Wildlife and conservation of Sri Lanka

17 March 2025  - 12 days for £3,799 per person

Embark on a wildlife expedition like no other, that takes you to the wild corners of this extraordinary island in search of leopard, elephant and whales and the more unusual species like sloth bear, pangolin and loris. 

Sri Lanka boasts an impressively high rate of endemic species, offering some of the finest wildlife watching experiences in South Asia. Explore some of its best known national parks, including Yala and Gal Oya, where days will consist of game drives around the park in the mornings and early evenings. You can expect to encounter elephant herds under open skies, sunsets with the promise of prowling cats, daybreak with monkeys, storks, ibis and crocodiles, as well as deer, sloth bears, jackals and wild buffalo.

During your exploration of the southern coastline, visit Rekawa Turtle Conservation Centre, a treasured location for all wildlife enthusiasts owing to its frequent habitation of nesting turtles. Explore Kaneliya Rainforest, identified as one of the most biodiverse areas in South East Asia. Take to the ocean with an expert marine biologist in search of the largest creature on earth, the blue whale. With time to rest and relax on some of the most perfect beaches on the planet. 

Travel by 4X4, on foot and by boat staying in a range of accommodation from 4-star luxury to tented camps in the Sri Lankan jungles. Visiting the capital Colombo, Knuckles mountain range, Cradle Mountain, Gal Oya National Park, Yala National Park, Kaneliya Rainforest and the southern coastal towns of Tangalle and Galle.

The tour is ideal for those with all levels of expertise, as it acts as a fantastic introduction to Sri Lanka's amazing flora, fauna and geology and how it is being protected whilst allowing those with a deeper understanding to observe a great many species on land, in the skies and at sea.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel. 

DAY 1: ARRIVE COLOMBO

After checking in to the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, in the evening join your tour leader for a welcome drink/meal, where they will give you an expedition briefing. 

DAY 2: COLOMBO TO MADULKELLE

Spend the morning at leisure, perhaps exploring Colombo’s rich heritage and multi-ethnic legacy with churches, mosques and temples congregating on the same streets.

Later, take the stunning drive into the heart of the island to the beautiful hills of Madulkelle. This drive is not just a transfer but the best way to get under the skin of this intriguing island with numerous stops and interesting sites to see on your way.

As you head to the highlands, a peaceful retreat awaits you on the Madulkelle Tea Estate. The road is a little bumpy and winding yet fascinating. Relish the picturesque tea plantations as you drive pass the small villages leading up to Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge., where you will stay for the next two evenings.

The Lodges which are named after birds that can be spotted in the area, sit away from the main house overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range. The designers managed to blend in its Eco concept with modern amenities to present the lodged accommodation that sits well immersed among the tea bushes. 

Relax for the rest of the day and in the evening, your tour leader will brief you about the next day’s adventures. In fact, most evenings you will have an informal talk about what you have seen that day and how that sits within the wider entomological and wildlife ecosystem.

DAY 3: EXPLORE MADULKELLE 

Let the chirping of the birds wake you up to the most spectacular views imaginable of the rolling green valley’s overlooking your terrace. The stunning landscapes keep changing through the course of the day. If you are an early riser, catch the sunrise over the sensational Knuckles Mountain Range.

Today, enjoy a day trip to Knuckles mountain range (Approximately 6 to 8 hours), where you will also be accompanied by local trekking and naturalist experts. There’s plenty of wildlife to discover, ranging from White Sambhur to the Barking Deer, Mouse Deer and the Giant Squirrel. Plus find evidence of and possibly see the star attractions of Elephants and Leopards.

A gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of 34 mystical mountains up to 2000 meters that bear an uncanny resemblance to human knuckles. Starting at the hillside village of Gomaraya, around 60 minutes’ drive from the hotel, you will explore crystal clear waterfalls, and endemic flora and fauna within this national park.

DAY 4: GAL OYA FARM VISIT

After breakfast take a leisurely drive to Gal Oya National Park, surrounded by water and Islands, it is one of Sri Lanka's true natural gems. The National Park boasts a rich and varied topography and the wide range of ecosystems that go with it, from granite hills, evergreen valleys and large water reservoirs, the park offers tranquil and breathtaking scenery. It is also home to a diverse population of Sri Lankan wildlife and is home to 32 mammal species, over 150 bird species and a healthy number of reptiles and amphibians.

Return to Wild Glamping Gal Oya where you will enjoy a privately guided walk around the farm with a Naturalist or head gardener to discover the many types of vegetables grown in the camps garden. You will have the opportunity to harvest some vegetables for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch.

In the evening you can join one of the resident naturalists for a walk to enjoy the beauty of the area around the camp and enjoy the abundant birdlife the area is known for. 

DAY 5: BOAT AND JEEP SAFARIS AROUND GAL OYA LAKE

Today enjoy a boat safari at the Gal Oya National park which is truly a unique experience. You will also have the privilege to have a picnic breakfast at a remote island within the park itself. 

A great opportunity to observe the wildlife from the stunning Gal Oya Lake: including crocodiles, deer, elephants and many rare and endemic species of birds. This experience is the only one in Sri Lanka that enables you to spot wildlife from the water and to truly immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. You may be lucky enough to see elephants swimming between islands or bathing at the lake’s edge. 

Later in the afternoon, embark on a jeep safari at the Gal Oya National Park to the forgotten Nilgala section of Gal Oya National Park. Once protected by ancient royalty for the abundant medicinal plants and endemic birdlife, the park’s unique ecosystem is home to herds of elephants, wild boar, four species of deer, jackals, sloth bears, marsh mugger crocodiles and an array of rare exotic birds. Our more intrepid guests can couple the drive with a safari on foot. Hike through the park with our expert naturalists and see wildlife up close while exploring hidden corners of the park.

DAY 6 AND 7: YALA NATIONAL PARK

Today is the first of two days staying in Kula Safari tents in the Yala National Park with its magnificent sights of majestic elephants, fine-feathered peacocks, great black bears and agile leopards that steal away into the shadows of the thick foliage are unparalleled to any of the national parks in the country.

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka's most famous National Park and with good reason it is home to an amazing range of wildlife. To avoid the crowds, you will be taken to the remoter parts of the park via the lesser known Kataragama entrance. 

You will overnight on well-appointed safari tents, set upon wooden verandas in the heart of the park next to watering hole with abundant wildlife to watch. Forget your bad memories of camping, these luxury tents are as good as any hotel. The tents have hot water and full netting yet leave a minimal environmental footprint. The camp owners have adopted a strict “no-plastic” policy, use renewable energy to as great an extent as possible and have implemented an eco-friendly waste-management system.

DAY 8: YALA TO UDAWALAWE THEN ONTO TANGALLE

After a final game drive at Yala National Park, check out from camp and drive to the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home. A fascinating project which feeds and trains injured and orphaned elephant calves to don the skills to survive in the wild. Apart from caring for the sick and orphaned animals, it also rehabilitates them before they are released into the wild. Although the visitors are not permitted to be with the elephants up-close and personal, the feeding times of baby elephants are wonderful opportunities to observe them and can be quite a pleasurable experience. 

In the afternoon enjoy a game drive in the Udawalawe National Park. Nourished by the Udawalawa reservoir, the park stretches over 30,000 hectares. It is most popular for elephant sightings as the park shelters close to 500 elephants. The riches within the park do not end there; flocks of deer, wild buffaloes, bandicoots, foxes, water-monitor lizards, crocodiles, sloth bears and a wealth of reptiles. 

Later on, you will check into the beachside Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort for two nights.

DAY 9:  RELAXING ON TANGALLE BEACH THEN VISIT REKAWA TURTLE CONSERVATION CENTRE

Spend the day leisurely enjoying the beachside resort. You had an exciting couple of days and it’s time to wind down a little before the rest of your expedition. 

In the evening visit the Rekawa Turtle Conservation Centre, a small-scale community run project that employs previous poachers as ‘nest protectors’ who monitor the beach 24 hours a day. Meet a conservationist who will give detailed insight into the project and also guide you to parts of the beach where you can observe (at a distance) the returning turtles ready to lay eggs and hatchlings ‘running’ to the sea.

DAY 10: EXPLORE KANELIYA RAINFOREST

After an early start, drive off to Kaneliya Rainforest which was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2004. 

It supplies nearly the entire freshwater supply for the southern region of Sri Lanka, thus proving its importance as a provider of life. You will hear about and see how the forest contains most of Sri Lanka’s endemic species including 20 of it 26 endemic birds and the critically endangered Giant Navada Tree which is around 600 years old and has gargantuan girth and gait.

Plus, the forest is bejewelled by an amazing array of waterfalls including the Anagi Mala Falls with its impressive cascades and shallow pools. 

Later, drive to Galle for a two night at the beautiful Le Grand Galle Hotel.

DAY 11: WHALE WATCHING FROM MIRISSA HARBOUR

Early this morning, embark on a whale watching expedition aboard a private small catamaran. After an onboard breakfast, the first part of the trip is spent carefully searching for whales to view from the decks of the ship with a marine biologist. There is the potential see multiple species including the largest creature on earth, the blue whale. Your captain will be following strict whale watching rules to ensure no detrimental impacts on these amazing creatures.

After enjoying the whales, you will head towards Weligama Bay, anchoring near the Snake and Taprobane Islands, a lovely setting to enjoy swimming, snorkelling and lunch.

Late afternoon is at leisure or we recommend you visit the stunning for town peninsula of Galle Fort. Then a farewell dinner with your fellow guests.

DAY 12: BACK TO COLOMBO THEN DEPART

After breakfast, there will be a group transfer to Colombo airport or we can arrange for you to stay on for a few more nights to enjoy Sri Lanka.