Dehiwala Zoo: National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka (2026 Guide & Reviews)

Dehiwala Zoo at a Glance

Everything a first-time visitor asks about, in one table. Where a page of ours goes deeper, the row says so.

Each topic has its own page for detail, from Dehiwala Zoo open time and poya-day hours, Dehiwala Zoo ticket price 2026 and how to reach Dehiwala Zoo.

About Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo

Founded in 1936, National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka, also known as Dehiwala Zoo, is a zoological garden located in the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia district. At its last published census (2005) it held around three thousand animals of more than three hundred species, and it remains the largest collection in the country. Visit here to have a candid rendezvous with the wildlife at an unhurried pace, from the big cats on Lion Island to the fish tanks of the aquarium.

The diversity of Dehiwala Zoo is extolled by its aquarium, walk-through aviary, reptile house, and butterfly garden. The butterfly garden at the National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka at Dehiwala is one of its best corners. Strewn with shrubs, trees, creepers, and even some small streams, it emulates the natural habitat for butterflies of all sorts. Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo has around thirty species of butterflies in various stages of their life-cycles for educational and research purposes. With landscaped gardens and dense foliage, lawns and patches of forest harbouring several species of rare plants, the zoo is cool enough to walk even in April. It has its own network of shaded pathways and beautifully constructed bridges that arch over to other sections.

Besides the common zebra, hippopotamus, and spotted deer, Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo also houses Asian elephants, black rhino, oryx, lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, sloth bears, Himalayan brown bears, baboons, meerkats, lemurs, and chimpanzees. The bird section has pelicans, egrets, cormorants, black swans and white swans in the walk-through aviary, while hawks, eagles, owls, macaws, the cassowary and the ostrich are kept in separate cages and paddocks nearby. Dehiwala Zoo also has an interesting collection of reptiles. It houses Green Anacondas, Eastern Green Mambas, Albino Cobras, Pit Vipers, Pythons, Cat Snakes, Kraits, Turtles, and Bearded Lizards. Besides that, there are also muggers, estuarine crocodiles, and dwarf crocodiles. There are also restaurants, an ice-cream shop, and a souvenir shop for visitors.

Two changes since most guides were written. The zoo's last orangutan, Sakifo, died in January 2025, so orangutans are no longer on show. And the elephant rides, pony rides and "baby chimpanzee show" that older pages mention are not offered today. The animal programmes that do run are listed further down.

Is Dehiwala Zoo Worth Visiting? Reviews and Our 2026 Verdict

Yes, for a half-day with children or for anyone who likes birds and reptiles. Skip it if older-style enclosures upset you. That split runs straight through the reviews. Locals and families rate the zoo highly, while overseas visitors who compare it with Singapore are tougher.

Ratings as aggregated by Wanderlog on 22 October 2026.

Reading through the recent reviews, the praise is consistent. People like how many animals they see for the price, the walk-through aviary, the reptile house and the butterfly garden, and the old rain trees that keep most paths in shade. Parents mention that a five-year-old can walk the whole loop.

The complaints are consistent too. Several big-cat and bear enclosures are small concrete pens built decades ago. Toilets get tired by Sunday afternoon. By noon the heat is heavy, and some visitors tease or feed the monkeys despite the signs. Foreigners sometimes feel the price gap at the counter (Rs 295 for locals against about Rs 3,900 for a SAARC adult).

What has changed is the money going in. In May 2026 the zoo began a Rs 300 million upgrade covering enclosures, paths, washrooms, shaded benches, underground wiring and a Rs 10 million CCTV system. Reviews written before 2026 describe a zoo that is now being rebuilt in stages.

What to See at Dehiwala Zoo: Zone by Zone

The zoo is compact, and every zone below sits within a 15-minute walk of the main gate.

Lion Island and the Big Cats

Lion Island is the zoo's moat-ringed lion enclosure and the busiest spot in 2026, because the African lion pair produced two cubs that went on show for the 90th anniversary on 3 July. Tigers, jaguars and leopards, including the Sri Lankan subspecies, are in the older cat row nearby. These are the enclosures reviewers criticise most, and the 2026 upgrade has them on its list.

Walk-Through Aviary and Bird Section

You walk inside the netting with pelicans, egrets and cormorants around a pond, while macaws, owls and the cassowary sit in side cages. Bird photographers rate this as the best part of the zoo. Go early, when the birds are feeding and noisy.

Primates

Chimpanzees, baboons and lemurs share the primate block. Look out for toque macaques too, the red-capped monkeys found only in Sri Lanka, some of which live wild in the zoo's trees and will snatch food from bags.

Reptile House

A cool, dim building with green anacondas, pythons, eastern green mambas, kraits, pit vipers and the albino cobra, plus turtles and bearded lizards. Mugger, estuarine and dwarf crocodiles sit in pools just outside. It is a good place to wait out a shower.

Aquarium and the Bandula Barb

The aquarium holds freshwater and marine tanks, but its real story is the Bandula barb (Pethia bandula), a critically endangered fish that lives wild only in one small stream near Galapitamada. The zoo runs a captive breeding programme for it with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the official site calls it the pride of Dehiwala Zoo.

Butterfly Garden

Around 30 species live here among nectar plants and small streams. Look on the underside of leaves for caterpillars and pupae. It is busiest between 9 am and 11 am, when the butterflies warm up.

Elephants, Rhino and Hippo

Asian elephants and the black rhino are in the zoo's larger paddocks, which the 2026 upgrade is extending into free-living areas. The Nile hippo pair had a calf this year, and zebra and spotted deer are close by. The zoo's elderly female giraffe, nearly 30, died on 18 August 2026, and the department plans to bring in two new pairs of giraffes before the end of the year. Deer and sambar are being merged into one shared enclosure as part of the works.

Bears and Other Carnivores

A pair of Himalayan brown bears arrived from Capital Zoo in the UAE in February 2025 under an animal exchange and went on display here on 25 March 2025. Sloth bears, the species native to Sri Lanka, live in the next enclosure, so you can compare the two.

Animal Encounters and Experiences in 2026

Check this table before you believe an older blog. Several popular programmes have ended or paused.

Bom, the zoo's 16-year-old sea lion, had surgery for a cancer-linked wound in mid 2026 and is off display while vets monitor him. Feeding animals is allowed only through the Animal Interaction Program, so do not buy the fruit hawkers sell outside the gate.

A 3-Hour Route Through Dehiwala Zoo

This loop starts at the main gate at 8:30 am and saves the indoor zones for the hottest hour.

1. 8:30 am. Walk straight to Lion Island while the cats are awake and the crowds are thin.

2. 9:00 am. The tiger, jaguar and leopard row, then the bear enclosures next door.

3. 9:30 am. The walk-through aviary at feeding time.

4. 10:00 am. The Elephant Friends encounter if you have booked it, or the elephant, rhino and hippo paddocks if not.

5. 10:45 am. The butterfly garden while it is still at its busiest.

6. 11:15 am. Snack and toilet stop at the cafeteria.

7. 11:30 am. The primate block, then the reptile house and aquarium as the heat builds.

Dehiwala Zoo Tickets and Timings

Here is the short version. The zoo is open daily from 8:30 am, the counter stops selling at 5:00 pm and the grounds close at 6:00 pm. All fares include 18% VAT and are paid in Sri Lankan rupees.

E-tickets are sold on the official Dehiwala Zoo ticket portal. For school-group rates and the rupee conversion, see Dehiwala Zoo ticket price. For poya days, public holidays and why the official site lists three different closing times, see Dehiwala Zoo timings.

Ticket prices and hours on this page are checked by our Sri Lanka desk against nationalzoo.gov.lk and Extraordinary Gazette 2314/90, which sets the base fares before VAT.

How to Reach Dehiwala Zoo from Colombo

The zoo is about 11 km south of Colombo Fort, a short way inland from Galle Road. A tuk-tuk or a PickMe or Uber car takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. By bus, any Galle Road bus heading south from Pettah (routes 100 and 101) stops at Dehiwala junction, from where the zoo is a 20-minute walk or a short tuk-tuk ride up Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha. Coast-line trains stop at Dehiwala station, about 1.5 km away. From Bandaranaike International Airport it is about 45 km, or 1 to 1.5 hours by car.

Bus numbers, fares and the airport route are on our how to reach Dehiwala Zoo page.

Best Time to Visit Dehiwala Zoo

Arrive at 8:30 am on a weekday. The animals are fed and active in the first two hours, and the school groups and weekend families reach the gate after 10 am. Sundays and poya days are the busiest days of the month.

The zoo is open all year, but it can close after severe weather. After Cyclone Ditwah in late November 2025 it shut for several days and reopened on 1 December 2025. For the city's full season guide, see best time to visit Colombo.

Is Dehiwala Zoo Good for Kids? Facilities, Food and Park Rules

It is one of the easiest family outings in Colombo. Paths are mostly flat and shaded, there is a children's play area, and the cafeterias sell rice and curry, short eats and ice cream. Parking for cars, motorbikes and buses is close to the main entrance, and new toilet blocks are being built under the 2026 upgrade.

The park rules are strict and enforced at the gate:

• No plastic or polythene. Bring food in paper or reusable boxes.

• No pets, drums, whistles or Bluetooth speakers.

• No smoking, alcohol or feeding the animals outside the Animal Interaction Program.

• Do not pay unofficial guides. Only zoo staff can sell tours.

Our Dehiwala Zoo visitor tips cover what to pack, and families planning a wider trip can use our list of places to visit in Sri Lanka with family and this Sri Lanka with kids travelogue.

What's New at Dehiwala Zoo in 2026

• 18 August 2026: the zoo's elderly female giraffe died at nearly 30. The department plans to bring in two new pairs of giraffes before the end of 2026.

• 3 July 2026: the zoo marked its 90th anniversary and showed two new lion cubs and a Nile hippo calf.

• May 2026: a Rs 300 million upgrade began. It covers better enclosures, a merged deer and sambar enclosure, larger free-living areas for elephants and the black rhino, restored paths, underground cabling, shaded benches, a new toilet complex and a Rs 10 million CCTV system (Sunday Times, 24 May 2026).

• Mid 2026: Bom the sea lion had surgery and is off display while he recovers.

• 1 December 2025: the zoo reopened after the Cyclone Ditwah closure.

• February to March 2025: a pair of Himalayan brown bears arrived from the UAE and went on show on 25 March.

• January 2025: Sakifo, the zoo's last orangutan, died.

A Short History of the National Zoological Gardens

The zoo began in the late 1920s as a holding centre run by John Hagenbeck, a German animal dealer who kept animals here before shipping them to zoos in Europe. The government took over the land in 1936 and opened the National Zoological Gardens to the public on 3 July that year. Director Lyn de Alwis later redesigned it around open moats and gardens, and went on to advise on Singapore Zoo. The longer story is on Wikipedia.

Places to Visit Near Dehiwala Zoo

The zoo fills a morning, which leaves the afternoon free for the coast a few minutes away.

Read more about Mount Lavinia, the best things to do in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, our things to do in Colombo list, and the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. For a wider view, browse places to visit in Colombo or our full Colombo travel guide.

Visiting from India? Plan Dehiwala Zoo into Your Sri Lanka Trip

Indian travellers pay the SAARC rate, which works out far cheaper than the general foreign fare. At 22 October 2026 exchange rates (1 USD = Rs 331.7 = INR 94.5), a family of two adults and two children pays about INR 3,345 in entry fees.

Carry your passport for the SAARC fare, and change money before the trip or at the airport, since the counter takes rupees only. Most Colombo itineraries have a free morning on the arrival or departure day, which is exactly what the zoo needs. Our Sri Lanka family packages and Colombo tour packages can include it with a hotel transfer, and every Sri Lanka tour package we list can be customised to add it. For the rest of the island, start with our Sri Lanka travel guide or the elephant sanctuaries in Sri Lanka.

Edited by TravelTriangle