The Maduru Oya National Park seems very underrated when it comes to national parks in Sri Lanka. At least to us, the travelers who don't like to sit in a safari jeep and see more jeeps than wildlife, which unfortunately we have experienced before.

Therefore, we absolutely love to cross the Maduru Oya National Park on the Manampitya - Aralangawila - Maduru Oya Main Road. There is very little traffic, and if you are heading in this area after 3 pm in the afternoon, you will most probably get to see several groups of elephants. We have been there five times so far and have seen several groups of elephants every single time. There are also countless birds, and a few times we have also seen deer and other wildlife. The elephants in this area are rather small, but we often get to witness mothers with their calves grazing in peace. Just absolutely beautiful!

THE BEST TIME TO GO is after 3 pm and before it gets dark! It is important not to drive through national parks in the dark. Elephants don't have backlighting as they like to walk on the roads at night. Bumping into one with a car in the dark can end pretty badly for both you and the elephant.

DO make sure you are safe at all times! Let your engine run when close to a group of elephants. They may look cute, but they can become angry and attack. Stay in the car if you are in close proximity to the animals. Only get out if they are more than 50 meters away from you.

DON'T approach the elephants ever! Stay on the road at all times and of course, while you walk to take a photo (only when the animals are in safe distance) and of corse also with your vehicle. Lonely bulls are more dangerous than groups of elephants. If a secretion flows from the animal's ears, then the bull elephant is in musth – i.e., sexually mature. One characteristic of elephant bulls in the musth period is their strikingly high level of aggression. If you see a bull waving his ears and sending his tail up in the sky don't even think about stopping! Every year around 80 - 100 people die from elephant attacks in Sri Lanka!