Experience what wildlife has to offer in this 15 day/ 14 night mammal watching tour in Sri Lanka.
On arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality. Representative from Seerock Holidays will welcome you at the airport and proceed to Negombo. (Approx.: travel time 30 min).
Overnight stay in Negombo.
In the morning visit around Negombo city.
The Negombo Fish Market is interesting because it takes place right on the beach, fresh from fishing boats. Crowds of fishermen are seen untangling their fishing nets, playing with their kids, and stretching out miles of fish to dry in the sun on Negombo’s shore.
Negombo is a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen’s huts, feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. The canal leads south to Colombo. Neoclassical St. Mary’s Church, completed in the 1920s, features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings.
In the afternoon proceed to Wilpattu. (Approx.: travel time 4 hrs).
Overnight stay in Wilpattu.
In the early morning proceed to Wilpattu National park by jeep for full day safari game drive.
The unique feature of this park is the existence of “Willus” (Natural lakes) – Natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. Located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30 km west Anuradhapura and located 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo). The park is 131, 693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world-renowned for its leopard (Pantheraparduskotiya) population.
In the late evening, do Mammal Watching around the area.
(As per the government rules & regulations, Night safaris are not allowed inside the National parks in Sri Lanka. But we will provide night drives outside the National Parks. Night drives will do between 07.30pm to 10.00pm -Approx: 02-03 Hrs drive.)
Overnight stay in Wilpattu.
After breakfast proceed to Sigiriya. (Approx.: travel time 03 Hrs).
In the late evening, do Mammal Watching around the area. (night drive)
Overnight stay in Sigiriya.
Breakfast at the hotel, Afterwards start to climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya – the 5th Century Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A Moat, Rampart, and extensive Gardens including the renowned Water Gardens ring the base of the Rock.
Visit the world-renowned Frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the Rock approached by a Spiral Stairway. These Frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Night drives around the Sigiriya area.
Afternoon You can enjoy a Half day safari gama drive at Minneriya National Park.
Minneriya National Park is an ideal eco-tourism location in Sri Lanka . The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka ‘s favorites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants.
Overnight stay in Sigiriya.
After breakfast, proceed to Kandy. (Approx.: travel time 02 ½ Hrs).
In the afternoon visit around Kandy city.
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel thereafter enjoy a city tour in Kandy.
Visit the Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is the major tourist attraction in Kandy and is located spectacularly against a vast serene lake. The Tooth Relic is a symbol of sovereignty and receives state protection.
Thereafter proceed to Nuwaraeliya. (Approx.: travel time 02 ½ Hrs).
Nuwara Eliya – The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like Country Cottages or Queen Ann style Mansions.
Sri Lankan Tea – Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted Tea Seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate. In 1873, the Tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain. It is classified into 3 main groups as Low Grown, Medium Grown, and High Grown.
Overnight stay in Nuwaraeliya.
Early morning visit Horton Plains National Park, with a picnic breakfast. (Approx.: travel time 01 Hrs).
Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya is a protected area in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This region was designated an National Park in 1988.
Incompletion proceed to Udawalawe. (Approx.: travel time 05 Hrs).
Night drives around the Udawalawa. Overnight stay in Udawalawa.
Breakfast at the hotel thereafter visit the Udawalawe National Park by Jeep.
The Park consists of the immediate catchment area of the deep Walawe Reservoir, which is surrounded by open plains and foothills. The vegetation originally forested, grassland and thorn-scrub now predominate. Much of the forest was destroyed by chena (Shifting cultivation). Udawalawe Park is renowned for its outstanding scenic beauty and wealth of faunal species, particularly mammals and birds. It has become a tourist attraction throughout the year as it is blessed with the possibility to view the elephants at close range.
Incompletion proceed to Bundala. (Approx.: travel time 02 Hrs).
In the afternoon proceed to Bundala National Park by jeep.
This is the first Ramsar site in Sri Lanka and it is the most important wetland for birds in Sri Lanka outside the Northern Province. The lagoons of the park are among the most important wintering areas for migratory shore birds in the country. The Park contains five shallow, brackish lagoons, with saltpans in three interconnecting channels and marshes including the adjacent coast. This unique area of picturesque lagoons and inter tidal mud flats where the wintering birds rest and feed, golden beaches and sand dunes frequented by nesting sea turtles and the thorny scrub jungle where Elephant, spotted deer and wild buffalo are found.
Incompletion proceed to Tissamaharama. (Approx.: travel time 01 Hr).
In the evening visit around the Thissamaharama wetlands.
Overnight stay in Tissamaharama.
Early Morning you can do a half day Safari game drive at Yala National Park.
Yala National Park is the second largest and most visited in Sri Lanka. Yala is situated in the Southeast region of the Country. The Park covers 979 square kilometres .It originally had been designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1900. The Park is best known for its variety of its Wild Animals.Yala is one of the 7th important Bird areas in Sri Lanka. Yala harbours 215 Bird species including six endemic species of Sri Lanka. The number of Mammals that has been recorded from the park is 44, and it has one of the highest Leopard densities in the world.
Overnight stay in Yala.
After breakfast proceed to Weligama. (Approx.: travel time 04 Hrs).
In the afternoon visit Galle fort.
Galle is a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church.
Overnight stay in Weligama.
Early morning visit Mirissa harbor for Whale & Dolphin Watching excursion.
The ever smiling, mischievous dolphins will put on a show while some of the oldest and the largest sea creatures, the humpback and the blue whales, will nonchalantly glide past you, when you embark on a whale/ dolphin watching excursion off the Southern coast of Sri Lanka. The ideal locations for whale watching would be Dondra Point (Mirissa) and Trincomalee while the sea off Kalpitiya teems with an abundance of dolphins.
Weligama bay also a great place to surf or you could visit Midigama beach (4Km from the hotel). The beach break in Weligama area can be surfed even when small and is ideal for beginners. It’s also worth a peek when the rest of the south coast is blown-out.
Overnight stay in Weligama.
Transfer to the Colombo International Airport in time to connect with the departure flight.
(Travel Time – Approx: 04 Hrs)
