Our
‘Sri Lanka Wildlife Explorer’ has been created
for serious wildlife enthusiasts. We’ve teamed up with
the best wildlife-focused operator in the island, called Eco-Team,
who will look after the wildlife-specific components of the
tour. Our experience will be utilised for the hotels and transport.
The tour is fully ATOL protected. We have included a mixture
of hotel stays and luxury camping. Note this is a private
tour and you will be travelling off-the-beaten track, away
from the package groups. We recommend gathering together a
group of four or more to reduce the cost of the luxury camping.
We can make adjustments to this itinerary to suit your specific
interests.
Holiday highlights:
• Looking for leopards in Wilpattu and
Yala
• Climbing the magnificent Sigiriya Rock
• Watching elephants bathe in Minneriya
• Luxury camping in Wasgomuwa and Uda Walalwe
• Trekking in Hunas Giriya mountains
• Walking in Horton Plains
• Exploring Sinharaja’s virgin rainforest
Day 1:
Arrive in Sri Lanka,
to be met at the airport by Red Dot. Transfer by airconditioned
car to Ranweli Village Hotel, an eco-friendly about 30 mins
drive from the airport. A short ferry ride across a scenic river
glides you to the hotel situated in a peninsula surrounded by
two rivers, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation profile:Ranweli
is situated in a coastal wetland estuary, amid mangroves, about
10 miles north of the beach resort of Negombo. This isolated
wooden environment is reached by a short paddle-ferry trip which
glides you to a peninsular surrounded by two rivers, a lagoon
and the Indian Ocean. Its ecological commitment has been officially
recognised by the World Tourist Organisation. Its 72 chalet-style
bungalows and 12 family rooms blend sensitively with the natural
environment.
Day 2 & 3:
After breakfast travel north towards your
first park, Wilpattu National Park, which reopened to the public
in 2003. En route, you can visit Yapahuwa, described by the
Insight Guide to Sri Lanka as "one of the great architectural
wonders of the island.” Climb an impressive staircase,
decorated by murals and guarded by lions, to what remains of
the palace. We will pack a picnic so you can relax and savour
the natural splendour of this special location. In the afternoon
you’ll arrive at Palm Garden Village, your comfortable
home of the next two nights in Anuradhapura. Early the next
morning, before dawn breaks, set-off for Wilpattu, which is
about 40-minute drive from the hotel. Spend the full day in
the park – or as long as you wish to spend. We’ll
organise a picnic and refreshments.
Wilpattu National Park:
Was once the premier game park in Sri Lanka. Back in the early
1980s it boasted more than 200 game wardens and a regular stream
of visitors, before it was eventually closed because of the
separatist conflict between government forces and the Tamil
Tigers. About 40 minutes south of Anuradhapura, it was reopened
in 2003 amid great excitement – and Red Dot enthusia stically
supports efforts to restore the park to its former glories.
The park has a small population of leopard, deer, water buffalo,
an array of stunningly beautiful birds, swarms of butterflies,
iguanas and probably elephants.
Accommodation
profile:The Palm Garden Village has
the air of a colonial club, but one with a relaxed and enlightened
air. It was built in traditional colonial style in the late
1990s and stands in a large park, with villas immersed in the
greenery. This botanical garden is well stocked with flowers,
spices and fruit and occasional elephants, buffaloes and deer
wander out of the forest to drink at the adjacent lake, which
was renovated by the hotel. Palm Garden’s profusion of
birdlife also holds particular appeal for ornithologists. The
hotel was planning to offer good-quality camping in Wilpattu
in 2006.
Day 4 & 5:
After an early breakfast leave for Ritigala.
Remains of an ancient monastery can be seen on the hillside,
as well as several drip-ledge caves with pre-Christian inscriptions.
This valuable archaeological site is scheduled to be listed
as a World Heritage monument. Picnic lunch optional at the site.
Ritigala is a refuge area for many threatened species. You could
see spot-winged thrush, jungle fowl, grey hornbill, and mammals
including sloth bears, elephant and lizards. Ritigala is a wet-zone
forest found in the dry zone and 110 documented trees are found
here. Also visit Namal Uyana and Pink Quartz Mountain. In the
afternoon return to Habarana Lodge to relax.
Wake up early the following day for a morning safari at Minneriya
National Park, an important wetland park feeding thousands of
hectares of paddy fields and supporting many aquatic birds and
about 300 wild elephants. Return to the hotel for lunch. Afterwards
you have the option of climbing Sigiriya Rock, one of Sri L
anka's UNESCO world heritage sites and, no matter how often
you climb to the summit of this one-time fortress of the murderous,
maverick Sinhalese king, Kassapa, the pleasure barely diminishes.
You will be in no rush to abandon the spectacular views at the
summit.
Minneriya National Park:
Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa the park, a vitally
important wetland for local people, animals and birds, is a
mix of evergreen forest and scrub. The central feature of the
park, though, is the ancient reservoir. The reservoir attracts
large numbers of elephants during the dry season, usually from
June to September, and huge flocks of birds, included cormorants
and painted storks.
Accommodation
profile: Habarana
Lodge is blessed with a tranquil and picturesque 25-acre woodland
location, next to a beautiful lake. The large gardens provide
habitat to a rich birdlife (138 species have been identified)
and troops of grey monkeys. The 150 comfortable and spacious
cottages all have small sitting areas and verandas, encouraging
you just to laze there during the day, and are surprisingly
secluded. The hotel has a reputation for producing some of the
best buffets in the island, including a very good selection
of Sri Lankan food.
Day 6:
We depart early in the morning for Wasgomuwa, a rarely visited
but interesting national park. With no hotel accommodation in
the area – a blessing that keeps the hoards away –
we will set-up the first campsite of the trip right next to
the Mahaweli River, which winds its way down from the hills
to the east coast. The campsite, set in a shady grove, will
be set-up in advance with everything from kitchen sinks, chairs,
tables, toilets, showers and cold beer brought in. After a late
afternoon drive through the park, the campsite will be lit up
by flaming torches and a hearty dinner will be served up under
the stars.
Wasgomuwa National Park:
Bordered by the Mahaweli and Amban rivers, the park is situated
south of P olonnaruwa and is a massive 37,000 hectares in size.
It was declared a National park in 1984 and provides a home
to a wide variety of flora and fauna (23 species of mammal –
including leopards, elephants and bears, 143 birds, 8 amphibians,
17 fresh water fishes, 17 reptiles, 50 butterflies and 150 plants).
Day 7:
After an early morning game drive in the park, we travel south
to the hill-country, to a new and stunningly beautiful terrain,
the Knuckles. This range of mountains are located just north
of Kandy, the hill-country capital, and they offer magnificent
hiking and splendid views. We will be staying at Cobert’s
View Lodge, a small property tucked away in the belly of the
mountains. The accommodation is simple but comfortable. During
the afternoon you can go walking with a guide or simply savour
the panoramic views from the lodge.
Knuckles National Heritage and
Wilderness Area: The Knuckles
offer some breathtaking scenery for walkers and mountain bike
enthusiasts. There are numerous trails criss-crossing the 155
sq km park characterised by its crystal clear streams, gushing
waterfalls, dense forests, lush tea plantations and carefully
nurtured rice paddy. There is a wide variety of rare and endemic
flora and fauna.
Day 8:
After our brief stay in the Knuckles we travel further north,
through Kandy and deeper into the tea-growing hills. If you
wish, we can stop en route to see the Temple of the Tooth, one
of the most sacred temples in the island that looks out over
Kandy’s lake. You also have the option to wind through
the mountain scenery, studded with tea plantations, en route
to Nuwara Eliya by train, leaving your driver to transport your
luggage by car. This most famous of Sri Lanka's hill stations,
more than 6,000ft above sea level, is nicknamed Little England,
although it has more of a feel of the West of Scotland. Check
in at St Andrews Hotel, a resting point with a strong sense
of history.
Accommodation profile: This stately
Tudor-style colonial mansion, built in the latter part of the
19th century, preserves the feel of a bygone age. Standing alongside
imposing pine trees, it has a rather stern exterior. But inside
is a world of open fires, candlelit dinners and a well-stocked
wine cellar. Many of the 52 rooms, including 12 suites or family
rooms, have quaint period furniture. All have attached bathrooms.
Each room offers a view of the distant mountains and lush vegetation-clad
hills.
Day 9:
Rise early, armed with picnic breakfast
packets, and drive by jeep to Horton's Plains for a trek amid
the wild scenery of this mountain plateau. Visit the famous
viewpoint at World's End and watch out for Sambur deer, and
a profusion of endemic bird life. From Horton Plains we trek
down to Belihuloya, a picturesque hamlet that links the dry
and the west zones and the hill and the low country at an altitude
of less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation consists of
moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical savanna forests, dry
patana grasslands and montane temperate forests, making it one
of the richest bio-diversity spots in Sri Lanka – a perfect
location for nature lovers. Our base for the night will be the
River Garden, a small hotel situated on an escarpment looking
towards the southern plains.
Horton Plains National Park:
is undoubtedly one of the world’s best nature reserves.
It is characterised by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills,
covered in upper montane forest and wet patana grassland. In
general, the forests are seen on the hilltops or upper slopes
the grasslands in the valleys and lower slopes, eventually g
iving way to wetland habitats. Spanning approximately 10,000
hectares the park is also home to a wide variety of flora (57
species, 29 endemic to Sri Lanka) and 24 species of mammal such
as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine
and leopard. For bird enthusiasts, there 87 species (14 of which
are endemic), including many migratory birds. The Plains also
feature many interesting attractions such as ‘Bakers Falls’,
‘Chimmini Pool’ and the famous ‘World’s
End’ (a 3700 ft sheer drop that offers fabulous views
of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant
southern coastline
Day 10:
From Belihuloya we travel south-west to the exhilarating Sinharaja
Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a treasure-trove
of biodiversity with a remarkable array of endemic species (95%
of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds have been seen here). This
is the last remaining tract of virgin rainforest in the island,
stretching 21km from east to west and 4km from south to north.
The best time to walk in the park – which has three main
nature trails – is at the crack of dawn so you have the
afternoon to relax and unwind at Blue Magpie Lodge, a short
drive from the park gates.
Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve:
The last significant stretch of pristine virgin rainforest
in the island and in 1989 was recognised as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO. The name ‘Sinharaja’ means ‘Lion
King’ and the beautiful forest is believed to have been
the last refuge of the now extinct lion. The park does still
have an estimated 15 leopards and elephants, but these are rarely
seen. But the forest is a treasure trove of biodiversity with
a high degree of endemism in its species – for example,
95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka and more than half its
mammals and butterflies have been recorded here. The reserve
is situated in the lowland wet zone and is made up of a series
of rolling hills, ridges and valleys. There are three main nature
trails: Waturawa Trail (4.7km), Moulawella Trail (7.5km) and
Sinhagala Trail (14km).
Accommodation
profile: The
Blue Magpie Lodge is a basic property, but one blessed with
a truly stunning natural location. Surrounded by lush forest,
Blue Magpie, a short drive to the Sinharaja park entrance, has
12 simple rooms with en suite bathrooms, all with hot water
but no modern frills – this is a place for nature lovers
not cable TV addicts. The property has a friendly management
team and the food is delicious.
Day 11:
After rising early to walk in Sinharaja,
choosing a trek of between 3-7 hours, we transfer out of the
wet zone and head east to Uda Walawe, one of the island’s
most popular wildlife sanctuaries, which is mainly open parkland
traversed by streams and is best known for its herds of wild
elephant. We will be camping about 16km inside the park next
to the Walawe Ganga River. Go for a game drive before dusk and
then again at dawn.
Uda Walalwe National Park: The
308 sq km sanctuary, mainly made up of open parkland, wasa set
up in 1972 t o protect the catchment for the Uda Walalwe Reservoir.
The park is most famous for its elephant herds. The total population
is around 450 and herds of up to 100 can sometimes be seen.
There are also healthy populations of macaque, langur, jackal
and increasing numbers of sambar, spotted deer, barking deer,
wild board and water buffalo. The bird-watching is very rewarding
with around 190 species.
Day 12 & 13:
After a dawn game drive and a hearty breakfast, pack
your bags for your last park, Yala West (or Ruhuna), which boasts
such a varied terrain – open parkland, dense jungle, scrub
with rocky outcrops, small streams, lakes and lagoons, wide
beaches and sand dunes – that it supports an extraordinary
range of wildlife and vegetation. We will be staying just outside
the park in a new eco-lodge called Aranya. After a few days
on the road, we stop for two nights and a series of game drives.
Yala National Park: The
vast 97,900 hectare park is located in the south-east corner
of Sri Lanka, 290km from Colombo. The varied terrain includes
semi arid thorny scrub, dense secondary for est, mangroves on
the lagoons, sand dunes behind the beaches and coral reefs.
For many visitors the search for the park’s elusive leopards
– there about 30 in the park – is a major attraction
as Yala’s males are know to be quite bold. Elephants are
another major attraction and early easily seen close to water
from Jan to May – the dry season. Other game inclues macaque
and langur monkeys, sambur, spotted deer, jackal, wild boar,
buffaloes, sloth bears and crocodiles. There are 130 bird species
Accommodation
profile: Aranya is a small eco-lodge offering
guests an opportunity to soak up the serene atmosphere of Sri
Lanka’s wilds. The three-acre property – which can
only sleep people in a chalet, tree-hut and watch-hut -- is
simple but thoughtfully designed. Aranya aims to be a true eco-lodge
and the staff are all recruited from local villages. Meals are
prepared with fresh local ingredients. The property does not
have national grid electricity but solar power provides lighting
in the evening.
Day 14:
You travel on to the capital, Colombo,
after breakfast. Drive south along the coast to Hambantota before
turning inland a driving up past Uda Walalwe to Ratnapura, Avissawela
and down to the capital. Stop for some lunch en route in a scenic
resthouse and by late afternoon, check in to the Galle Face
Hotel in Colombo, once the most esteemed colonial hotel in Asia
and possessing a celebrated history stretching back to the middle
of the 19th century. You would not want to miss the sunset here;
it is reputed to be the finest in Colombo. We recommend a final
dinner at the Gallery Café – one of Asia’s
most atmospheric and relaxing restaurants.
Accommodation profile: The Galle
Face, hailed as a masterpiece of Victorian architecture, retains
the dignified and polite atmosphere that gave it such fame in
the colonial age. Sympathetic renovations and refurbishments
are helping to protect its historic status in more demanding
times. Rooms tend to be spacious, with wooden floors and antique
furniture, The Seaspray restaurant, specialising in fish, is
blessed by an ocean frontage. There is nowhere better to watch
a Colombo sunset than from its immaculate terrace and gardens.
Day
15: Depart in good time
for your flight home
Cost:Available on request
Package price includes:
- 12 night’s BB hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis
- 2 night’s luxury camping inclusive breakfast and dinner
- Picnics in Minneriya, Ritigala, Wilpattu and Horton Plains
- Airconditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and
transfers
- Jeep hire and entrance fees for all wildlife parks
- Wildlife guide for duration of tour and trackers in the parks
- Cultural entrance fees: Ritigala, Yapahuwa, Sigiriya Rock
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