The Ultimate Sri Lanka wildlife Adventure (11 Days)

‘Little Rome’

Schedule

• Arrival and transfer to Negombo
• Check in to the hotel
• If you have a morning arrival, there will be plenty to do and explore
• Overnight in Goldi Sand hotel (or similar star hotel) in Negombo (hotel check in time 2.00p.m.)

NEGOMBO - This expanding town is a historically interesting place strongly influenced by the Catholic Church and is often referred to as “Little Rome’. The town has several buildings dating back to the Dutch and Portuguese Colonial days. The lagoon at Negombo is famous for its harvest of lobsters, crabs and prawns. Fish auctions regularly take place on the beach and are worth a look, as are the many canals which meander through the area.

'Experience the ultimate night walk at the Big Game Camp Wilpattu'

Schedule

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Welcome meeting at 09.00a.m.
• Checkout at 10.00a.m.
• We will make a few stops for lunch and nature / cultural encounters
• Check in to the Tented Camp
• Evening Half Day Safari at Wilpattu National Park
• Sundown Walk
• BBQ dinner at the Camp
• Guided Night Walk after dinner
• Overnight stay at Big Game Camp in WIlpattu

Wilpattu - The Wilpattu National Park is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka. It was widely regarded as the place to spot the Sri Lankan Leopard in its natural habitat. It is also home to endangered animals such as the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and the Sri Lankan Elephant. Many species of Owl, Tern, Gull, Eagle, Kite and Buzzard along with the Painted Stork, Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the Little Cormorant can be sighted at the Wilpattu National Park. Wetland birdlife includes: the Garganey, Pintail, Whistling Teal, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Large White Egret, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron. Due to the fewer number of visitors, the wildlife within the confines of the Wilpattu National Park has hardly had contact with humans. The animals are therefore often shy unlike those in Yala, making the need for an experienced guide even greater, one which Big Game Camp can provide. 4WD safari jeeps are the best way to explore the varied terrain of this Park.

Night Walk - A daytime safari in Sri Lanka might allow you to see a variety of animals that dwell in its National Parks, but for an incomparable adventure in wildlife viewing, nothing beats the thrills and excitement of a night walk. Our experts at the camp will lead you through a walk that will bring you surprises in the shape of the Loris or reptiles on the lookout for prey, sounds and just the unique experience of seeing nature in the dark.

‘ Spotting the Sloth Bears ‘

Schedule

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Checkout at 10.00a.m.
• We will make a few stops for lunch
• Checking into the hotel
• Early evening climb to Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Overnight stay at Amaara Forest Hotel

Sigiriya- The ancient city of Sigiriya aka the Lion Rock, designated a cultural World Heritage Site in 1982, is a premier must-do destination in Sri Lanka. It is also proposed that the site should be named the eighth wonder of the world, indicating it is just as significant as other international wonders, such as the Grand Canyon and the Ancient Pyramids.

Unfortunately, the only remains of this lion figure are the gigantic paws, sculpted into the side of the rock. One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its Mirror wall. The Mirror wall is painted with inscriptions and poems written by the visitors of Sigiriya. Consider it the world’s first blog proving that Sigiriya was a tourist destination more than a thousand years ago! Do visit the gardens of Sigiriya which are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world: designed with its own irrigation system. At the top of the historic rock, you’ll experience one of the best panoramic views on the island.

‘See the largest Elephant gathering in Asia’

Schedule

• Early morning climb to Pidurangala Rock
• After breakfast, transfer to Minneriya
• Half Day Safari at Minneriya National Park
• Then heading to the Polonnaruwa
• Check in to the hotel
• Overnight stay at Deer Park hotel in Polonnaruwa

Pidurangala - With its height of 199 metres, Pidurangala Rock has a long history that is widely believed to date back to the second century BC and is where a monastery was built by King Kashyapa. Ancient chronicles state that monks who previously resided at Sigiriya were donated the temple by the king before he took to building the marvellous structure atop Sigiriya Rock. The temple consists of five buildings called ‘Panchavasa’, some of which can still be seen during your visit.

Minneriya - Among the 24 species of mammals resident in the park are Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig, Grey Langers, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, three species of Mongoose, Porcupine and Indian Pangolin.

Minneriya National Park has recorded over 170 species of birds. From Migrating waders like Woodsand Piper, Common Sandpiper & Kentish Plovers to forest birds like Malabar-pied Hornbills, Rufus Woodpecker the globally endangered Lesser Adjutant and the endemics Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Brown-capped Babbler and Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl are some of the highlights.

Among the nine species of Amphibians at Minneriya National Park are the endemic and endangered Slender Wood Frog and the Common Tree Frog. Of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park 8 are endemic including the Red-lipped Lizard. Water and Land Monitors are also seen here. The Mugger Crocodile can be seen near the tank. Many species of freshwater fish are found in the Minneriya reservoir.

‘Discover the monkey kingdom set in the land of Sri Lanka's 12th century capital’

Schedule

• Early morning sightseeing in Polonnaruwa
• Private screening of Monkey Kingdom
• After the breakfast, Transfer to Kandy
• Check into the hotel
• Evening visit to Temple Tooth Relic
• Overnight stay at Thilanka Hotel in Kandy

Polonnaruwa - The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was the Sri Lankan seat of power for the Sinhalese kings from the 11th century until 1310 CE. In recent times, the ancient city has been in the limelight due to the release of the Disney documentary movie “Monkey Kingdom” The film documents the life of a troop of wild Toque Macaque monkeys locally known as “Rilaw” while the entire set was based around the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The film highlights the variety of monkeys, their behavioural patterns and shows their historical association with Polonnaruwa which is an enlightening way of educating locals and tourists alike about understanding the need to conserve the monkeys.

Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic - Famously known worldwide as The Temple of the Tooth, Sri Dalada Maligawa dates back to the 16th century, though most of the present buildings were built in the 19th century. The Sacred Relic of the Tooth of Buddha is kept in a gold casket and stored amidst great security in the Inner Chamber. The impressive temple complex is made up of numerous buildings, decorated with paintings and carvings depicting Buddha. Rich in history and tradition, the Sri Dalada Maligawa is a religious centre where daily worship is a colourful and joyful way of everyday life.

‘Scenic train ride to Ella’

Schedule

• Early breakfast at hotel
• Transfer to Kandy railway station to catch the train
• Scenic Train ride from Kandy to Ella
• Check into the hotel
• Evening stay relax in Ella
• Overnight stay at Flower Garden Resort in Ella

Ella Train Ride - Experience the remains of the bygone era in these “time machines” witnessing breathtaking views and historical locations. The Train rail was incepted by the British in the 19th century with the main purpose of transporting goods, mainly the tea from the plantations and the imported goods to the upcountry and most of it remains the same. You would still witness the Single Line Tablets being in use, whereas in most parts of the world, it’s already become a museum artefact.

‘Giants in Transit and in the Wild ’

Schedule

• After the breakfast at hotel, Visit to Nine Arch Bridge & Little Adam’s Peak
• Transfer to Udawalawe
• Visit Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe
• Check in to the Tented Camp
• Evening Half Day Safari at Udawalawe National Park
• BBQ dinner and overnight stay at Big Game Camp in Udawalawe
• Night Drive after the Dinner

Udawalawe National Park - The Udawalawe National Park is situated covering areas in two Districts of Sri Lanka; namely Ratnapura and Moneragala. This is the largest conservation area in both districts and is home to the Walawe reservoir. Situated in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, the predominant vegetation type in the Park is scattered grasslands and thorny shrubs. The soil and climatic conditions are key factors for determining the major vegetation type in the Park. The period between May and September are special for Park visitors as they get the opportunity to come across herds of elephants even at midday. While the bird population in the Park is significant, their observation can be difficult due to the landscape’s tall grass. In contrast, the 20+ species of mammals and numerous reptile species can be sighted in the Park.

Elephant Transit Home Udawalawe - A refuge for orphaned elephants, presently there are 35 babies being reared in the Transit Home (Ath Athuru Sevana). The babies have minimum human contact so as to make the transition back into wilderness easier. Many of these elephants have been either orphaned, cut off from the rest of the herd or been tragically caught up in the ongoing conflict with humans and their boundaries. The elephants are eventually released into the wild and can start to integrate with other elephants in Udawalawe National Park. Feeding the calves with milk happens every three hours throughout the 365 days of the year. Public viewing of the feeding is permitted daily at 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Feeding times are always a great source of entertainment to visitors, as they witness the childish antics of the baby elephants rushing to get first to the giant baby milk bottles. A very worthwhile visit, both to watch the baby elephants learning to cope in a new environment, and more importantly, to see how the Asian Elephant needs to be protected.

‘ Heading to Leopard's kingdom’

Schedule

• Early morning birding trail nearby campsite
• After the breakfast, Transfer to Yala
• Check into the campsite
• A cookery demonstration of a typical Sri Lankan lunch
• Leave for Evening Safari at Yala National Park
• BBQ dinner and overnight stay at Big Game Camp in Yala

Yala National Park - Yala National Park is situated in the south-east region of Sri Lanka and is the second largest National Park in the island, situated some 300 kms away from Colombo. It was in the early 1890s that it was established as a game sanctuary. The Park is located in a dry-zone area where the drought season is very long while the daytime average temperature can go over 30 degrees - not unusual for this part of the island. The Park land makes up most of the reserve but it also includes lakes, beaches, jungle area, rivers and scrubland. This variety in terrain provides an excellent range of habitat for wildlife. The largest concentration of leopards - an endangered species - are in this region although the chances of sighting are very low. About 32 species of mammals, 125 species of birds and many reptiles and lagoon fauna species have been recorded in this Park. The Yala National Park is famous among visitors as the best place to view large mammals within one territory.

‘Observe and photograph Sri Lankan Leopards in the wild’

Schedule

• Morning Safari at Yala National Park
• Back to the Camp for lunch
• Evening stay relax at campsite
• BBQ dinner and overnight stay at Big Game Camp in Yala
• Optional : Cultural Safari to Situlpawwa Ancient Temple

Yala Jeep Safari - Your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning. Especially, the young males are very confident, and often they are seen walking on the tracks. As our safari campsite is located very close to the park's entrance, you will have excellent access to the park's core areas and the best wildlife spots. Furthermore, the excellent location allows you to stay in the park until the very last moments, and enjoy a beautiful ride back to the campsite through the wilderness by the time of the sunset.

'Ancient Dutch Colonial City’

Schedule

• Breakfast at campsite
• Then transfer to the Galle
• Check into the hotel
• Evening relax here with the sea breeze, or venture on a walk into the city
• Overnight stay at Lady Hill at Galle

Galle - The bustling provincial capital and administrative center of the south, Galle, was Sri Lanka's first international commerce and trade center. The ancient port city is famous for Unawatuna Bay, a lovely cove protected by a reef. The Galle Fort overlooking the ocean is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Portuguese in 1587 and reinforced again by the Dutch. The 36-hectare fortress is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, its ramparts protecting the harbour, old houses, churches, warehouses and the Arab quarter. Even as the city of Galle modernizes, its remarkable collection of ancient structures transports visitors to another time.

Schedule

• Go for whale watching tour or Cinnamon experience
• Departure to the Airport

Mirissa Whale Watching - You need to be at the Mirissa Harbour by 6.30a.m. to go whale watching (Season is from November to April) in order to catch a glimpse of the majestic Blue Whale and Sperm Whale, two of Sri Lanka’s ‘Big Five’. Sri Lanka is located within the International Whaling Commission’s protected zone in the Indian Ocean while 26 of the identified cetacean species are found in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka’s southern coast is among the best locations in the world to see Blue Whales and boasts the longest Blue Whale season which falls during their annual migratory route from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Sea. In the evening, you will be taken to the archaeological and architectural heritage monument, the Galle Dutch Fort which was first built by the Portuguese in 1587 and then extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. Your overnight stay and dinner will be arranged at a hotel in Mirissa.

Galle Cinnamon Experience - Walk in the trails of a Cinnamon Planter. The Cinnamon Experience isn't just informative; it is also a hands-on experience, encouraging guests to get their hands a little dirty and strip down some Cinnamon sticks for themselves. Experience the chain of events from the growing of the trees, harvesting, piling and finally processing of the cinnamon in the aroma filled factory. Understand the history behind this precious spice and where it is headed in the realm of Sri Lanka’s export priorities. Cinnamon lunch , Sunset High Team and Cooking Classes also are available on request.

If there are any changes in your arrival details, or if you require us to arrange departure transfer or any other additional nights accommodation and activity booking - you can contact your travel advisor or representative of our operation team

Emergency contact person during your tour

Your travel advisor or your next-of-kin/nominee