Minneriya National Park was designated a national park in 1997, having originally been declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The Minneriya tank, a man made reservoir, contributes to the abundance of wildlife in the area, sustaining large populations of elephants in particular.

This is one of the easiest spots in Sri Lanka to spot wild elephant herds as elephants from the forest of Malate, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee gather at Minneriya during the dry season (July to October). Elephants gathered here usually number up to 200. You will be able to see mothers washing their young and young males frolicking in the waters. Minneriya is also home to native and rare species such as the Sri Lankan leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear and toque macaque monkey.

The area is situated in dry zone of Sri Lanka and receives an average rainfall of 1,500-2,000 millimetres (59–79 in). The main sources of water for the tank are a diversion of Amban River and Elahera canal. The wet season lasts during the north eastern monsoon from October to January and from May to September considered as the dry season. The main habitats of Minneriya are of several types, including low-canopy montane forests, intermediate high-canopy secondary forests, scrublands, abandoned chena lands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and wetlands.