Tour 4 - Wildlife Explorer
A Grand tour of national parks and sanctuaries - 16 days - 1580 km
Price details
Highlights
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DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM
DAY 1. Negombo - Chilaw - Suruwila Reserve - Puttalam - Wilpattu - 146 km
From Negombo, we'll drive on the main road towards Chilaw/Puttalam for a few kilometer, then turning right to Dankotuwa, running parallel with the main road, but much less traffic. Shortly before Chilaw we join the main road again. In Chilaw we visit the Munneswaram Hindu Temple 
, one of the most prestigious in the country.
Further on the road, about half way between Chilaw and Puttalam, we turn to the seaside to visit Suruwila and Anaivilundawa lakes, a paradise for birdwatchers.
Then we drive further Puttalam and the entrance of Wilpattu NP.
DAY 2. Wilpattu NP 4x4 safari (150 km) - Anuradapura - 33 km
The main feature of today is, of course, a full day 4x4 safari trek in Wilpattu National Park 
, one of the oldest and largest parks in the country. It has been closed during most of the war period, and is still sparsely visited. Marshy lakes (wewas) and dense scrub hide a treasure of animals and birds: sloth bear, leopards, wild boar, deer and a small population of elephants. Landscape scenery is exceptional.
Even while 'doing nothing' the safari is pretty demanding, so after a short bike ride, we'll arrive pretty exhausted at our overnigt's stay.
DAY 3. Anuradhapura (visit) - Ritigala (visit) - Habarana - 87 km
The first part of this day is devoted to discover some highlights of the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura 
, northeast of the new town. The area is vast, and different walking excursions are interconnected with short bike drives. Anuradhapura has been the religious and royal center of Sri Lanka from 447 BC well up to the 12th century 
. After that, it got completely lost in the jungle, only to be rediscovered by Ralph Backhaus in the early 19th century. Since its rediscovery, archeologists have strived in research, excavation and restoration ever since. Today, several parts of its Buddhist and Hindu history are well restored and provide for a refreshing and relaxed day between magnificent temples and old stones.
We'll start with the famous Bo-tree 
, a sapling from the original Bo-tree in Bodhgaya, under which Buddha received enlightment. As such, it is one of the holiest Buddhist in Sri Lanka and in the world.
A short walk around the area will lead us through some of the oldest parts of the sacred city (a.o. the Brazen Palace).
Next we drive along the edge of the old Royal Palace area to the northern edge of the city, around the Abhagiriya Dagoba, with extensive ruins and excavations. 
Late morning we hit the road for a leisurely drive from Anuradhapura to Habarana. Most of the time we'll drive among paddy fields and little lakes or waterponds. The road is generally good and, although a main road, with little traffic. If you're a chili-lover, you'll probably have the chance to buy a few kg somewhere along the road. This rather dry area seems to produce the best of peppers.
At about 3/4 of today's tour, we'll pass Ritigale Strict Natural Reserve 
[(c) imagebang@gmail.com]. Inside the Reserve are some partially restored ruins of a quite extensive monastic complex and cave dwellings. Nothing of the common stuff here (no Bo-tree, no image house), but famous for its 'urinal stones' with erotic carvings. The story goes that it used to remind the monks demonstrating their contempt for worldly things by peeing on them, but you're allowed to have your own ideas on the subject. Mythology attributes to this place an unusual abundance of medicinal plants and herbs. The little hill indeed enjoys a micro-climate much cooler and wetter than its dry surroundings. The more than 70 caves (in addition to monastic buildings, a hospital and palace ruins) provided shelter for monks and refuge for royalty in a period between 4th century BC to the 9th century AD. Then it remained deserted until it was rediscovered by early 19th century explorers.
Just a short stretch brings us to Habarana for an overnight stay.
DAY 4. Habarana - Minneriya/Giritale (4x4 safari - 50 km) - Polonnaruwa - 44km
It's only about 25 kilometer to Minneriya-Giritala NP. The Minneriya Tank is a handmade construction of the 4th century 
. At the end of the dry season, there's not much water left, so animal activity is pretty concentrated on to the last wet parts of this 3,000 ha large park.
We reserve a full day 4x4 safari to explore this natural treasure.
A last short drive takes us to our hotel in Polonnaruwa 
.
DAY 5. Polonnaruwa - Batticaloa - Ampara - Gal Oya (camp) - 203 km
Today is a long long driving day. From Polonnaruwa we head straight for the east coast. Depending on driving time, we try to have a picknick lunch at the heavenly beach of Kalkudah 
. Before the tiger problems started, Passekudah/Kalkudah was the main center of tourist development. It's a calm, blue and shallow bay, well protected by a reef, and a stretch of golden beaches all the way up to Batticaloa 
.
After lunch we follow the coastline to Batticaloa and further to Kalmunai 
where we leave the beach and turn inland to Sammanturai. From there we drive to Ampara 
and Ingiriyagala, where we enter the Gal-Oya NP. A luxury campsite is awaiting us, where we will spend the following 2 nights.
DAY 6. Gal Oya full day safari (boot & 4x4)
A full day filled to the brim with 4x4 and boat safaris in one of the best parks of Sri Lanka. Elephants, crocodiles and white buffalo are the main attraction, besides a wealth of birdlife 
. Staying within the park borders will give us a front row perspective of it all. For a whole day and 2 nights you can revive the glorious feeling of past generations of nature explorers.
DAY 7. Gal Oya - Monaragala - Tissamaharama - 162 km
From Gal Oya it will take us a full day drive to reach Tissamaharama 
. Some hilly stretches and long flat stretches, but the whole on good roads through one of the more sparsely populated regions of Sri Lanka.
By evening we arrive in the lively 'capital of the south', Tissa.
DAY 8. Ruhuna/Yala full day safari (160 km)
Again safari day. A full day discovery of Sri Lanka's most popular National Park, Ruhuna/Yala West.
DAY 9. Tissa - Bundala - Hambantota - Uda Walawe - 103 km
After a good night rest, we go for a little 'bike safari' from Tissa to Kirinda, on of the fishing villages worst hit by the 2004 tsunami, and than along the edges of Bundala National Park 
. The coastal lagoons (Bundala Lewaya, Embilikala Kalapuwa and Malala Lewaya) are a formidable reserve for birdlife. So, we go slow and as silent as possible.
At the end of the small road we pass through Hambantota and Ambalantota (both cities built up from scratch after the 2004 tsunami), before we go up to Uda Walawe.
DAY 10. Uda Walawe safari (55 km) - Ratnapura - 62 km
Uda Walawe, second in popularity only to Yala, is awaiting us for a half day safari. Again, a wealth on elephants and birdlife around the large lake 
.
After the safari, we depart for a leisurely trip on good roads to Ratnapura 
. With a bit of luck there's time to visit the Gem museum, maybe even a gem mine too 
.
DAY 11. Ratnapura - Sinharaja Rain Forest - Ratnapura - 120 km
Today no safari, but a trek into Sinharaja Rain Forest, the last remaining bit of dense tropical rain forest 
. The roads towards it are getting smaller and smaller, ending in a stretch of dirt track to reach the entrance.
Once inside, it's a sensation for all senses, experiencing 'real jungle'.
Back to Ratnapura for the night.
DAY 12. Ratnapura - Balangoda - Horton Plains - 91 km
Perfect road from Ratnapura to Balangoda. From there a serious climb up around World's End to reach one of the most desolate high plateaus of Sri Lanka: the magical Horton Plains 
. Accommodation is extremely basic, and after a more than cool night, we're ready for a super trek in the park.
DAY 13. Trekking in Horton Plains - Nuwara Eliya - 32 km
Most of the day we'll spend visiting Horton Plains. It will be cold, misty, probably rainy as well, but rewardingly refreshing and meditative. Welcome to Scotland! The bleak and windslept area is home to a lot more wildlife than you would expect for such a barren land. Large sambhur and hordes of monkeys (toque macaque, leaf monkey, bear monkey) are the main mammals. A good selection of birds will also be on the menu. Some visitors in the past have complained about the lack of wildlife, but this is often due to the misty weather, when spotting the animals can be quite difficult. Let's pray for a clear day.
In the late afternoon we'll have a short but bumpy drive into Nuwara Eliya.
DAY 14. Relax day in Nuwara Eliya
Leisure day to recuperate from all the heavy work of the past days, in the cool and ultra-British surroundings of Nuwara Eliya 
.
DAY 15. Nuwara Eliya - Hatton - Kitulgala - rafting - 76 km
From Nuwara Eliya to Hatton, the road is often pretty bad and bumpy, but once past Hatton it changes into a real leisurely highway experience through some magnificient tea estates 
.
In the afternoon, Kitulgala awaits us for a wet challenge: some exciting wild-water rafting 
, after which you'll crave for a filling dinner.
DAY 16. Kitulgala - Negombo - 95 km
After a lazy morning meditating on the past adventures - you will need some time to digest all the mental and physical experiences - we drive back to Negombo. But not without a final little challenging stretch among some hidden rubber plantations in a particularly wild setting. It's just 30 km from Colombo and practically nobody knows of this little gem, except the very local population.
Negombo awaits us with a complimentary farewell BBQ for all those that have survived the adventures of the past 15 days.
