Sri Lanka Wildlife Holiday

Anuradhapura

Welcome to your Sri Lanka Wildlife Adventure which starts when your smiling chauffeur/guide meets you at Bandaranaike Airport. Settle back for the approximately 5 hour scenic drive into the lush hill country which surrounds the ancient city of Anuradhapura in the North Central Province. Rest and relax in comfort at your chosen hotel in Anuradhapura.

Anuradhapura

Animals arise early, and so too will you for the best sightings of wildlife in the Wilpattu National Park! This full day safari starts with a 5am departure from your hotel and we stay in the park until 6pm to maximize our chance of seeing the rare leopards that roam in this area. The natural lakes, known as “willus”, are watering holes frequented by threatened species of elephants, sloth bears, leopards and water buffalo along with more prolific crocodiles, spotted deer and smaller mammals. Birdlife includes painted storks, owls, eagles, spoonbills and other wading birds. Return to your hotel in the early evening.

Wasgamuwa

After a leisurely breakfast we head south to Wasgamuwa on a scenic 4 to 4.5 hour drive, depending upon road conditions. You will appreciate the benefits of having your own personal chauffeur and guide which allows you to stop for photographs at scenic points along the way. You may even see opportunistic sightings of loggings elephants or wildlife at the side of the road on this wildlife adventure of a lifetime. There will be time to relax and make use of the facilities at your hotel before getting an early night.

Wasgamuwa

Another early start will allow us to enter the Wasgamuwa National Park by jeep at 6am, long before other tourists arrive and disturb the wildlife. We will spend the whole day in the park, including a picnic lunch, to maximize the possibility of seeing the reclusive leopards. Return to your hotel early in the evening perhaps to swap tales about your exciting day’s wildlife sightings with other guests.

Nuwara Eliya

Enjoy a lie-in and a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast at your hotel before departing by car for Nuwara Eliya. The scenic countryside and lush jungle is home to many more birds and wildlife still to come! We schedule a stop where you can stretch your legs at the Dambana Vedda Village. This is a refuge for indigenous people of Sri Lanka and is surrounded by pristine jungle. Learn about the culture of these expert hunters who are known for their famous Kiri Koraha dancing to invoke the blessing of their gods on all nature and wildlife. We arrive at the end of a 5 to 5.5 hour drive in the rolling tea-covered mountains of Nuwara Eliya where you will spend the next two nights.

Nuwara Eliya

Arise with the larks and journey by car to the nearby Horton Plains National Park which is home to many rare and endemic species. The mountain forests are home to large herds of Sambar Deer. Our wildlife spotting trip includes a half-day hike to Baker’s Falls and the dramatic 900-metre sheer drop at World’s End. Your accompanying naturalist and guide will point out and identify sightings of wildlife such as Toque Macaques, Purple-faced Langurs, Leopards, Rusty-Spotted Cats, Giant Squirrels and if you’re lucky, the highly endangered Horton Plains Slender Loris. Return to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya to relax and rest your tired feet!

Sinharaja or Deniyaya

After breakfast your driver/guide will transport you to Sinhararaja or Deniya. Settle into your chosen accommodation in an eco-lodge right in the heart of the rainforest at Sinharaja or Deniyaya. Expected journey time is 5.5 to 6 hours allowing you plenty of time to relax and listen to the nearby wildlife.

Sinharaja or Deniyaya

A treat is in store today with a full or half-day hike in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. This national park is a biodiversity hotspot and World Heritage Site with virgin rainforest. The dense vegetation hides many endemic species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds. You are likely to hear the noisy call of the Orange-billed Babbler and see feeding flocks of Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Green-billed Coucal and vividly coloured Sri Lanka Blue Magpies. Return to your lodge for another night’s sleep in the jungle eco-lodge.

Embilypitiya or Uda Walawe

After breakfast we take the opportunity to visit an Elephant Transit Camp. Unlike the better-known Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala, we prefer to enable true eco-tourists to support this genuine conservation project which nurtures and feeds abandoned elephant calves before releasing them back into the jungle. In the afternoon you will enjoy an exciting safari in the Uda Walawe National Park which provides a natural sanctuary for waterbirds and around 250 Sri Lankan elephants. After 2.5 to 3 hours on the road you will spend the night in more customary hotel accommodation in Embilipitiya or Uda Walawe.

Airport

Departure day is always a time to look back over your amazing experiences as you prepare to leave and be transferred to the airport, just 20 minutes’ drive away. We hope this is not “goodbye” but rather “see you soon”. Plan to join another of our VIP tours with a local driver/guide and see more of Sri Lanka’s wonderful attractions. Bon voyage!

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

Katunayaka or Negombo

After breakfast your driver will make the 4 to 4.5 hour drive north to Katunyaka or Negombo. Optional stops that you may choose to make without any additional cost include: seeing the remarkable stilt fishermen at Weligama, exploring the historic Galle Fort complex, visiting the Mask Makers at Ambalangoda or visiting a Turtle Hatchery. This eco-friendly conservation project depends upon volunteers to collect the newly laid eggs of endangered turtles and protect them from predators until they hatch. Visitors can carry young turtles down to the sea to give them the best possible chance of survival. Depending upon your day’s activities you will arrive at your Katunayaka or Negombo hotel sometime during the afternoon.

Thissamaharamaya or Yala

Another 5am start allows us to reach Bundala National Park. A half-day jeep safari will necessitate bringing a packed breakfast, fruit and water for this exciting wildlife adventure. This UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve is an important wintering ground for migratory water birds. Your visit is perfectly timed to see huge flocks of Greater Flamingo, whistling ducks, herons, ibis, storks and spoonbills along with other wildlife including elephants. Return to your hotel late morning and chill out or join an optional half day safari in Yala National Park.

Thissamaharamaya or Yala

Depart at 5am with your packed breakfast, lunch, fruit and water and prepare to spend a full day in the Yala National Park. Dawn and dusk are the best time to see wildlife sightings and the low light is perfect for wildlife photography. Expect to see elephants, sloth bears, macaques, wild water buffaloes and hopefully one of the elusive leopards as Yala which has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Enjoy another relaxing evening at your Tissamaharamaya or Yala hotel, perhaps checking through your fantastic collection of wildlife photographs so far.

Thissamaharamaya or Yala

After breakfast, your Wildlife Tour continues southeastwards with a 2.5 to 3 hour drive to Tissamaharamaya in the Southern Province. Guests can relax and enjoy the hotel amenities or join an optional afternoon safari to Yala National Park. It is home to Sri Lankan elephants, leopards and is deemed an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Sri Lanka with 215 different species. Your overnight stay will be in Tissamaharamaya or Yala.