Hotels in Minneriya
Cinnamon Lodge
Cinnamon Lodge is a five star hotel in Habarana, close to the heritage sites of the Cultural Triangle. The grounds are home to around 1,700 trees and 130 (...)
Habarana Village by Cinnamon
Habarana Village by Cinnamon is about 176 km from Colombo, roughly a four hour drive. It is a place to take a break from busy city life, where things happen at (...)
Sorowwa Resort and Spa
Sorowwa Resort and Spa is in the heart of Habarana, close to the historical, cultural and wildlife sights of the Cultural Triangle, including Sigiriya rock (...)
Where to stay
Habarana is the nearest, about 20 minutes from the park entrance, with resorts such as Cinnamon Lodge. Sigiriya hotels are around 30 to 40 minutes away, and Polonnaruwa is a similar distance in the other direction.
When to go
The gathering usually builds from about July, peaking in August and September. From roughly October, as the rains return and the reservoir fills, herds often move to nearby Kaudulla. Afternoon drives are usually best. Water levels are now partly controlled, so numbers vary from year to year; your guide will know where the elephants are that week.
Read about a Minneriya safari or our Minneriya guide.
Safari tips
- Book a jeep with a licensed driver; your hotel can arrange it.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and binoculars.
- Keep noise down, never feed animals, and ask the driver not to crowd them.
A note on this page
There are currently no hotels listed for this page yet, which is why none are shown here. The bases above all have good options.