This park can be reached from Colombo on the following route.

Colombo – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla – Godakawela – Udawalwa – Tanamalwila – Wellawaya – Monaragala – Iginiyagala.

This National Park was established in February 1954 mainly to protect the catchment area of Senanayaka Samudra Reservoir and was handed over to the Department of Wild Life Conservation in 1965. It is 25,900 hectares in extent. Approximately 45% of the park is covered with forests, 33% with savana, 9% grass lands and the balance in water bodies. The park does not have any bungalows within its premises but the    Department offers one bungalow which is situated out side the park at Ekgal Aru. There are camp sites in side the park at Kossapola and “Makara”. The latter being on the sandy banks of the gal oya over looking the reservoir one the most scenic places to camp. The Savanna forest areas can be approached from Bibile – Ampara road with a turn off at Karandugala to reach the Nilgala Wild Life beat office.

Birds to look for

Painted Partridge, Jungle Bush Quail, Yellow-legged Green Pigeon, Ceylon Frogmouth, Brown Fish Owl, Southern Sirkeer, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Ceylon Spurfowl, Southern Sirkeer, Racket-tailed Drongo, Crested Serpent & Crested Hawk Eagles, White-bellied sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Forest Eagle Owl, Fish Owl, Little Scops Owl, Paradise Flycatcher, and Thick-billed Flowerpecker.