week using their fleet of Airbus A320s. The split schedule offers morning and evening departures from Singapore’s Changi Airport, providing a low-cost choice for those starting their journey in Singapore and easy connections for those travelling via Singapore on Jetstar Airways’ (JQ) daily service from Melbourne or the up to six weekly flights from Perth.

From Colombo, Minneriya National Park is about four to five hours’ car ride.

To book your flight, visit Jetstar’s website.