Sri Lanka Mammals | Carnivores & Small Felines – Special Interest Tour – 10 Day (Private Tour)

Welcome to Sri Lanka! 

This private tour, focused mostly on cats, mammals, and carnivores, allows you to enjoy the beauty of Sri Lankan wildlife at your own pace. Our guide will tailor this tour, especially the safaris and night activities, to your specific interests.

Upon arrival, your chauffeur will greet you and accompany you throughout the tour.

If you arrive in Wilpattu in the morning or early afternoon, you’ll have time to freshen up, enjoy lunch, and relax. The evening will feature a campfire, a candle-lit dinner under the stars, and a night drive through Wilpattu’s wilderness.

Wilpattu National Park is a prime destination for nighttime mammal watching in Sri Lanka. Renowned for its diverse wildlife, Wilpattu offers exceptional opportunities to observe various Sri Lankan mammal species in their natural habitat. Guests can immerse themselves in a range of wilderness activities amidst the park’s pristine surroundings.

Exploring outside the park at night provides a great chance to spot nocturnal mammals, including our top-listed species like the Fishing Cat, as well as others such as the Small Indian Civet, Ruddy Mongoose, Dusky Roundleaf Bat, and Black-bearded Tomb Bats. Seeing the Gray Slender Loris is highly probable during your stay at our Mahoora & Big Game Safari Camps in Wilpattu.

Though you may feel somewhat tired after the night walk and drive in the outskirts of Wilpattu National Park, we remain focused and rise early for full-day safaris.
Alternatively, you have the option to rest and embark on an afternoon jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park.

Our highlights in Wilpattu National Park include Sri Lanka’s small wild cats, along with the elusive leopard, sloth bear, and Asian Elephant. As the island’s largest national park, Wilpattu boasts a diverse landscape with natural lakes, shrubland, and dense forests. Safari drives offer sightings of Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, Mouse Deer, and Shrew. Mugger or marsh crocodiles are frequently spotted along the banks of villus and tanks, basking with their mouths agape.

Returning to the campsite, enjoy a chilled beer or glass of wine, followed by a BBQ dinner around the campfire. Take a moonlit walk or drive with our naturalist through the camp and its surroundings, where nocturnal animals emerge from their habitats. Keep your camera or torch ready to spot the elusive Pangolin, Loris, or Mouse Deer by their unblinking green eyes!

Dinner and overnight stay at Big Game by Eco Team Tented Safari Camp in Wilpattu. Late-night drives in nearby areas will be conducted every night after dinner.

After a morning jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park, you’ll head to Sigiriya, part of the Cultural Triangle.

Today, an optional highlight includes climbing Sigiriya Rock by early evening—a pinnacle of Sri Lankan cultural tourism. Giant sculpted lion paws greet you at the ascent’s start. Scaling 600 meters leads to the Lion Rock’s zenith, offering panoramic views fit for royalty. Explore remnants of ancient structures like gathering halls and sleeping quarters, marvel at the fading Sigiriya frescoes on the Mirror Wall, and stroll through once-elaborate gardens with intricate irrigation systems.

Beyond cultural wonders, wildlife enthusiasts can seek sightings of the impressive Shaheen Falcon and explore birding opportunities.

A night drive through Sigiriya and its surroundings promises possible encounters with Sri Lanka’s three small cats: the Fishing Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, and Jungle Cat lurking amidst the jungle bushes. Additionally, nocturnal creatures like the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, Small Indian Civet, Sri Lankan Golden Palm Civet, Eurasian Otter, Indian Pangolin, Grey Slender Loris, and Sri Lankan White-striped Chevrotain might grace your night drive in Sigiriya.

After breakfast at the hotel, you have the option to visit the Dambulla Cave Temple in the morning. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts impressive mural paintings and 157 statues, including a 47-foot-long statue of the recumbent Buddha. It is revered as a sacred pilgrimage site and the largest, best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Wildlife enthusiasts may also spot members of the endemic Toque Macaque monkey clan residing in the temple complex, offering a unique opportunity to observe their behaviors.

Later in the evening, you’ll visit Sam Popham’s Arboretum in Dambulla. The highlight here is the ‘Night Safari’ or ‘Night Walk’ through the wilderness trails, ideal for spotting the rare Slender Loris. For passionate nature lovers, exploring this man-made jungle is an unforgettable experience not to be missed.

After breakfast, you will drive to Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka. Optionally, you can visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, the most venerated Buddhist site in Sri Lanka.

In the evening, embark on a trail through Udawattekele Sanctuary, renowned for its diverse wildlife including monkeys, birds, snakes, and other animals. The sanctuary hosts numerous bird species, including endemics, residents, migrants, and nocturnal species.

Experience a night drive through Upper Hanthana Forest, where you may encounter a variety of nocturnal species including the Fishing Cat, Civets, wild boars, and porcupines.

With a packed breakfast from your hotel, embark on an early morning trail to explore Dunumadalawa Forest Reserve, a semi-isolated mid-country wet zone forest. It’s home to several troops of toque macaque monkeys, barking deer, wild boar , porcupines, civet cats , fishing cats, and even leopards. 

Return to your hotel and then drive to Belihuloya, another hill country destination on the southern slope of the central highlands. Check in at your resort overlooking the Belihuloya River and enjoy an evening nature trail along the river.

Back at River Garden Resort, dinner awaits. A night drive towards Non-Periel promises another highlight of your trip, offering opportunities to encounter Fishing Cats and other nocturnal animals in less inhabited areas. Spotting one of Sri Lanka’s elusive cats would undoubtedly be a highlight of the day.

Depart for Yala after a morning nature trail along the river and breakfast at your resort in Belihuloya. The drive to Yala takes approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival, after a brief exploration of the campground, enjoy a delicious lunch. Later in the afternoon, embark on your evening safari in Yala National Park, known for its rich diversity of mammals in Sri Lanka.

After your safari, indulge in a BBQ dinner by a roaring campfire. Cap off your adventures for the day with a night walk along the borders of the park, where you can encounter some of the nocturnal residents of the jungle

Yala National Park, although most famous for its leopard sightings, boasts a remarkably diverse population of mammals in Sri Lanka. During your safari in the park, you can expect to encounter Sloth Bears, Elephants, Crocodiles, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Eagles, Cobras, Peacocks, and more. The park’s varied terrain of rocky coasts, mountains, vast lakes, and plains provides a breathtaking backdrop for thrilling wildlife sightings. Your comfortable glamping accommodation, situated on the park’s border, also offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing.

You will embark on morning and afternoon jeep safaris in different blocks of Yala National Park, providing a diverse safari experience and enhancing your chances of spotting leopards. Block 5 of Yala National Park, less frequented by visitors and jeeps, offers a more tranquil safari experience with fewer disturbances.

Check out from the campsite with a packed breakfast and depart for an early morning jeep safari in Bundala National Park. Bundala is internationally recognized as an important wintering ground for migratory birds. In addition to birds, you can observe both species of crocodiles inhabiting the island. The estuarine crocodile, the largest living reptile today, resides in the lagoon areas and the estuary of River Kirindi Oya, while the mugger crocodile inhabits small freshwater lakes and the upper reaches of Kirindi Oya.

Following your safari at Bundala National Park, your next destination is Galle. Galle is a picturesque UNESCO heritage city that captivates with its many charms. Depending on your arrival time at the hotel, you can relax by the sea breeze or take a leisurely stroll into the city. Galle Fort, spanning 90 acres overlooking the ocean, is a highlight. Your chauffeur will gladly accompany you to explore Meeran Mosque, the Fort Lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, restaurants, live music bars, and quaint houses along cobblestone streets. Galle also features a museum offering intriguing historical insights into its past, along with the Dutch Market and numerous spice shops to visit.

After breakfast and check-out, we will safely transfer you to Bandaranaike International Airport, ensuring you arrive well in time for a hassle-free check-in and a safe journey back home or to your onward destination, concluding your unforgettable cat and mammal tour in Sri Lanka. The drive to the airport will take under 3 hours.

Sri Lanka bids you farewell, hoping to welcome you back again soon.