When does the Great Elephant Gathering at Minneriya actually start?

The gathering typically starts as the dry season begins around late June, but the peak is undoubtedly in August and September. During this time, you can see up to three hundred elephants at once near the Minneriya tank. They come for the lush green grass exposed as the water levels recede. It is an unforgettable sight. By October, when the rains return, the herds start to disperse back into the surrounding forests.