THE ULTIMATE ISLAND SAFARI
Sri Lanka is unmatched for its wildlife for an island of its size, all concentrated within 16500km. This makes the island convenient for travelers to observe wild life within limited period of time. As a year around destination.
Sri Lanka is home for 92 species of mammals like the Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Water buffalo, Spotted deer, Sambar, Golden Jackal, Purple face Langur , Gray Langur, Toque Macaque , Blue Whale & Sperm Whale Ect. Sri Lanka also offers a host of other bio-diversity rich features and beautiful landscapes, which make it the Ultimate Island Safari
(This is a seasonal tour run during the whale watching season only from December – April each year. Recommended period for travel would be March – April.)
Route:
Itinerary
Day 01: Airport - Negombo
You will be met on arrival at the Colombo International Airport by our Yathra Travels representative who will assist you with your luggage and guide you to your vehicle where your guide awaits. Transfer to the hotel in Negombo. Spend the morning at leisure and have a short meeting with your guide about the next days visits and departure times. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 02: Negombo - Kalpitiya
Early morning after a quick breakfast, proceed to the Muthurajawela Marshes. Spread over 6230 hectares The Muthurajawela wetland runs parallel to the western coastline of the country and together with the contiguous Negambo lagoon forms an integrated coastal wetland system of high biodiversity and ecological significance.
Possible noteworthy species: Little and Indian Cormorant, Cattle, Little, Intermediate & Large Egrets, Purple Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Little Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Chestnut Bittern, Black-headed Ibis, Asian Open-bill, Little Grebe, Lesser Whistling Teal, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, White-breasted Water hen, Purple Swamp hen, Water Cock and Common Moorhen.
After the excursion, return to the hotel, check out and proceed to Kalpitiya.
Day 03: Kalpitiya - Anuradhapura
Make an early start to the day with a packed breakfast, take the boat and head out to sea, beyond the reef in search of Sperm Whale – the largest toothed whale in the world. The deep seas off the Kalpitiya Peninsula where the continental shelf lies provides an ideal habitat for these giant oceanic predators, which need to dive several hundred meters to hunt prey such as the Giant Squid. After sighting Sperm Whales, your naturalist will focus on Spinner Dolphins, where pods often numbering in the hundreds are regularly seen within a few kilometers of the shore.
After the excursion, return to the hotel, checkout and proceed to Anuradhapura. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 04: Anuradhapura - Wilpaththu - Anuradhapura
Morning and Afternoon game drive to Wilpattu National Park in search of Sloth Bear and Leopard.
Wilpattu is also home to over 250 species of birds, while Asian Elephant, Barking Deer, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Jackal, Asiatic Buffalo are some of the other mammal species seen
Day 05: Anuradhapura - Minneriya - Habarana
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and proceed to Habarana. Have lunch and then proceed to the Minneriya National park.
Minneriya National Park is popular mostly around the world for observing elephants . Tourist can witness large elephant gathering in this park from August to November. All age group of elephants gather in Minneriya lake bank during this time of the year .
Day 06: Habarana - Colombo
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and proceed to Colombo. If time permits, afternoon visit Talangama Wetland and surrounding paddy fields for an assortment of brilliant red Dragonflies such as Elusive Adjutant, Eastern Scarlet Darter and Spine-legged Redbolt and with luck two rare gomphids. Around the lake and canals we find many pond damselflies including endemic species of Gems, Sprites, and Threadtails. The list of species for the wetland is around 24 and growing.
At Talangama one will encounter common species of beautiful butterflies, such as Tailed Jay, Common Crow, Common Palmfly, Common Rose, Common Sailor, Plain Tiger and Common Tiger.
Day 07: Colombo - Airport
After breakfast, checkout and transfer to the airport for departure.
