Overview
During this 10-day Sri Lanka Wildlife Expedition in Sri Lanka, you will have loads of exciting wildlife encounters, visits to historic attractions and plenty of delicious cuisines!
Sri Lanka is blessed with diverse and abundant wildlife throughout the island and in the seas around it. Thanks largely to the establishment of vast National Parks, the variety of wildlife encountered here is simply staggering. Leopards, Elephants, Sloth Bears and Blue Whales are just some of the more famous animals in Sri Lanka, but the island has a whole lot more to offer to all types of wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.
During this tour you will visit 4 National Parks, go on multiple Private Safaris, explore the Unesco World Heritage site of Galle Fort, and explore the wilderness on foot at Ahas Pokuna Bush Walks Camp!
Your accommodation will consist of handpicked hotels and glamping sites, designed to minimize time spent in travel. This will allow you to have the maximum time to focus on your holiday in Sri Lanka and enjoy your accommodation, destinations, and the amazing cuisine.
Ideal For – Wildlife enthusiasts who are looking for a dash of culture as well. Recommended for Solo Travellers / Couples / Friends / Families with kids and teenagers / Small groups consisting of friends and family.
Highlights at a glance
- Roam in the streets of Little Rome; Negombo.
- Experience the bush walks at the only bushwalks camp in Sri Lanka; Ahaspokuna.
- Explore the world’s best park for Leopards, Yala National Park, with multiple safaris.
- Meet the giants of the forests – the Sri Lankan elephants – as you explore Udawalawe National Park.
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are nurtured and injured elephants are nursed back to health.
- Less visited Lunugamvehera National Park and Bundala National Park for birds and the hidden treasures in the wild.
- 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.
- Explore the eclectic streets of the Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage site.
Itinerary
Welcome to Sri Lanka! The start of many wonderful memories!
The first day of your wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka can be enjoyed at your own pace. On your arrival you will be picked up by our chauffeur who will be with you throughout the tour. The drive to Negombo is about 25 minutes.
This coastal city is a bustling place, with historical buildings and churches reflecting colonial influences. Negombo has a canal system that weaves an interesting route around the city and a lively fisherfolk community with a daily bustling fish market that attracts people from near and far. And of course it’s an enchanting beach that will always beckon you.
Villa Hundira
After a good night’s sleep an early morning start will see you heading to the fish market to watch the day’s catch coming in, experience the process of wholesale fish trading and also to learn about the process of drying fish. Afterwards you’ll be heading to Ahaspokuna via Ratnapura. The drive to Ahaspokuna is about 4 ¼ hours on the highway. You will be able to break the journey at Ratnapura called ‘City of Gems’ Famed for producing precious rubies, sapphires and other gemstones for thousands of years, this city is steeped in history and culture. You will reach the meeting point on Belihuloya-Rajawaka road from where you will be taken to the camp on foot.
You will go for an evening walk with your naturalist to explore the surroundings as a kick start for the next day which is going to be a little hard one!
Ahaspokuna Bushwalk Camp
We start the pre-breakfast nature trail at 6.30am. This bushwalk takes about an hour and you are free to partake in it or sleep-in and your team for breakfast at 7:30am.You will depart for a late-morning, 3 hour bush walk that cuts through the grasslands and goes deep into the forest. If the weather permits, a refreshing shallow dip on the top of the Gan Ella Waterfall is included. You will arrive back at camp for a hot lunch around 1pm. Relax in your daybed / star bed, unwind in our Wild Bath, or simply fall asleep in your private garden hammock to rest up for your evening excursion. Your evening trek will take approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours which goes through an elephant-made path into the grasslands and forest.
Your wildlife holiday in Sri Lanka continues as we head down to elephant country! After having breakfast at Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp, you will trek down to the meeting point where your chauffeur will wait for you. Say good-bye to the camp staff and drive to Udawalawe. The journey to Udawalawe winds its way down to Kalthota valley. Despite its diverse population of animals and birds, Udawalawe National Park’s reputation is dominated by the giants, as it is home to over 400 elephants. An afternoon jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park will reward you with large herds of elephants along with small other animals. A post-dinner drive in the buffer zone near the campsite would be a remarkable experience!
A busy day starts with a pre-breakfast birding trail in the vicinity with your naturalist. The camp chef will enlighten you with a truly Sri Lankan Cooking Experience and you will learn about the secrets of spices and the uses of them in right combinations and the right quantities. The Elephant Transit Home, which nurses injured elephants back to health and cares for orphaned baby elephants, is also found on the outskirts of this National Park, you will witness the bottle feeding of milk to baby elephants followed by another safari drive in Udawalawe National Park.
Pack your bags early in the morning and drive to Yala. Of course, you will do a morning safari in Bundala National Park which is famous for migratory birds. The rich birdlife and serene surroundings make Bundala a real paradise for birders. These wetlands are home to nearly 200 bird species, including several species of migratory waterfowl. On completion of the jeep safari at Bundala National Park, you will drive to Yala and check in at your campsite for a typical Sri Lankan lunch: prepared in clay pots giving it an authentic taste. A cultural safari to Sithulpawwa Temple will be your evening experience where you might encounter some wildlife during your journey.
Another day packed with wilderness experiences! You will go for a full day jeep safari with packed meals. Although it is most famous for Leopard sightings, Yala has a fantastically diverse population of animals. During your Safari in the Park you will encounter Elephants, Crocodiles, Sambar, Wild Buffalo, Eagles, Cobras, Peacocks and more. With rocky coasts, mountains, vast lakes and plains, the landscape of Yala is a treat for the eyes and is the perfect backdrop for exciting sightings! After a busy day, you will be rewarded with a night walk with your naturalist to witness the nocturnal animals in and around the campsite which is located near the park border.
A morning jeep safari will be a great opportunity to see the birdlife of Yala National Park. Camouflaged by trees and bush, the residents of the park will make their way to watering-holes in the morning – and this is an ideal time to catch sight of three of the island’s Big Five: the Elephant, Sloth Bear and of course the Sri Lankan Leopard. But just as wondrous are the spotted deer, mongoose, and birdlife, such as the white bellied sea eagle and the black necked stork.You will have a couple of free hours pre & post lunch before we head off for an afternoon safari drive in Lunugamvehera National Park which is less crowded and have more chances to spot animals without much disturbances.
Your wildlife holiday is gradually reaching its end. You will say goodbye to your new friends, you will depart Yala after your breakfast and leave for Colombo via Galle. A walk in Galle Fort will enable you to get more insights about the colonial impact on Sri Lankan culture. Your chauffeur will be happy to accompany you and show you the Meeran Mosque, the Fort Lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, restaurants, live music bars and quaint houses on cobblestone streetsYou may take your own lunch in a restaurant in Galle Fort and continue to Colombo. A short drive in the city would enable you to get more insights of the Sri Lanka urban way of life while shopping in the city might be a great opportunity for you to buy some souvenirs to take home.
Uga Residence
We’ve reached the end of your 9-night Luxury Wilderness Expedition in Sri Lanka and it is time to depart. Your chauffeur will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you to Colombo Airport in time to catch your departure flight.
Includes / Excludes
Includes
- 09 nights accommodation on Double Sharing basis
- All meals starting from breakfast on day 02 till breakfast on day 10
- Transportation in an Airconditioned Vehicle with an English Speaking Guide throughout the tour including Airport Transfers.
- Jeep Safaris in the above mentioned National Park in private Jeeps including the entry permit costs & government tracker fees.
- Service of a well experienced Naturalist for the safaris (excluding in Bundala National Park)
- Bush Walks at Ahaspokuna Bushwalk Camp with the service of a Naturalist and a third generation bushman.
- Service charges at the hotels & current applicable taxes by the Sri Lankan Government.
Excludes
- Any International or Domestic flights.
- Any Visa fee or ETA fee. (Electronic Travel Authorisation)
- Any additional beverage or food.
- Early Check-in or Late Checkout Charges at Hotels.
- Any tips to the staff.
- Any expense of personal requirements telephone, laundry, hotel extra bills etc.)
- Any additional expenses , other than mentioned in the inclusions list above.
When it comes to the accommodation, all the reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation, and as soon as we have received the payment, our Tour Operations Team will take in charge of your tour and proceed with the reservations. In case a hotel mentioned in your itinerary has no availability, we will find you an alternative. No changes will be done without your approval!
We will make a rough day-by-day schedule for your tour, but won’t set you exact timings for each and every activity – unless there is a an activity which start at a specific time. Since you will be traveling by private vehicle, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, we want you to have your part in decision making. With the help from him, you may tune the schedule to your rhythm.
Along the destinations included in your itinerary, you are free to take as many stops as you want to. When it comes to additional visits and destinations that are located out of the original route, the extra kilometers will be taken in consideration. For your journey, we will calculate a total mileage that is sufficient for the whole tour and mentioned in your itinerary. If this limit is exceeded, we will charge a supplement according the extra mileage.
We’ll do our best to accommodate the programme in your needs and wishes, if something urgent occurs during your tour. In a situation that requires changing the accommodation, the cancellation policies of the hotels concerned are to be taken on account.
Since the 1st of January 2012, all travelers must be in possession of a visa when arriving in Sri Lanka. Citizens from Singapore and The Maldives are the only exempt. Visitors can apply for the official Electronic Travel Authorization (visa) via www.eta.gov.lk, or upon arrival at the airport. There is a small fee to pay, and you must have at least six months left on your passport at the time of travel to obtain one.
MasterCard and Visa are widely used and accepted by many local shops, restaurants and hotels, but it’s always better to double check. Other major cards such as AmEx and DinersClub are accepted often also.
The Important Stuff
Sri Lanka is a nation where religion and culture occupy an important place in the day-to-day lives of the local people. It is important to be aware of the customs and practices that are particular to the location you are visiting, so here are a few general tips to keep in mind during your travels. Your chauffeur will assist you with more detailed information.
- If you plan on visiting any temples, ancient or current, you should wear clothing that covers your body from your shoulders down to your knees. Head coverings such as caps or helmets should be removed and shoes must be taken off at the entrance. White coloured clothing is generally a good choice to go with here.
- Some religious places do not allow photography or videography without prior permission and some may not allow it at all. Refer to signage or ask your chauffeur guide about the policy or protocol. Don’t try to photograph or take videos without permission.
- If you have any tattoos associated with Buddhism, Hinduism or Islamism, it’s best that you cover them completely in public places.
- Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces and on public transport.
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