Day notes
Upon arrival in Sri Lanka you will be met and assisted by our Airport Representative, who will hand you over to your driver. Transfer to Villa Hundira in Negombo. Once a trading port for the Dutch and British, now developed into a bustling modern town with a handful of reminders of its colonial past.
Transfer from Bandaranaike International Airport [CMB] to Villa Hundira
Transfer
Bandaranaike International Airport [CMB]
Villa Hundira
Check-in to Villa Hundira
Day notes
Today after breakfast leave for Wilpattu, located on the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" (natural lakes) - natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. On arrival you will settle into your safari camp, Leopard Trails, and have lunch.
Afternoon activity: a safari tour of the Wilpattu National Park in a open-air jeep. Wilpattu has re-opened after the end of the civil war and offers visitors a wonderful nature experience with fewer visitors than Yala. Wildlife numbers are on the rise so keep your eyes peeled for elephants, deer, wild boar, wild buffaloes, monkeys, sloth bears, crocodiles and leopards, as well as a huge variety of exciting bird and reptile life.
(Your safari will be shared with other people staying at the camp and accompanied by an expert local tracker. Conditions of the tracks around the park differ, depending on the time of year, but generally you should expect there to be some bumps and dust.)
Check-out from Villa Hundira
Transfer from Villa Hundira to Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu
Transfer
Villa Hundira
Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu
Check-in to Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu
Day notes
Morning and evening game drives in Wilpattu National Park
Day notes
Morning and evening game drives in Wilpattu National Park
Day notes
An early morning game drive around Wilpattu National Park. Return to your camp mid-morning to enjoy breakfast before departure.
Afterwards leave for Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas. On arrival check in to Gal Oya Lodge. You might like to relax around the pool, potter around the 20-acre private forest, or learn more about local culture.
Check-out from Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu
Transfer from Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu to Gal Oya Lodge
Transfer
Leopard Trails Bespoke Tented Safaris Wilpattu
Gal Oya Lodge
Check-in to Gal Oya Lodge
Day notes
After breakfast join a resident naturalist for a walk around the lodge, enjoying the abundant birdlife and beautiful surroundings. The walk offers a number of possible routes through the trees and around the nearby lake, to observe a wide range of bird species such as Kingfishers, Eagles, Kites and many aquatic birds.
Afternoon enjoy the only experience in Sri Lanka that allows you to spot wildlife from the water. It’s a unique way to immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. With a little luck you could spot elephants swimming between islands or bathing at the lake’s edge. A 2-3 hour safari by boat, and a scenic 40 minute drive from the lodge to the lake is perfect to explore the national park and surrounding villages.
Day notes
This morning you will be taken on a jeep ride into the forgotten Nilgala section of the park, once the protectorate of ancient royalty for the abundant medicinal plants and endemic birdlife unique to this ecosystem. Although shy and sometimes hard to spot, the park hosts most of the animals found on the island. Some of the more likely species to look out for include herds of elephants, four species of deer as well as many bird species. You may also opt for the hike to the Makara River mouth with one of the expert naturalists, to further experience the jungle and for the chance of seeing wildlife on foot.
The resort has an ongoing project to record and monitor the lodge’s resident species of animals. In order to understand them better and take necessary steps to conserve these animals, the team of naturalists regularly embark on evening walks around the lodge to set up camera traps. Join one of the resort naturalists on their evening walk and partake in the monitoring project and learn more about the animals.
Day notes
After breakfast leave for Udawalawe, an important eco-tourism destination made to protect the catchment of the reservoir. This has become the third most visited National Park of Sri Lanka due to the reservoir on the Walawe River. While Udawalawe is home to many species, it has become a significant environment for water birds and elephants.
On arrival you will settle into the Big Game Camp and have lunch.
Afternoon activity: A jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park. The park lies south of the central hills in the island’s dry zone and consists of dry lowland forest, riverine forest, thorny scrublands and grasslands. A special attraction is the Udawalawe reservoir and the Walawe River which flows through the park. It is most famous for the many elephants that live in the park. Besides the elephants it is also home to Water Buffalo, Spotted & Barking deer, Wild Boar, Sambar, jackals, mongoose and more. Leopard, Jungle and Fishing Cats have been spotted in the park, however sightings are very rare.
Check-out from Gal Oya Lodge
Transfer from Gal Oya Lodge to Big Game Camp Udawalawe
Transfer
Gal Oya Lodge
Big Game Camp Udawalawe
Check-in to Big Game Camp Udawalawe
Day notes
Enjoy an early morning game drive around Udawalawe National Park. Return to your camp for a late breakfast.
Afternoon activity: Visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home that cares for orphaned calves and re-introduces them into the wild; here you can get close to these gentle giants.
Day notes
Today leave for Yala, the most visited and second largest National Park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean. On arrival you will settle into Kula Safaris Tented Camp and have lunch.
Afternoon activity: A jeep safari in the Yala National Park accompanied by a tracker. Yala National Park is renowned for its variety of wildlife notably its many elephants. It is also home to the Spotted Deer, Sambar, wild buffalo, Sloth Bear, jackal, mongoose and crocodiles. The Peacock is easily the most famous of the birds in this park. Yala has a high concentration of leopards although seeing these nocturnal carnivores still requires some luck.
Check-out from Big Game Camp Udawalawe
Transfer from Big Game Camp Udawalawe to Kulu Safaris Tented Camp
Transfer
Big Game Camp Udawalawe
Kulu Safaris Tented Camp
Check-in to Kulu Safaris Tented Camp
Expert tips:
Your safari will be shared with other people staying at the camp and accompanied by an expert local tracker. Please be prepared for some bumpy and dusty roads and be aware that this park can get very busy, especially over weekends and festivals. Also note you will proceed in your jeep to the park entrance to collect tickets prior to the park opening, in busy periods this process may take up to 45 minutes.
Birds of Yala:
The number of water birds inhabiting the wetlands of Yala is around 90, and roughly half of them are migrants. These include waterfowls (Lesser Whistling Duck, Garganey), Cormorants (Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant), large waterbirds (Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork), medium-sized waders Tringa spp., and small waders Charadrius spp. Black-necked Stork and Lesser Adjutant are some of the rare birds that can be seen in the park. The migrant Great White Pelican and resident Spot-billed Pelican have also been sighted at Yala. Other water birds attracted to the Yala lagoons include Lesser Flamingo and pelicans, as well as rare species such as Purple Heron, Night herons, Egrets, Purple Swamphen and the Oriental Darter. Thousands of waterfowls migrate to the lagoons of Yala during the northeast monsoon. They are Northern Pintail, White-winged Tern, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Godwits, and Ruddy Turnstone. The visiting species mingle with residing Lesser Whistling Duck, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, and Great Stone-curlew. Rock Pigeon, Barred Buttonquail, Indian Peafowl, Black Stork, Black-winged Stilt, and Greater Flamingo are among the other bird species that call Yala their home. Crested Serpent-eagle and White-bellied Sea Eagle are the raptors of the park.
The forest birds are Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Hornbills, Old World flycatchers, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Asian barbets, and Orioles.
Day notes
Morning and evening game drives at Yala National Park.
Day notes
Morning and evening game drives at Yala National Park.
Day notes
Early this morning you will be taken into the National Park for a last game drive and the chance to see some of Yala’s exciting wildlife. Return to your camp in the mid-morning and enjoy breakfast before departure.
Leave for Colombo, the commercial and city center known as the “Fort”, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern office structures. On arrival check in to the Lake Lodge, spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Check-out from Kulu Safaris Tented Camp
Transfer from Kulu Safaris Tented Camp to Lake Lodge Colombo
Transfer
Kulu Safaris Tented Camp
Lake Lodge Colombo
Check-in to Lake Lodge Colombo
Day notes
Transfer with a driver to the international airport in time for your departure flight.
Check-out from Lake Lodge Colombo
Transfer from Lake Lodge Colombo to Bandaranaike International Airport [CMB]
Transfer
Lake Lodge Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport [CMB]
