Minneriya National Park, located in Sri Lanka, is a gem for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Spanning over 8,889 hectares, this park is famous for its stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems. One of the highlights is the annual gathering of elephants, where hundreds of these majestic creatures come together around the Minneriya Tank during the dry season. It’s quite a sight to see them splashing around and socializing!

The best time to visit is July-September when large herds of wild elephants are easy to spot near the water. It gets very busy late afternoon into evening with jeeps at this time though.
We went at midday and say 3 large herds, one of which it was just us and one other jeep watching 25 elephants. So consider maybe not going at peak time of day if you're going in peak season.
Other times of year will be quieter with tourists and elephants so you'll want to go at more popular times to maximise chances of seeing them