Wildlife Safari Tour Of Sri Lanka

Leopards, Elephants And Rainforests

Our safari programme is probably the most comprehensive wildlife and nature expedition of Sri Lanka presently available. Sri Lanka is now recognised as one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots and our tour is an ideal choice for anyone who wishes to explore the fauna and flora of the island in detail.

Highlights Of Our Wildlife Programme Include

•	A day long trek through the vast Sinharaja Rainforest with a Forest Department tracker.
•	A nature trek through the Horton Plains Cloud Forests to observe its unique bio-diversity.
•	A visit to Uda Walawe elephant reserve and the famous Transit Home Project for abandoned elephants.
•	No less than 5 separate exclusive private jeep safaris at Yala National Park to sight the Sri Lanka Leopard, the Island’s prime predator.
•	An afternoon jeep safari at the RAMSAR designated Bundala Lagoons National Park, one of Asia’s greatest bird sanctuaries.
•	A boat ride to see Crocodiles and explore the lush mangrove swamps that surround Negombo Lagoon.

Recommended For: All wildlife and nature enthusiasts, nature photographers and conservation minded individuals

Day 01

Depart UK

Depart UK – Overnight flight

Day 02

Negombo

Paradise Holiday Village

Relax On Arrival At Negombo
The long sandy beach at Negombo is only 20 minutes from Colombo Airport. An ideal location to relax after your flight.

Day 03

Sinharaja

Blue Magpie Lodge

Travel To Sinharaja Through The Interior
Travel through lush tropical lowlands full of busy market towns towards the main rubber producing area of the island. The plantations gradually give way to the hills of the Sabaragamuwa range that are covered by dense forests.

Day 04

Sinharaja

Blue Magpie Lodge

Hiking Trail Through The Sinharaja Rainforest
This last remaining extent of undisturbed tropical rainforest in Sri Lanka is of crucial conservation value having been designated by UNESCO as an International Biosphere Reserve. About 60% of the endemic flora of the country is found in and around the Sinharaja Rainforest.

The Sinhagala Trail runs through the heart of the rainforest and will take a full day’s hiking but you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the unbroken canopy along the way. Experienced Forest Dept guides will accompany you safely inside the maze of trees and creepers rising hundreds of feet above the forest floor.

Day 05

Haputale

Kelburne Bungalows – Aerie Cottage

Magnificent Views At Haputale Gap
A spectacular road winds its way up to the highest escarpment of the Hill Country giving sweeping views of the entire south of the island. The town of Haputale sits on a ridge giving some of the most awesome views in Sri Lanka.

Day 06

Haputale

Kelburne Bungalows – Aerie Cottage

Horton Plains Cloud Forests
Hiking trails on this wild windswept plateau located at 6500ft above sea level lead to various secluded nature spots that are well away from the popular tourist areas. By opting for an early morning trek you can also avoid the mists and observe large herds of Sambar (Elk) that congregate on the plains.

More than half of the flora is endemic at Horton Plains. Forests of rhododendron and magnolia alternate with large areas of grassland. Miniature dwarf bamboo is found near the streams and rare tree mosses and ferns cover the trees in a fantastic display of colour.

Day 07

Uda Walawe

Le Olifant

The Transit Camp For Baby Elephants
This is adjacent to the Uda Walawe Sanctuary and specialises in the release of orphaned baby elephants back to the wild. Some 13 baby elephants are presently handled by this centre.

 

Day 08

Uda Walawe
Le Olifant

Uda Walawe National Park – Private Pm Jeep Safari
It is fairly easy to observe wild elephants at Sri Lanka’s premier elephant reserve. About 500 elephants are present and they can sometimes be seen in herds numbering over 150 individuals. This is also a great park for birds, especially raptors such as the Crested Serpent Eagle and the Grey Headed Fishing Eagles that hover around Uda Walawe Lake.

Day 09 - Day 11

Yala
Yala Village

Yala National Park – 5 Private Am + Pm Jeep Safaris
The jewel among Sri Lanka’s wildlife reserves and one of Asia’s premier sanctuaries is justifiably famous for its population of Leopards that can easily be observed hunting and lazing around during daylight hours.

The island’s big cat is attracted by the presence of large herds of Spotted Deer, Sambar (Elk) and Wild Boar that comprise its staple diet.

Apart from the wildlife, the spectacular landscapes at Yala consist of strange shaped rock outcrops that are the ideal habitat of the aggressive Sloth Bear and a coastline dotted with beautiful lagoons harbouring migratory flamingoes and ferocious Marsh Crocodiles.

Around 100 Elephants are also found in and around the park. Today there are said to be 18 to 20 ‘tuskers’ in the reserve, including one huge ‘cross-tusker’.

Day 12

Bundala
Peacock Beach Hotel

Bundala National Park – Private Pm Jeep Safari
An afternoon visit to this RAMSAR designated wetland of international importance. The Bundala Lagoons constitute one of the most important wintering areas for shorebirds in Asia, accommodating upto 20 000 at any given time, including the rare Black-necked Stork.

The park is also the last refuge of the Greater Flamingo in Sri Lanka with about 2000 of these wintering here during the migratory season.

Day 13

Negombo
Paradise Holiday Village

Boat Trip Through Muthurajawela Marsh
An area of conserved lagoon and wetland rich in bird life with 126 resident species and aquatic mammals such as otter, mongoose and fishing cat. Large Salt-Water Crocodiles and Water Monitors are also present.

Depart Sri Lanka

Depart Sri Lanka – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the same day.

NOTE: It is possible to add a beach stay after your tour if required.