Sinharaga Forest Reserve

Sinharaja is a must-see for all keen birders as well as a great location for general wildlife enthusiasts. It is one of the few protected areas in Sri Lanka where visitors are permitted to walk in the interior. Sinharaga, which translates as 'Lion King', covers an area of nearly 19,000 hectares close to the gem-mining town of Ratnapura, and consists of natural rain forest as well as introduced species, such as teak and mahogany. Exploited historically for rattan and for around 150 years by the British for commercial timber, it was not until 1977 that all logging activities were halted. The reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989.

This lowland forest is considered to be one of the best birding sites in Sri Lanka with 22 out of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds having been sighted here, and large mixed feeding flocks providing an unusual spectacle. Even the less experienced birder would hope to see 10-15 endemics during their stay; avian highlights include the Red-Faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Spot-Winged Thrush and Malabar Trogon. However it is not just birds that attract the visitors, over 60% of the country's endemic tree species are found here, along with an impressive list of butterfly, insect, amphibian and reptile species, again many are endemic. This is also leech country and we provide all our clients with leech-proof socks ideal for forest trekking through the undergrowth.