The dry zone covers the north, east and south-east lowlands, where scrub, open grassland and ancient irrigation tanks hold Sri Lanka's big-game wildlife. Yala and Wilpattu are among the best places in Asia to see leopards, and Minneriya and Kaudulla host the dry-season "Gathering" of hundreds of Asian elephants. Sloth bears, spotted deer, mugger crocodiles and large numbers of waterbirds make the parks rewarding on any drive.
The south-west lowlands catch both monsoons and still hold patches of tropical rainforest — the richest habitat for Sri Lanka's endemic species. Sinharaja is the classic site, with mixed-species bird flocks led by Sri Lanka blue magpies and orange-billed babblers, while Kitulgala and Kanneliya add endemic frogs, lizards and purple-faced langurs.
The central highlands rise above 2,000 m, with cloud forest, montane grassland and tea estates. Horton Plains and the forests around Nuwara Eliya hold the highland endemics — Sri Lanka whistling thrush, dull-blue flycatcher, bear monkeys and horned lizards — while the Knuckles Range is a wilder, less-visited mountain block.
Sri Lanka sits close to deep water, so large whales come unusually near the shore. Mirissa is known for blue whales, Trincomalee for blue and sperm whales, and Kalpitiya for large spinner dolphin pods. Coastal lagoons such as Bundala are major wintering sites for waders and flamingos, and five species of sea turtle nest on the island's beaches.