"The lion king." No one quite knows why this unique forest reserve in the country was named this way: Sinharaja. A contraction of sinha, meaning lion, and raja, meaning king. Located 150 kilometers southeast of Colombo by road, it is today considered by UNESCO to be "the last viable area of primary rainforest in the country." The international organization designated it a biosphere reserve in 1978 and inscribed it on the World Heritage List in 1989.

What is a biosphere reserve?

UNESCO defines a biosphere reserve as a region that combines biodiversity with sustainable development. To be considered as such, the area must be managed in accordance with sustainable development objectives in fields including research, education, and awareness. These zones are separated into three distinct areas: a "core area" which is the subject of long-term nature protection policies with clear and enforced regulations. A "buffer zone" which extends around the first area and aims at its proper development, and finally a "transition zone" which is situated on the edges of the nature reserve and aims to minimize environmental contrast between this natural area and the outside territories.

Strong endemism

This protection proves necessary when one considers the unique, endemic, character of Sinharaja nature reserve. There are 830 endemic species, fauna and flora combined, in Sri Lanka, and among them, 217 tree and plant species. Sinharaja reserve alone contains no fewer than 139 species, that is 64%. 16 of them are considered rare. This includes certain palm species such as Loxucoccus rupicola and Atalantia rotundifolia.

On the fauna side, the region is equally impressive. 19 of the 20 endemic bird species present in Sri Lanka find their habitat in Sinharaja. The rate of fauna endemism, counting mammals, butterflies and birds, exceeds 50%. This means therefore that one animal in two that you observe while walking the natural trails through these forests and plains is unique in the world and found only here! A genuine source of inspiration for photography enthusiasts, hikers, or even natural science lovers.

You may also encounter particularly rare or threatened species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), such as the leopard, the Asian elephant, the Sri Lanka woodpigeon, or even the grey-headed laughingthrush.

When to visit?

Temperatures across Sri Lankan lands vary very little throughout the year. They generally oscillate and average between 28 and 30 degrees. Humidity and rainfall are therefore two interesting data points to consider before departure.

The ideal time to visit Sinharaja reserve is in January, February, or March. During this period rainfall is minimal, which makes walks through the tropical forests more pleasant. However, you may choose to forgo comfort and focus on maximizing your natural experience and consequently avoid mass tourism. October and November are the wettest months in the country, rain is abundant, but you will see virtually no other visitors, which may well encourage animal species to show themselves more readily.

From Colombo you should head toward the town of Weddagala at the edge of the reserve. The journey takes 2 hours by car or taxi and a minimum of 3 hours by bus.