Tourists have praised the safaris in an overlooked country - and it is not located in Africa. When we think of , we normally think of countries like Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. But there is a country in Asia that is home to great safaris that not many people consider. Plus, it is home to gorgeous scenery and plenty of other thrilling things for tourists to do. Visitors have said overwhelmingly positive things about the safari experiences on offer in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is an island nation located south of India. It is famous for its serene beaches and forests but not many people know that this is a go-to place for safaris. In fact, Tom Bonavia, divisional destination manager at , says that is a great safari destination because, despite its relatively small size, it has the "highest rates of unique biodiversity in the world". The small Asian country is home to 91 species of mammals, and on a safari here, you can expect to see majestic creatures such as the leopard and the Asiatic elephant.

Tom offers his advice on where to go for an unforgettable safari experience in Sri Lanka, listing four spots where he believes tourists will have the best time. The first option he suggests is Wilpattu National Park, which he says is Sri Lanka's largest and "least discovered" national park.

Here, tourists will be met with natural lakes where they will see beautiful water birds as well as dense dry woodland that supports other wildlife including crocodiles and . "Visit from March to October, when the water tables are lower and the animals come out to drink at the exposed lakes," he says.

He also lists Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is described as a "biodiversity hotspot" in Sri Lanka. There is also Uda Walawe which is a go-to spot in Sri Lanka for seeing elephants and Yala National Park, an underrated and "relatively undiscovered" part of Sri Lanka.

Based on Tripadvisor reviews, the best safari in Sri Lanka is the Private Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park to the Visit Elephants experience, which has received hundreds of rave reviews. One person said of their time there: "Our guide just seemed one step ahead of the others, just had that little 1% more that makes all the difference. Saw baby elephants, solo bulls and many others. Worth the 5 stars."

Another said: "We had amazing views, saw lots of elephants and our driver was very friendly and knowledgeable when it came to the animals. Great experience!"

A third said: "My partner and I had the best experience on this safari with our tour guide Bhashi. We saw so many elephants including the babies and we learnt so much about the elephants which also made the tour super interesting. We definitely had a very memorable time thanks to our tour guide Bhashi as he tailored the experience to us and even bought us a coconut drink at the end. We also got to get out of the jeep and climb up to a viewpoint in Hurulu and look over the whole park."

While visitors have been blown away by Sri Lanka's safari offerings, there is also plenty of other stuff to attract tourists to this country. The Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress fascinates visitors who go there to experience the breathtaking landscape views and the interesting history of the area.

There is also Little Adam's Peak View Point, a spot that boasts some of the best mountain views you will probably ever see. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's beaches are stunning with standout seaside spots including Mirissa, Hikkaduwa and Mawella,

When it comes to safety, the UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel to the country but says terrorist attacks in places like hotels, beaches and tourist sites cannnot be ruled out.