Sri Lanka packs an outsized concentration of wildlife into a small area, from leopards in Yala to elephant gatherings in Minneriya and an exceptional diversity of resident and migratory bird species across its parks and wetlands. Guided jeep safaris, run early morning or late afternoon when animals are most active, are the main way to explore the dry-zone parks. At the same time, Sinharaja and the Knuckles Range offer slower, on-foot encounters with endemic species. You can build dedicated birdwatching trips around specific species or migratory seasons.