An extraordinary natural world

 

Sri Lanka is one of the most rewarding wildlife destinations in Asia — a compact island where dense jungles, ancient reservoirs and a wildlife-rich coastline combine to offer remarkable encounters within a relatively short journey. From tracking elusive leopards through the forests of Wilpattu National Park to watching blue whales surface off the southern coast at Mirissa, the country offers a thrilling blend of safari and marine adventure.

Sue – MD Tracks Safaris – has just returned from visiting Sri Lanka – a country that she has visited many times and is drawn back to for its wonderful wildlife on land and below the sea, stunning national parks, amazing diversity of scenery, fascinating cultures and history – and of course Sri Lanka’s friendly people.

Sri Lanka is often described as one of the best places in the world to see large mammals in a relatively small area. The island supports healthy populations of Asian elephants, the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, and the rarely seen sloth bear, alongside an astonishing diversity of birdlife and marine species.

Nowhere is this richness more evident than in the country’s great national parks, where skilled trackers and experienced naturalist guides reveal the hidden rhythms of the forest.

Wilpattu – Wilderness & Sloth Bears!

 

The vast wilderness of Wilpattu National Park is one of the island’s most atmospheric safari destinations. Named after its distinctive natural lakes, or villus, Wilpattu offers a quieter and more remote safari experience than many other parks.

These forest clearings attract wildlife throughout the day, and the park has become one of the most reliable places in Sri Lanka to encounter the Sri Lankan leopard, often seen resting on sandy tracks or emerging at dusk. Sloth bears are another highlight here, particularly during the fruiting season when they forage beneath the forest canopy.

Sloth bears featured strongly in my visit to Wilpattu – we spent a good part of an hour with two individual bears watching the behaviours typical to Sloth bears. Their feeding behaviour is fascinating – accessing the termites by using their 3 inch claws to open termite mounds and then blowing away the dirt before hoovering up the termites by closing their nostrils and sucking up thousands of termites.

This was obviously hard work and the sloth bears rested in-between feeds – soaking in the warm sunshine through the dappled leaves of the forest.

Minneriya National Park – Elephants!

 

Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, Minneriya is best known for the gathering of the highest number of Asiatic Elephants in the dry season between June to September.

Minneriya Tank was created by King Parakarambahu at the height of Polonnaruwa’s glory as the capital of Sri Lanka. The national park based largely around the huge tank (reservoir) was created rather more recently but serves as an important gathering place for Sri Lanka’s large population of elephants.

The dry forest is also home to many species of lizards, geckos and agamas as well as snakes such as the Indian Python and the Marsh Crocodile. Minneriya is also home to many waterfowl species which nest in the lakes including Pelicans, Painted Storks, many species of ducks – Garganey, Northern Pintail and the Eurasian Wigeon.

Close to Minneriya, there is Kandulla National park which allows an elephant corridor to Minneriya – crucial for safe elephant movement.

Yala – The Realm of the Leopard!

 

Perhaps Sri Lanka’s most famous reserve, Yala National Park boasts one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

Its varied landscape of lagoons, scrub forest and rocky outcrops provides exceptional game viewing. Leopards are frequently seen draped across boulders or moving silently through the bush, while herds of elephants wander between waterholes and crocodiles bask along the shoreline.

On my most recent visit we were lucky to have a sighting of a mother leopard and her cub – and whilst enjoying breakfast overlooking a lake – a crocodile with a pangolin in its jaws!

Giants of the Indian Ocean!

 

Sri Lanka’s wildlife experiences extend far beyond its national parks. From the coastal towns of Mirissa and Trinco boats venture into the deep waters of the Indian Ocean where blue whales, sperm whales and large pods of spinner dolphins are frequently encountered.

The opportunity to combine big-game safari with world-class whale watching makes Sri Lanka uniquely diverse — few destinations offer such a rich variety of wildlife within a single journey!

A wildlife journey through Sri Lanka reveals an extraordinary natural world — ancient forests alive with elephants and leopards, remote lakes where wildlife gathers at dusk, an astonishing a variety of birds, and an ocean where the largest creatures ever to live glide through warm tropical waters.

Tracks Safaris are pleased to present an 11 night luxury Sri Lankan wildlife experience. Including historical and cultural highlights, visits to Yala, Gal Ola and Minneriya national parks, and a whale and dolphin watching tour, this is a not to be missed opportunity – just click here

All our Sri Lankan itineraries are meticulously designed around you. Call us today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure!