Description
Sri Lanka is one of the smallest but most biologically diverse countries in Asia. Indeed, the country is listed by Conservation International as one of the World’s official biodiversity hotspots. Our exciting tour visits two contrasting wildlife areas of this beautiful country. We cruise the waters around the coastline which are now acknowledged to have one of the highest concentrations of dolphins and whales in the world, particularly when we will be visiting. Blue Whales, the largest mammal on the planet, are seen regularly at this time of year together with Killer, Humpback and Sperm Whales. Large schools of Spinner Dolphins are frequently seen as they cut through the brilliant blue sea - leaping, spinning and frolicking! We also visit several of the country’s national parks and sanctuaries including Yala, Wilpattu and Udawalawe which have an impressive variety of wildlife including excellent numbers of Leopard, Asian Elephant and Sloth Bear.
Our tour begins with an overnight flight to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. We then drive to a beach hotel in Dickwella on the southern coast of the island, giving us a chance to relax after our journey. For the next three mornings we drive to the harbour of Mirissa where we board our exclusively-chartered boat to search for dolphins and the mighty giants of the sea - Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and Killer Whales - either breaching the surface, offering tantalizing glimpses, or longer, lingering views. To stare into the eye of one of these mysterious, huge animals is to look back to the beginning of time! During the afternoons we can either relax or swim in the sea or enjoy an optional visit to the Kalamatiya bird sanctuary.
After our final whale watching cruise we drive to Yala National Park where we will enjoy an afternoon game drive, followed by four more over the next couple of days. Yala is Sri Lanka’s best known national park and has good populations of Asian Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. Recent studies have suggested that Yala has the world’s highest density of Leopards. We then drive to Udawalawe National Park which has a good population of wild Asian Elephants. We will enjoy two game drives here and also visit the Elephant Transit Home which is a project established by the Born Free Trust. Baby elephants who are injured or orphaned in the wild are brought to the Transit Home where they are cared for and rehabilitated in a natural setting.
We then return to Colombo for one night and have the opportunity to explore the cultural aspects of this fascinating city before continuing north to the Kalpitiya peninsula. From our charming small hotel on the beach we will take boat trips on the next three mornings in search of Spinner Dolphins - we may see as many as 200 spinning and jumping out of the water around our boat! We may also see whales - Melon-headed Whales, Blue Whales, Minke Whales, Sperm Whales and Dwarf Sperm Whales are all seen in these waters at this time of year. During the afternoons we will visit Wilpattu National Park and the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary. Our final night is spent near Colombo before our flight home the following day.
Throughout the tour we will stay in comfortable hotel and lodge accommodation, often located by the beach. For our marine excursions we will join our local naturalist at the ship early each morning to maximise our chance of finding cetaceans and having the best light for photography. From Mirissa the group will have exclusive use of a boat which is perfect for our photographic requirements and allows us to spend as much time as we wish at each encounter. We use several smaller boats from Kalpitiya with just three clients in each while in the national parks we will only have three clients per vehicle to enhance the photographic experience for all.
Peter Smart from Wild Arena will accompany you. Peter is a professional wildlife photographer, escorting wildlife tours to a variety of countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, India, Spitsbergen, Borneo, Sri Lanka and the Galapagos Islands. Peter treats it as a genuine privilege to introduce people to the wildlife, landscapes and people of the countries he visits and his knowledge, organisational skills and sense of fun ensures that not only will you have excellent photographic and game-viewing opportunities but also a highly enjoyable holiday!
Sri Lanka is a wonderful country which offers fantastic opportunities to photograph wildlife on land and at sea. View our exciting itinerary and see reports of past tours on our website including many more amazing images. Please then contact us regarding any questions you may still have and to discuss possible extensions to this tour such as the country’s many cultural sites or to simply relax on a tropical beach.
You are advised to make your reservation immediately once you have decided to join us, as places are strictly limited on this unique tour to the Wild Wonders of Sri Lanka.
Flights:
Estimated rice given is without international flights.
Tour Report(s)
download p_PfRhLa.pdfItinerary
Day 1
London, UK. Depart UK on overnight flight to Sri Lanka.
Day 2
Colombo - Dickwella. We arrive in Sri Lanka and drive to Dickwella on the southern coast leaving the rest of the day to relax after the flight. Overnight hotel (D)
Day 3
Dickwella. Early morning drive to the harbour in Mirissa and then cruise the nearby waters in our exclusively-chartered boat with an experienced, local naturalist in search of whales and dolphins. In this area we hope to encounter the mighty giants of the sea - Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales - and several species of dolphins, including Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 4
Dickwella. In the morning we will enjoy our second cruise from Mirissa looking for whales and dolphins. In the afternoon we make an optional visit to the Kalamatiya Bird Sanctuary which has a diverse range of habitats including lagoons, mangroves and scrub. These lagoons support breeding colonies of pelicans, herons, egrets and open-billed stork and large wintering population of migratory ducks and shorebirds. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 5
Dickwella - Yala National Park. In the morning we will enjoy our final whale-watching excursion from Mirissa and then drive to Yala National Park where we will arrive in time for a game drive in the afternoon. Yala is Sri Lanka’s best known national park and has good populations of Asian Elephant, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. Recently the park has received much publicity in the media which has focused on a Leopard research, identification and conservation project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest density of Leopards. This park is primarily scrub jungle with several salt and freshwater lagoons, while the Leopard often favours the rock-strewn hills that overlook the Park. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Days 6 and 7
Yala National Park. During the next two days we will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in the Park where, as well as Elephant, Leopard and Sloth Bear we may see Crocodile, Monitor Lizard, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Barking Deer, Water Buffalo, Jackal, Grey Langur and Mongoose. The Park also has a dazzling array of birds including, herons, pelicans, egrets, terns, jacanas, kingfishers and three species of bee-eaters. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 8
Yala National Park - Udawalawe National Park. After breakfast we leave for Udawalawe National Park where we will arrive in time for a game drive in the afternoon. This will include a visit to the Elephant Transit Home. This is an admirable initiative which is sponsored by the Born Free Trust. Baby elephants who are injured or orphaned in the wild are brought to the Transit Home where they are cared for and rehabilitated in a natural setting. Once the elephants are old enough and strong enough they are radio collared and released in to the National Park in small groups. The first group to be released in to the park successfully reproduced in the wild in 2008. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 9
Udawalawe National Park - Colombo. In the morning we enjoy another game drive in the Park where we expect to see many elephants, several species of Deer, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal and possibly Leopard. We then drive to Colombo where we may have time to explore the city in the evening. Overnight hotel (B,D)
Day 10
Colombo - Kalpitiya. After breakfast we enjoy a sight seeing tour of Colombo including visits to the commercial and bazaar areas, the old parliament and other important locations in this fascinating city. We then drive to Kalpitiya. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 11
Kalpitiya. Early morning boat trip to see Spinner Dolphins where we may see as many as 200 spinning and jumping out of the water! The early start will provide perfect lighting conditions to photograph these flawless acrobats. Several species of whales too have been spotted in the area. We then drive to the delightful Wilpattu National Park which is the largest in Sri Lanka and uniquely contains over 60 natural lakes amongst the woodland. The wildlife is extremely varied and includes Leopard and Sloth Bear. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 12
Kalpitiya. Our second early morning dolphin watching excursion will be followed by an afternoon visit to the wetlands of the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 13
Kalpitiya - Colombo. After our final early morning dolphin watching excursion we return to Colombo. Overnight hotel (B, D)
Day 14
Colombo - London, UK. Transfer to the airport, board our return flight to the UK and arrive early evening (B)
Please note:
- The itinerary is provisional and subject to change depending on local conditions
- Not all wildlife mentioned can be seen well at all times of the year & some activities mentioned may not always be available
- Meals included are as shown - B = Breakfast, D = Dinner
Venue
Sri Lanka
During this tour we search for Whales and Dolphins around the coast, and explore the National Parks for Leopards and Elephants.
Sri Lanka is one of the smallest but most biologically diverse countries in Asia and our exciting tour visits two contrasting wildlife areas of this beautiful country. Firstly we cruise the waters around the coastline which are now acknowledged to have one of the highest concentrations of dolphins and whales in the world. The second half of our tour concentrates on two of the country’s national parks - Yala and Udawalawe - which are excellent for Leopard and Asian Elephant, and a large variety of other animals and birds.
Summary
Duration
14 days
Single supplement
£545 subject to availability. If you are a single person booking this holiday you do not have to pay single supplements, if you are happy to share. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired with another single client of the same gender. However your booking is accepted only on the understanding that if no roommate is available then you accept a single supplement will be levied. Single supplements are payable if you specifically request to have a room to yourself. If you have requested single accommodation we will do our best to secure this although this may not always be possible
Deposit
£250 required to confirm booking
Travel insurance
You must be covered by insurance, which must include adequate cover for baggage, medical expenses and the cost of repatriation should you become too ill to continue, including air ambulance.
Group size
4 to 8 plus photographic guide
Fitness Level
Easy wildlife touring. This tour is suitable for guests of most levels of fitness. The majority of wildlife viewing is from vehicles or small boats.
Photography Level
This tour is suitable for all levels of photographic experience. The Wild Arena guide will be available throughout the tour to support and advise clients.
Cost includes
Hotel/Lodge accommodation on a twin share basis (unless single has been requested) for the nights listed in the itinerary, breakfast & dinner included, transfers for group departures using our chosen airline, all internal transport as per the itinerary, entry fees to the national parks, all wildlife activities escorted by local naturalist guides, services of Wild Arena photographic guide throughout the tour
Cost excludes
Sightseeing tours, camera and video camera fees, international flight from the UK, airport taxes, transfers for Land Only packages and group tours when choosing your own flight arrangements, visa fees, medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs, personal expenditure, bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, etc, porters, guides & other tips, meals not specified & mineral water, personal clothing & equipment, travel insurance, optional trips, increases in park fees and taxes levied by the Government on the tourism sector, fuel surcharges, charges incurred as a result of delays beyond Classic Journeys control, anything not specified in the Cost Includes
All clients will be required to complete a Classic Journeys Booking Form and booking will be subject to acceptance of the Classic Journeys Booking Conditions which will be provided, and supersedes any information presented on Wild Arena’s web site or other Wild Arena promotional literature. In addition, in the unlikely event that Peter Smart is unable to escort the tour, Classic Journeys reserve the right to send a suitable replacement if available. In such circumstances, the tour will not be cancelled and no compensation will be paid.
