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Photo: AntanO, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Several tour agencies (such as Arugambay Tours, We Joint Tours and others) offer Jeep Safaris into Kumana (formerly known as Yala East) National Park. The price includes the entry to the park and the drive. There are morning tours (starting at 05:00-06:00) as well as afternoon ones (13:00) which each take 6 hours. The park is 45 minutes away, so you'll have about 4.5 hours inside Kumana. The park is well known for its birds (peacocks, storks, flamingos), but you will also spot water buffaloes and, if you're lucky, elephants and crocodiles. Have breakfast or lunch before you go and bring snacks and plenty of water. On the way to or from Kumana, you can stop at Panama Tank, the large lake close to Panama town, which lots of crocodiles to see.
Kumana National Park in Sri Lanka is renowned for its avifauna, particularly its large flocks of migratory waterfowl and wading birds. The park is 391 kilometres (243 mi) southeast of Colombo on Sri Lanka's southeastern coast. Kumana is contiguous with Yala National Park, and was formerly known as Yala East National Park and was renamed to its present name in 2006.
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Small boats leave from the southernmost point of the lagoon where local fishermen will take you on a 2-hour tour around the lagoon, showing you eagles, crocodiles, elephants and other animals. Though maybe underwhelming for kids, this is quite a nice and relaxing way to experience the local flora and fauna. As of 2025 there are even some elephants who like to frolic in the water! 4-6PM is the best time to do this tour as the boats have no shade. Tour agencies offer these trips for Rs 6000 per couple which include the 15-minute ride in a tuk tuk to the Pottuvil lagoon and back.