The landscape of the park is distinctive, with the Horton Plains forming a backdrop that contrasts starkly to the otherwise open terrains. It is the sheer unending savannah that makes the wildlife spotting so rewarding here, and some would argue it is the best and most reliable place to see the Asian elephants interacting with one another in their wild habitat, with an estimated 500 roaming the plains at any one time.

Leopards have been spotted in the park, although these are rare sightings, but spotted deer, endemic toque monkeys, sloth bears, grey langur, sambar, jackal, crocodiles, monitor lizards and water buffalo are all regularly seen. Birdlife is just as prolific, and you stand a good chance of sighting a large number of the 100 species during the migrant season from October to March.