Visit Sri Lanka, a stunning island that is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, and go on a wildlife trip. To witness sambar deer, wild boar, and elephants at Udawalawe National Park, go over the rolling grassland, past teak plantations, and through the rainforest. Sri Lanka is a haven for iconic wildlife. Massive Blue Whales feed offshore, the island supports the greatest remaining populations of Asian elephants, and Sri Lanka’s Leopards are the largest on Earth. If you look up, you might see magnificent birds of prey, including the impressive white-bellied sea eagle.
An extraordinary private wildlife holiday offering accommodations close to nature and all of Sri Lanka’s “must see” wildlife highlights. Safaris and walks will be planned with the best naturalists in the country.
Your wildlife holiday will begin in Wilpattu, a less-visited haven for nature lovers. Full-day safaris allow you to go on walks with experienced naturalists and learn about the various species that live in the parks. All of this while staying in peaceful accommodations as well as Big Game Tented Campsites located on the parks’ borders, where you can enjoy the best tented camp experience Sri Lanka has to offer.
When you arrive in Katunayake, your personal chauffeur will take you to Wilpattu, the ideal place to begin your wildlife adventure. The Wilpattu National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s less-visited parks, but the variety of wildlife seen here makes it well worth the visit. Enjoy a short walk in the wilderness near the campsite, while an optional Safari can be arranged depending on your arrival time. Dinner and an overnight stay will be arranged at the Big Game Tented Camp, which will keep you in the lap of luxury while keeping you close to nature.
On Day 2, you will enjoy a full-day safari at Wilpattu National Park, complete with packed breakfast and lunch. Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest National Wildlife Park, will allow you to see some of the country’s most renowned wildlife highlights, such as the majestic Sri Lanka Leopard, Sloth Bears, and a variety of endemic bird species. After dinner, you can go on a night walk with our resident naturalist in the hopes of seeing the Park’s nocturnal animals, such as the Ring-tailed Civet Cat, Gray Slender Lorises, owls, and chameleons.
It will be time to wake up and eat breakfast at the campsite at the first light of day. You will be transferred to Kandy. (The travel time is approximately 5 hours). Kandy is a city steeped in history and culture. The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the most sacred site for Buddhists all over the world, as it houses the most important object in the Buddhist world, a tooth fragment recovered from the Buddha’s funeral pyre. The relic itself is kept in a golden casket in the temple’s Inner Chamber, which is heavily guarded. The temple complex is adorned with paintings and sculptures depicting the Buddha’s life and a museum documenting it history.
On Day 4, you will leave early for 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 in the day, you can look forward to an Evening Safari at Udawalawe National Park before dinner, followed by an overnight stay at Udawalawe’s Big Game Tented Camp.
Enjoy an early morning safari at Udawalawe National Park. This Park covers approximately 31,000 hectares and is located in Sri Lanka’s southern dry zone. It is the only place in the world where an elephant sighting is guaranteed on every safari drive. You will also see several bird and animal species that live in the park. After the safari, you will be transferred to Yala and will spend the night at the Big Game Camp Yala.
Your first full day in Yala will be spent exploring the Yala National Park thoroughly with a Full-Day Safari that includes packed lunches. While the Sri Lankan Leopard is the star of the show, the Park also has Sloth Bears, Golden Palm Civet cats, and Wild Water Buffalo, as well as Hornbills, Black-capped Bulbuls, and peacocks. Following your adventure in the wilderness, you will be able to rest and relax in your cozy tented camp with a campsite dinner before an optional night walk with your guide.
You will be transferred from Yala to Mirissa after breakfast. After checking into the Mirissa Hotel, you can spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach after a day of safaris. Mirissa is located on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Relax and rejuvenate on the golden sandy beaches of this vacationer’s paradise. You can spend the day relaxing in the sun, exploring the area and learning about the local culture, or staying at your hotel and taking advantage of the amenities. You will spend the night in a beautiful and serene hotel near the famous Mirissa Beach.
Another early start awaits you in Mirissa, with an exciting whale watching tour scheduled for the early morning hours (season from November to March). These coastlines are known for being some of the best places in the world to see pods of Blue Whales and Sperm Whales. You will be taken to Mirissa harbor by 6.15 a.m., where you will embark on a whale-watching expedition from the Horn of Africa to the Bay of Bengal. Later in the afternoon, you’ll go to the Galle Dutch Fort, which was built by the Portuguese and heavily fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. The fort is a historical and archaeological heritage monument surrounded by interesting boutiques to venture into. For dinner, you will head back to your overnight stay hotel.
Choose to do as you wish, on your last day on the tour. Relaxing on the beaches of Mirissa may be the ideal way to do it: reflecting on the many memories you’ve made during your exciting tour of Sri Lanka. You will be taken to Bandaranaike International Airport well in advance of your flight back home.
