Sri Lanka's Wildlife (14 Days)

Your chauffeur will meet you at the Bandaranaike International Airport upon your arrival and drive you to your hotel. Dinner and an overnight stay is organised at Ranweli Holiday Village situated which is just a short 45 minute drive from the airport. Depending on your time of arrival, you can spend the rest of the day enjoying this beautiful beach side resort in so many ways. Try a traditional ayurvedic massage available at the hotel. Or, you could simply lounge on the beach and soak up the sun. Whatever you choose, this tranquil resort will offer whatever you need, to overcome your flight fatigue.

Enjoy a peaceful birding boat trail along the waterways near your hotel in the morning. Learn about this unique ecosystem that surrounds this tranquil area and explore the rich biodiversity of mangroves that serve as a home to numerous species of birds, amphibians and reptiles. The trail will reveal diverse indigenous aquatic and terrestrial plants. You will then be transferred to the Big Game Camp in Wilpattu which shoulders the National Park. Venture on an evening Safari at the less-frequented Wilpattu National Park and kick off your wildlife adventure, in Sri Lanka, on a rewarding start. Dinner and an overnight stay be at the Big Game Tented Camp Wilpattu.

A full-day Safari begins with a packed breakfast and lunch organised for you. The Wilpattu National Park is the oldest and largest National Wildlife Park in the country and gives visitors the chance to spot the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. The Sri Lanka Sloth Bear has also become a highlight of the Park and is commonly seen during the Palu season from June to July. After dinner, you have the option of taking a night walk with the resident naturalist when you will learn about the park’s nocturnal animals such as : the Ring-tailed Civet Cats, Rusty-spotted Cats, Gray Slender Lorises, owls and chameleons - just some of the highlights on this trail.

Another full-day Safari awaits you, with a packed breakfast and lunch on day 4. Enjoy discovering the various species of animals that have made this special National Wildlife Park, their home. This National Park has 31 species of mammals including elephants, water buffalo and sambar deer. It is also a safe haven for several species of endemic, resident and migratory birds such as the Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Painted Stork and White Ibis.

Following an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the hill capital of Kandy as a transit destination. Kandy is a city steeped in history and culture which holds a special religious significance to Buddhists. Explore some of the city’s many tourist attractions including the Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Your overnight stay will be at a hotel, situated away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city. If your tour happens to be between August and September, you will be transferred to Habarana instead, where you can enjoy an evening Safari at the Minneriya National Park. This is where ‘The Gathering’ of elephants occurs and is considered the largest seasonally recurring concentration of wild elephants found in the world.

A morning nature trail is organised for you on in Udawatta Kele Sanctuary, Kandy offers a traditional ayurvedic treatment which will reinvigorate you and relieve you of any fatigue. These indigenous treatment methods have been passed down from generation to generation and are an integral part of Sri Lankan culture. You are free to get some treatments to recharge and prepare for the next phase of your wildlife adventure.

On day 7 you will be transferred to Udawalawe which is a 5 to 6 hour drive. You will leave early to visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe which plays a vital role in the elephant conservation efforts. Abandoned, injured or orphaned elephants are rehabilitated and released back into the wild at the transit home. You will be able to observe these wonderful creatures from a safe distance as it is a priority to limit human contact. Dinner and an overnight stay is organised at the Big Game Tented Camp bordering the Udawalawe National Park which offers an authentic and unique Sri Lankan tented camp experience.

You will be taken on a morning Safari at the Udawalawe National Park which is the only Park in the world where an elephant sighting is guaranteed on every drive. Herds of about 50 to 100 elephants are often seen grazing within this Park’s boundaries, which make it one of the best places to observe these beasts. Udawalawe is also a birding hotspot with 183 species of beautiful birds. Following the Safari, you will be taken on a walk along the Park’s border with your naturalist for a stimulating experience with the environs of the Park. An evening Safari is optional - if desired - before returning for dinner and your overnight stay, back at the campsite.

You will be transferred to the Bundala National Park with a delectable breakfast. This National Park is an internationally recognised important wintering ground for migratory birds and harbours 197 species of birds. The Park is also famous for large crocodiles and aquatic birds but the main attraction is the Greater Flamingo that migrates in large flocks. It is also among the four UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Sri Lanka, making it a must-see wildlife destination given its laudable biodiversity. Next, you will travel to Yala for lunch while an evening Safari will be organised for you, at Yala National Park. Your overnight stay will be here as well - at the Big Game Tented Camp in Yala, with its many facilities which blends in with the surroundings, assuring that you never feel far away from nature.

The Yala National Park is one of the most celebrated Wildlife Parks in Sri Lanka and is simply the best place in the world to spot leopards. With a leopard density of one leopard per square kilometre, this Park is the ideal location in which to film and photograph these regal wildcats. A full-day Safari is planned for you, to explore the this nature-lover’s paradise. Head back to the campsite for dinner and your consecutive overnight stay. But keep in mind, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can enjoy another night walk in search of elephants, owls and wild cats.

On Day 11, you will leave Yala and head down south to the coastal town of Mirissa. Sri Lanka is renowned for its golden beaches and it's clear blue oceans. Undoubtedly, Mirissa offers some of the best shores in Sri Lanka for you to lounge, on while taking on the sun, breeze and ease of the Mirissa beaches.. You will be staying at a beach side hotel and a couple of days of indulgence - begins right here.

Between November and March is the season to catch, if you would enjoy embarking on a whale watching tour early in the morning. You will be taken to the Mirissa harbour by 6.15 a.m. for this expedition. Sri Lanka’s waters are known to be the best for watching Blue Whales and Sperm Whales who swim to their feeding grounds between the Horn of Africa and the Bay of Bengal. Following this tour, if up to it, you could visit the Galle Fort, which was first built by the Portuguese and then later fortified extensively by the Dutch in the 17th century. It is considered an archaeological and architectural heritage monument. Later on, you will head back to the hotel to wind down for your overnight stay.

This day will be all about you and taking your foot off the pedal. Just let go and Indulge yourself in a full day of lounging on the sandy beaches of Mirissa, catching a wave or two in its waters. Refresh and relax your body, mind and soul with an uninterrupted day of rest and time to reminisce your memorable adventures on this wildlife tour.

On the last day of the tour, you will be taken to the airport well ahead of time, so that you can check-in with ease, to catch your flight back home. Take back with you two weeks of unforgettable memories and cherished experiences gained along a measured and well-paced tour - of Sri Lanka’s wildlife treasures.