Gal Oya National Park - The Crossing
Gal Oya National Park - The Crossing
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Gal Oya National Park - The Crossing
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
2 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
82 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
21
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Warren F
Auckland, New Zealand320 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
We were looking forward to this tour and it was a nice experience which could have been better if the water level hadn't risen drastically in the last few weeks. It meant the elephants and crocodiles moved away. We saw islands full of birds and the odd Buffalo. The guide also stopped for quick tea and snacks on one of the islands. Recommend doing the tour late afternoon as we were able to capture the amazing sunset.
Would recommend but just confirm water levels aren't too high or low so that you get to see wildlife other than birds.
Would recommend but just confirm water levels aren't too high or low so that you get to see wildlife other than birds.
Written April 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica B
Sydney, Australia8 contributions
We stumbled across this lodge by complete coincidence and wish we had stayed longer. Located in complete isolation in Gal Oya National Park, this luxury lodge exceeded all of our expectations. Wonderful staff and food and incredible accommodation - it's a truly unique experience in any country. Lounge by the pool over a few beers or if you're a bit more adventurous, ask the local guide to escort you to the top of the mountain - about a 2 hour hike up some pretty steep terrane, you won't be disappointed by the amazing view! The staff couldn't have done more to make our stay perfect - don't miss this place on your visit to Sri Lanka!
Written October 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chand
colombo76 contributions
Dec 2014 • Friends
We booked the Wilde life bungalow on the bund of the Senanayake Samudraya.Overlooking a stunning view is this horrid dungeon of a bungalow built to cover any view. More like an alcoholics den with a lingering musty smell. An absolute crime by an Architecht with no imagination. Also this bungalow serves like a junction to workers of three departments. There is no privacy. There is drilling going on fe prom morning till evening just outside one of the bedrooms due to a huge electrification project to build a tunnel. Do not book this bungalow.
the lake itself is stunning.early morning as well as evening view is truly magical. the boatman who promised a 6.30 start never turned up. Would have been better to tell that he never turns up till 8am as getting up early & hanging around can be very vexing .Being the rainy season non punctuality spoilt the whole trip. Boat ride itself has 2 hour 3 hour rides & a full day ride as well as an overnight ride camping In a cave where client has to bring the food.we got this info from the boatman. There is a minimum charge for fiive persons plus taxes.
Our intention was to see swimming elephants. There was hardly any info available regarding season if there is any. Boatman claims heavy rain maroons the elephant herds into little islands & they swim back. The tracker at the park claimed that due to drought the elephants finding the lake the only source of water swim to cool themselves. Yet others say the elephants take the route their forefathers took for grazing be there water or no water. I guess it all depends on luck.
We saw plenty of elephants grazing from the boat & lots of eagles diving & catching fish.
We also visited the gal oya park from the inginiyagala entrance. ( there are different entrances ) It was raining & the vehicle we hired Jagath Safaris had the roof leaking getting us all wet.
There is not much choice regarding the boats or the vehicles on hire. The boat too is not covered.
the road network is not properly planned. Roads do not connect the different entrances length of road coverage on a "round" is very small . Very poorly planned badly managed park. Very difficult to get much info either from Colombo or at Gal Oya.the natural beauty has not been exploited to its full potential for visitors enjoyment despite the charges. Pity.
There seems to be a lot of elephants which can be viewed from the boat as well as from the vehicles.the jungle inside the park it self is very beautiful. The boat trip & the lake stunning.well worth a visit but do expect to get frustrated by the park facilities as well as service. the natural beauty makes the trip all worth while.
the lake itself is stunning.early morning as well as evening view is truly magical. the boatman who promised a 6.30 start never turned up. Would have been better to tell that he never turns up till 8am as getting up early & hanging around can be very vexing .Being the rainy season non punctuality spoilt the whole trip. Boat ride itself has 2 hour 3 hour rides & a full day ride as well as an overnight ride camping In a cave where client has to bring the food.we got this info from the boatman. There is a minimum charge for fiive persons plus taxes.
Our intention was to see swimming elephants. There was hardly any info available regarding season if there is any. Boatman claims heavy rain maroons the elephant herds into little islands & they swim back. The tracker at the park claimed that due to drought the elephants finding the lake the only source of water swim to cool themselves. Yet others say the elephants take the route their forefathers took for grazing be there water or no water. I guess it all depends on luck.
We saw plenty of elephants grazing from the boat & lots of eagles diving & catching fish.
We also visited the gal oya park from the inginiyagala entrance. ( there are different entrances ) It was raining & the vehicle we hired Jagath Safaris had the roof leaking getting us all wet.
There is not much choice regarding the boats or the vehicles on hire. The boat too is not covered.
the road network is not properly planned. Roads do not connect the different entrances length of road coverage on a "round" is very small . Very poorly planned badly managed park. Very difficult to get much info either from Colombo or at Gal Oya.the natural beauty has not been exploited to its full potential for visitors enjoyment despite the charges. Pity.
There seems to be a lot of elephants which can be viewed from the boat as well as from the vehicles.the jungle inside the park it self is very beautiful. The boat trip & the lake stunning.well worth a visit but do expect to get frustrated by the park facilities as well as service. the natural beauty makes the trip all worth while.
Written December 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amila Dananjaya D
Kandy, Sri Lanka464 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
There is a reservoir (Inginiyagala reservoir AKA Senanayaka Samudraya) in the middle of the National Park. Gal Oya National Park is most famous for swimming elephants and it is the only national park offering you the precious experience of Boat Safari in Sri Lanka.. There are two boats (with capacity of 7 and 10 heads) operated by Gal Oya Wild life Department. There are two trips of 2.5 hours long, one at 10 am and another at 3 pm. The boats can be easily reserved by calling Gal Oya - Wild Life Department Office, Inginiyagala. I have reserved a boat on a evening in July 2016. As the boats are operated by Wild Life Department you can see that they are more concerned about Wildlife and always turns off the engines whenever reaching a site to see animals. I was lucky to see Many animals including elephants, deers, Monkeys, Crocodiles countless species of birds and the highlight, one elephant Swimming in between small islands in the Inginiyagala reservoir.
Written July 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sharavi123
Colombo, Sri Lanka7 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
Gal Oya is one of those rare parks that you visit in Sri Lanka that is.... real. As in, you probably won't see hordes of tourists prancing around in Safari Jeeps. The landscape is just gorgeous - the mixture of savannahs and beautiful ebony's are a special combination that truly displays Sri Lanka's biodiversity. Elephants are not used to people in Gal Oya so they are a lot more shy but that makes the experience that much more real. When we went we were driving for about an hour before an elephant, full speed, stormed passed us and retreated to the dense layers of the forest - a delightful change to the elephants in Udawallawe, that are both constrained and far too familiar with people ( :( ).
I recommend having a swim in the pool after the waterfall, anywhere else is a bit dangerous as there are crocs! The birds are incredible, we managed to spot the elusive Malabar Trogon & various other beauties.
This is a park for someone who wants a real "in the wild" experience. If you want to see Leopards and Elephants walk by unexcited by the invasion of people, then you'd probably prefer parks like Yala.
Best park in Sri Lanka for seeing REAL wild elephants(be patient though, it takes a bit of adventure)! 10/10
I recommend having a swim in the pool after the waterfall, anywhere else is a bit dangerous as there are crocs! The birds are incredible, we managed to spot the elusive Malabar Trogon & various other beauties.
This is a park for someone who wants a real "in the wild" experience. If you want to see Leopards and Elephants walk by unexcited by the invasion of people, then you'd probably prefer parks like Yala.
Best park in Sri Lanka for seeing REAL wild elephants(be patient though, it takes a bit of adventure)! 10/10
Written May 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bojan B
Zagreb, Croatia10 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
The first day we went on a jeep safari accompanied with a great park ranger. From the start we were followed by hundreds and hundreds of butterflies. In the park we encountered two groups of elephants and a couple of loners, lots of monkeys, deers, indian rollers, bunch of eagles, herons, storks, parrots, lizards... The second day we went on the boat safari which was really nice in another way. Other than the animals I already mentioned we spotted two crocodiles, bunch of pelicans, cormorans and other birds. This is a really great park which puts all the nature in the spotlight, and not just elephants or leopards.
The local jeep safari tickets and the official NP boat safari are much cheaper then the ones Gal Oya Lodge offer.
The local jeep safari tickets and the official NP boat safari are much cheaper then the ones Gal Oya Lodge offer.
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
N7159FNangelar
62 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We went out on a boat safari from Gal Oya Lodge. What a wonderful morning. We saw all sorts of birds, in particular White Bellied Sea Eagles. We also were able to get reasonably close to an elephant in the water which is something I am never going to forget. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Written February 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam B
Sydney, Australia16 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
Piles of birds & elephants, with a few fresh water crocs for good measure. Apart from the outboard very peaceful. The only tourist boats (all3 of them) are government run and are spartan. Take sun block and refreshments.
Written January 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emily A
78 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We did a jeep safari because we only tried to book the night before and were told a boat safari wasn't possible. I highly recommend pre booking with your hotel our doing a tour, because we had a some trouble getting our entrance tickets to the park. In the morning we left, drove past the park entrance to the office which was about 30mins further up the road. The office was shut because it was still so early, so we spent a long time hanging around trying to get the tickets. Once in the park, we drove through a forest track for a while, which got boring quite quickly as there was nothing to see in the thick trees. Once we got out into the open we saw a few animals - deer, iguana, wild boar, jackal, 4 elephants, toucan, stalk, eagle.
Apparently we went at the wrong time to see elephants - if you go at 6pm then about 40 or so elephants all converge at the water hole, however we went at about 9am!
Apparently we went at the wrong time to see elephants - if you go at 6pm then about 40 or so elephants all converge at the water hole, however we went at about 9am!
Written September 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sanka W
Colombo, Sri Lanka54 contributions
Aug 2012 • Business
"The Crossing" is the sister event of "The Gathering" in Minneriya National Park. It signifies the great mammoth elephants swimming from one island to the other in search of food - hence the name "The Crossing".
There're two boats being operated in the Senanayaka Samudraya which needs to be pre booked. We took a half a day's boat safari and was very lucky to see a couple of elephants "Crossing" from one island to the other.
It was a once in a lifetime experience where you get to witness swimming elephants, mere several feet away from your boat. But be careful not to get too close or else you might get hit by the elephants trunk.
Also this type of nature's phenomenon must be witnessed from a distance since the elephants are very vulnerable in the water while the swim or "Cross". Therefore if we get too close to them, the elephants might panic & drown themselves.
The best time to witness "The Crossing" would be during the months of June, July & August when the water level is down & it's very hard to find water in the nearby forest - Nilgala (which is believed to be the Medicinal Forest of King Budhdhadasa).
There're two boats being operated in the Senanayaka Samudraya which needs to be pre booked. We took a half a day's boat safari and was very lucky to see a couple of elephants "Crossing" from one island to the other.
It was a once in a lifetime experience where you get to witness swimming elephants, mere several feet away from your boat. But be careful not to get too close or else you might get hit by the elephants trunk.
Also this type of nature's phenomenon must be witnessed from a distance since the elephants are very vulnerable in the water while the swim or "Cross". Therefore if we get too close to them, the elephants might panic & drown themselves.
The best time to witness "The Crossing" would be during the months of June, July & August when the water level is down & it's very hard to find water in the nearby forest - Nilgala (which is believed to be the Medicinal Forest of King Budhdhadasa).
Written July 3, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello! We Would like to know what is the average price for a 1 day safari and what kind of animals you can expect to see .
And if you recommend boat safari rather than 4x4.
Also if this season is good for weather conditions.
Thank you !
Written September 7, 2019
Hi,
You mention that we could camp there, is tent provided?
thank you
Written December 7, 2018
Camping in/near Gal Oya National Park is not possible..
Written December 7, 2018
Hi. Is it worth going to gal oya in early January or will it be rained out ?
Written October 26, 2018
Hi there,
Actually, there is hardly any real rainy periods anymore. We were in Sri Lanka during the rainy season (west coast) and had only two separate nights of rain during our holidays. Even if it rains in Gal Oya, it is mostly in the afternoon. So do your trip in the morning.
Written October 27, 2018
Hi , Appreciate if you can assist me on accommodation options in the Galoya area (rustic bungalow type) and also the way to organize the boat Safari. We are a group of 5 adults and 3 kids ( ages 9-12 )
Written July 29, 2018
We want to visit Gal Oya for the boat safari
From what we have read this is a park where they respect the wild animals.
But how to we get to Gal Oya?
We can either go directly from Ella, Kandy or Sigiroya?
Should we spend a night there? Or is a day trip from one of the above towns ok?
Where can we book tickets for the boat safari?
Would really appreciate any help.
Written July 17, 2018
How do I book a jeep or a boat safari online? I cant seem to find any online booking option. If there are no online portals to book, is it safe to say I will find a safari available on the spot when I get to the park?
Written April 3, 2018
We were there three weeks ago but the whole trip was organised prior to leaving. However, based on the knowledge that the jeeps belong to the lodge and the naturalists do as well and the number of guests who stay at the and we were given many choices.
I believe it is almost certain that if you are staying at the lodge you will be able to find s space available for all activities including the lake safari and the jungle safari - we did both and really enjoyed. Totally aside if you like cooking try the jungle cooking three of us really enjoyed and all group (8) eat it that night as a starter. Enjoy Gal Oya lodge we certainly did
Written April 3, 2018
Has anyone visited in March/April and seen elephants? When is the best time?
Written January 18, 2018
It’s okey travel during that time. Elephants are always there. Better to book the boat ride from wildlife department. If possible the camp site or the bungalow. For elephants, have to go early in the morning or evening. Plenty of birds are there so better to take binoculars with you
Written January 18, 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 13
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing