Minneriya National Park is located 182km from Colombo is nearby Habarana and Sigiriya. The tropical vegetation is dry mixed with evergreen forests, abandoned chena cultivated lands, grassland and wetlands.
24 species of mammals have been identified in the park. 150-200 wild elephants and a large number of wetland birds live in the sanctuary. Early morning and late evening are the best time to observe the animals wallowing in the Minneriya reservoir and wetlands.