Sri Lanka’s Wildlife

Transfer airport – hotel in Colombo (SIC)
Upon arrival, after the immigration process and claiming your luggage, our representative along with the designated chauffeur guide will take you through to the exit and will escort you to your vehicle, where you will be transferred to Colombo.

Panoramic city tour in Colombo (SIC)
This afternoon, enjoy a panoramic city tour in Colombo with your chauffeur. Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbour took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kayman’s Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple dating to 6th C.B.C., Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha in front and the Independence Memorial.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Transfer Colombo – Udawalawe (SIC)
You will be transferred to Udawalawe. Travel time: 5 hours

Jeep Safari in Udawalawe National Park (SIB)
This afternoon, you will commence a jeep safari in the Udawalawe national park. Udawalawe national park covers an area of 230,821 hectares and was declared in 1972. It is only 115 miles from Colombo via Ratnapura and Pelmadulla. This Park is rich in Elephant population as the Park has about 500 Elephants. Wild Buffalo, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Sambhur, Hare, Mongoose, Crocodile and 30 species of Snakes are recorded.
Three Circuit Bungalows are available at Seenuggala, Weheragolla, and Thimbiriyamankada and 2 Campsites are at Weheramankada and Pransadara. 50 species of Butterflies and many species of Birds are found in the Park.

Dinner
Enjoy dinner at hotel’s restaurant.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit home
This morning, you will visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit home.
Located in Udawalawe, close to the famous Udawalawe National Park, the Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 to care for orphaned elephants. These abandoned elephant calves are nurtured and re-habilitated with the ultimate hope of re-introducing them back into the wild, as soon as they are fit enough to fend for themselves.

Transfer Udawalawe – Yala (SIC)
Return to the hotel and after a short break, you will check out and proceed to Yala. Approximate travel time: 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Visit Yala National Park (SIC)
Enjoy morning and evening game drives in the Yala national park. We recommend an early morning or late afternoon game drive to elevate your chances of spotting most of the animals. Yala National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this were established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Transfer Yala – Mirissa (SIC)
This morning, after breakfast, you will travel to Mirissa. Travel time: 3 hours.

Dinner
Enjoy dinner at hotel’s restaurant.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Dolphin Watching Trip (SIC)
Leave the hotel early in the morning for Dolphin and Whale watching trip. All the passengers will be transfered to harbor by three wheelers in morning.
This visit starts @ 6.30 am from harbor and it will take about 3 to 5 hours. If you’re lucky you’ll have the opportunity of witnessing most common species of Blue Whales, Bryde’s Whales, Killer Whales , Sperm Whales, Spinner Dolphins and Common Bottlenose Dolphins.

Dinner
Enjoy dinner at hotel’s restaurant.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Transfer Mirissa – Galle (SIC)
You will be transferred to Galle.

Sightseeing tour in Galle (SIC)
The South Coast’s major city is Galle, whose oldest landmark is the massive Portuguese and Dutch Fort, a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in which the central city is contained. But the city may be much older. Some scholars believe it to be the “Tarshish” of the Old Testament, to which King Solomon sent his merchant vessels, and to which Jonah fled from the Lord. Today, the 90-acre Galle Fort shows no evidence of the Portuguese founders. The Dutch incorporated the Portuguese northern wall in a great rampart in 1663. A second taller wall was built inside of it. Between the two walls, a covered passage connected the central bastion with the Fort’s two half bastions overlooking the sea. The Dutch also installed a sophisticated drainage system, complete with brick-lined underground sewers that were flushed twice a day by the high and low tides. The original gate to the fort was by the harbour. It is still there, marked by the British Coat-of-arms on the front and the Dutch V.O.C. (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) with the Coat-of-arms with a rooster crest, on the inner side of the Fort.

Dinner
Enjoy dinner at hotel’s restaurant.

Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at hotel’s restaurant.

Transfer hotel – airport in Colombo (SIC)
Today you will be transferred to Colombo in time for the departure flight. The approximate time travel is 25 minutes.