Overview
An extraordinary private wildlife holiday offering accommodations situated close to nature and all the “must see” wildlife highlights in Sri Lanka. Scheduled safaris and walks will be conducted with the finest naturalists in the country.
Your wildlife holiday will begin in Wilpattu, a less-frequented haven for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy walks with experienced naturalists and learn about the various species that inhabit the park with full-day safaris.
Transit in Sri Lanka’s hill capital of Kandy en route to Udawalawe and have the chance to experience some of the cultural highlights on offer.
It’s on to Udawalawe next where you will spend two days embarking on exciting safaris and educational night walks with resident naturalists. Udawalawe guarantees sightings of elephants on every game drive and is great for observing and studying these great beasts. You will even be able to check out the Elephant Transit Home which rehabilitates injured and sick elephants and has become an integral cog in the conservation mission.
Then it’s on to Yala which is simply the best place in the world to see leopards with a density of one leopard per square kilometer. Go on full-day tours in this fantastic park and explore its inner-workings to learn more about the exotic animals that call it home.
All this while staying at peaceful accommodations as well as Big Game Tented Campsites located on the borders of the parks, where you can enjoy the best tented camp experience that Sri Lanka has on offer.
Lastly, visit Mirissa where you will go whale watching in waters renowned for pods of Blue and Sperm Whales. Explore the historical heritage site, the Galle Fort, and unwind under the sun before your journey back home.
Ideal For – Wildlife enthusiasts who are looking for a dash of culture as well. Recommended for Solo Travelers / Couples / Friends / Families with kids and teenagers / Groups consisting of friends and family.
Highlights at a glance
- Discover the diversity of Wilpattu National park with multiple safaris.
- Stay in the historic city of Kandy, a Unesco World Heritage site, and witness age-old Buddhist rituals.
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are nurtured and injured elephants are nursed back to health.
- Meet the giants of the forests - the Sri Lankan elephants - as you explore Udawalawe National Park.
- Explore the world’s best park for Leopards, Yala National Park, with multiple safaris.
- Explore the eclectic streets of the Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage site.
- Go on a Boat Safari to see the largest mammal on earth, the Blue Whale* or experience the Ceylon Cinnamon Trail.
- Stay at Tented Safari Camps bordering the National Parks in Sri Lanka and experience guided safaris, candlelight dinners under the stars, night walks and delicious BBQ served by roaring campfires.
A comprehensive Full-day Safari at the Wilpattu National Park with packed breakfast and lunch awaits you on Day 2. Known as Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest National Wildlife Parks, Wilpattu will give you the chance of experiencing some of the country’s most renowned wildlife highlights including the majestic Sri Lanka Leopard, Sloth Bears and a host of endemic bird species.
At the earliest light of day, it will be time to wake up and take breakfast at the campsite. You will be transferred to Kandy. (Approx. 5 hours travelling distance). The city of Kandy is one of much history and culture. In the evening you will visit The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the most sacred site for Buddhists the world over, as this is where the most important object in the Buddhist world, a tooth fragment recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha, is located. The relic itself is kept in a golden casket amidst heavy security in the Inner Chamber of the temple. The temple complex is adorned with paintings and sculptures depicting the life of the Buddha and a museum documenting its history.
You will get an early start on Day 4 with a transfer to Udawalawe where you will first visit the Elephant Transit Home, a project that has proven vital in the conservation of elephants, some of which are orphaned or separated from their herds. Later on in the day, you can anticipate enjoying an Evening Safari at the Udawalawe National Park before dinner and then an overnight stay at the Big Game Tented Camp in Udawalawe.
Bird watching in Sri Lanka is quite a rewarding experience and the camp’s resident naturalist will take you on a morning birding trail, which will culminate just in time for breakfast. Then you’ll head to the famous Kataragama Temple for a pooja.
Your full day in Yala will be spent thoroughly exploring the Yala National Park inclusive of packed Breakfast & lunch. While the Sri Lankan Leopard is the star of the Park, it also boasts a stunning array of other creatures, from: Sloth Bears, Golden Palm Civet cats, the Wild Water Buffalo to Hornbills, Black-capped Bulbuls and peacocks. After your adventure in the wild, you will once again be able to rest and relax in your cosy tented camp with a campsite dinner, before an optional night walk with your guide.
Another early start awaits you in Mirissa, with an exciting whale watching tour scheduled in the early hours of the morning (season from November to March). These coastlines are known as some of the best locations globally, to spot pods of Blue Whales and Sperm Whales. You will be taken to the Mirissa harbour by 6.15 a.m. where you will set off to catch a glimpse of the whales on their migratory path from the Horn of Africa to the Bay of Bengal. Later on in the afternoon, you will visit the Galle Dutch Fort which was built by the Portuguese and later fortified heavily by the Dutch in the 17th century. Fort is considered a historical and archaeological heritage monument, surrounded by interesting boutiques to venture into. For dinner, you will head back to your overnight stay hotel.
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