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.

You will spend a full day with researchers from the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to the conservation of Sri Lanka’s wildlife and natural habitats, with a particular focus on mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Established in 1995, the SLWCS operates out of Wasgamuwa, in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, an area where human-elephant conflict is common due to the overlap between rural communities and elephant habitats.

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, Minneriya, Gal Oya, Wasgamuwa, and Yala national parks, Kaneliya Rainforest and the southern coastal towns of Tangalle and Galle. Take to the ocean 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. 

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 KANDALAMA AND VISIT MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK

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 to Kandalama and check in to the iconic Heritance Kandalama Hotel, designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. Nestled between the lush forests and the lake, this unique hotel structure seems to emerge organically from the landscape, blending modern design with natural beauty. Bawa's approach in Kandalama emphasises environmental harmony, using natural materials, open spaces, and extensive greenery to maintain the area's ecological balance.

Later in the afternoon head to Minneriya National Park to see Sri Lankan elephants in the wild. The park itself spans around 89 square kilometers and offers a mix of habitats, including lush forests, scrublands, and grasslands. Aside from elephants, Minneriya National Park is home to a variety of other wildlife, including leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambar, and an array of bird species, including endemic and migratory birds. You are likely to spot plenty of these gentle giants around the watering hole, plus macaques, spot-billed pelicans and more.

Return to your hotel in Kandalama.

DAY 3: FULL DAY WITH SRI LANKA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY VISITNG ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS

Early this morning travel to to Wasgamuwa, a journey of around one and a half hours, for a full day visit to the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society project.

The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) is dedicated to protecting Sri Lanka’s endangered wildlife through a combination of conservation research and community engagement. SLWCS aims to balance ecosystem protection with economic development by pioneering sustainable conservation models. They also collaborate with local communities to address environmental, social, economic, and land use issues that impact both people and wildlife. Their key projects are; Human-Elephant conflict mitigation, Research & Conservation and Sustainable Development. SLWCS’s innovative projects have been benefiting both people and wildlife in Sri Lanka for nearly two and a half decades.

On arrival at the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society field house there will be a brief minutes introduction from one of the members of the project. Later you will be transferred to the village with one of their research scientists. He will explain how they collaborate with communities to address a multitude of environmental, social, economic, land use, and livelihood issues that impact people, elephants and other wildlife.

Later, you will be driven to a village home for an authentic Sri Lankan meal. After lunch, return to the field house for another talk with one of the project's scientists. Afterwards,  transfer to Elephant Corridor at Wasgamuwa National Park where you can witness elephants roaming freely. This corridor is part of a larger effort to mitigate human-elephant conflict, which is a significant issue in Sri Lanka due to the shrinking habitats of elephants and the expansion of human settlements. The corridor allows elephants to move between different parts of the park and surrounding areas without coming into conflict with humans. This is crucial for their survival, as it provides them with access to food, water, and mating opportunities.

Upon completion of a full day project, return to your hotel in Kandalama. 

DAY 4: KANDALAMA TO GAL OYA. AFTERNOON FARM VISIT

After breakfast take a leisurely drive to Gal Oya National Park accompanied by a research scientist from the Sri Lankan Wildlife Society. Surrounded by water and Islands, Gal Oya National Park 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.

Discover a mystical village retreat with W.ild Glamping Gal Oya where authenticity mingles with village living in the highlands! Located near the prestigious Gal Oya National Park, which has been unblemished for centuries, Wild Glamping Gal Oya is stationed in "Rathugala," a majestic mountain-locked village inhabited by the Veddas — the aboriginal inhabitants of Sri Lanka.

In the afternoon, visit the farm. Set on a 30-acre farm, Wild Glamping Gal Oya, uses good agricultural practices to produce many of the vegetables used for your meals. Walk around the farm with our Naturalist or head gardener to discover the many types of vegetables grown in our garden and participate with the farming activities if you like. You can also harvest some of the vegetables for a cooking demonstration or for our chef's meals.

DAY 5: MONKEY MOUNTAIN TREK AND AFTERNOON JEEP SAFARI

This morning enjoy an optional trek to the top Of Monkey Mountain departing from the Wild Glamping site. Walk through villages until you come to the forest where a steep 4 kilometre trek across the stunning dry zone forest home to many birds, lizards, and medicinal plants. The end of the walk will offer you stunning 180-degree views of the surrounding landscapes around the Gal Oya Valley. The walk should take around 3 hours. For those not wanting to join the walk, you can have a relaxing morning at the Wild Glamping accommodation.

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 (accompanied by a research scientist). 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. There will also be an option to hike through the park with an expert naturalist 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 drive to Udawalawe National Park where you will enjoy an afternoon game drive.

Udawalawe National Park, located in the southern part of Sri Lanka, is renowned for its large elephant population and is considered one of the best places in Asia to observe wild elephants up close. Spanning around 308 square kilometers, the park features a landscape of grasslands, scrub jungle, and forests with a mix of riverine habitats, making it ideal for a wide variety of wildlife. The park is home to over 180 species of birds, both resident and migratory. You can spot a variety of raptors, including the crested serpent eagle and the white-bellied sea eagle. Other common sightings include the Sri Lankan junglefowl (the national bird), Malabar pied hornbills, painted storks, and peafowl. 

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. 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.

Please note this itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control. A final confirmed itinerary will be sent to booked guests one month prior to departure.

Please note: March is a wonderful time to visit Sri Lanka as it marks the end of the dry season which is known as a prime time for sightings. Our local guide and experts will do all they can to facilitate the best wildlife viewings, but, nature is in full control, therefore, wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.