Big Five Game
wild life
tour

Big Five Game Wildlife Tour - 11 Days

Outside Africa, no other country or even continent for that matter can boast of the five big and enigmatic creatures with an exceptional strike rate of sightings as Sri Lanka can. This exotic Sri Lanka wildlife tour lets you step into the depths of the Sinharaja rainforest for one night, transiting in Mirissa for a night before venturing into the jungles of both Yala and Udawalawe, and taking a night of respite in the capital Colombo, making for an eventful eleven days.

Day 1

Route : Airport > Colombo
Drive : 1 Hour
Hotel : Star category hotel (As your request) – Overnight stay at Colombo
Vehicle : Private car or van (air conditioned)
Highlights : Enjoy a city tour of Colombo

At the airport, you will be greeted by your chauffeur from Sri Lanka Travel Tours, who will take you into the capital city of Colombo. Once in the comforts of your hotel, relax and recover from any jet lag.

If you have spare time, your chauffeur will introduce you to some of Colombo’s curious sites, such as the vibrant markets of Pettah, the old city of Fort, the Hindu Temple at Sea Street, and the Dutch Church at Wolfendal, or alternatively, indulge in some shopping.

Day 2

Today you will have an amazing opportunity to experience elephants in their wild sphere at the Minneriya National Park! Sri Lanka’s wild elephants make their annual “gathering” here, and you haven’t lived until you’ve sat in a herd of these majestic animals in the low-lying trees and expansive grasslands and heard their rumbling chatter in their natural habitat. The vast sanctuary is also home to wild buffaloes, sambar deer, crocodiles, sloth bears, and more.

Day 3

Begin the morning by mounting the mesmerizing rock fortress of Sigiriya, a 5th-century “Fortress in the Sky.” Admire the architectural marvel of how a king’s fortress was carved from a massive rock in the 5th century A.D. Continue your drive to the scenic hills of Nuwara Eliya. Relish the drive through endless views of tea-carpeted valleys and the bright flash of female “tea pluckers” in their pimento, fuchsia, and cerise saris. Welcome to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s tea-growing region! Visit a tea estate and factory to see how Ceylon tea is made.

Afterwards, drive around the town to see the same. Often referred to as “Little England, this genteel highland community does have a rose-tinted, vaguely British-country-village feel to it, with its colonial-era bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, well-tended hedgerows, and pretty gardens. Do also indulge in a guided stroll of the town; pass the 18-hole golf course, the colonial members-only Hill Club, and English-styled country homes.

Day 4

From the hills of Nuwara Eliya, descend to the jungles of Yala. One of the foremost places to visit in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park is famous for the elusive leopard and has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. The sloth bear and Asian elephant that are also part of Sri Lanka’s Big Five can be spotted. With some good luck, you will witness all the creatures over an afternoon safari (3.00 p.m.–6.00 p.m.) accompanied by a naturalist guide.

Day 5

Begin your wildlife adventure by embarking on a bird-watching safari at Bundala National Park! A popular reserve for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, this thorny scrub jungle with its beaches, sand dunes, and lagoons has become known for its varied biodiversity of 197 species of birds and 32 different mammal species!

Set out again on an evening jeep safari to cover the other areas of the extensive Yala National Park. With some luck, you will be able to witness three of the Big Five creatures: the elusive leopard, the sloth bear, and the Asian elephant, over an evening safari accompanied by a naturalist guide. This safari is also a unique opportunity to observe the rural agrarian life that revolves around the five lakes of the park. This visit will enlighten you on the traditional irrigation methods, including intricate canals, channels, and locks, some of which are centuries old.

Day 6

Today, you may venture to the depths of the island, towards Udawalawe National Park! The park covers an area of 30,821 hectares and includes a large reservoir and the Udawalawe Tank. The park is also home to an estimated 500 elephants, best spotted by the river or streams and reservoirs; wild buffalo; sambar deer; mongooses; bandicoots; foxes; water monitor crocodiles; and even the occasional sloth bear and leopard.

With some good luck, you will witness all these creatures and more on an evening jeep safari (3.00 p.m.–6.00 p.m.) accompanied by a naturalist guide

Day 7

Begin your day by dropping by the Elephant Transit Center, where orphaned and injured elephants are cared for until they are able to return to the park.

Continue your journey to the green paradise of Sinharaja, Sri Lanka’s last surviving area of primary tropical rainforest. The rainforest will offer you a memorable opportunity to observe wildlife while trekking through its parts, which are still untouched and remain virgin forests. Once in the depths of the forest, enjoy both a morning and evening private bird-watching trek in the forest led by a naturalist guide. More than sixty percent of the flora is endemic, and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over fifty percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many varieties of insects, reptiles, and rare amphibians.

While being caressed by the sun, listen to the concert played by the animal kingdom in the rainforest, backed by the sound of the many small waterfalls.

Day 8

Drive towards the southern coast of the island to Galle. Galle is the country’s oldest living city and is sure to capture your interest with its historic sites and its unique fusion of European and Arabic cultural and architectural influences. In the afternoon, explore the Galle Fort with its low-lined streets and history behind its rampart. The Fort remains a hive of activity and is one of the few World Heritage-listed sites in which a bustling population continues to thrive. Walk through the alleys lined with stores and restaurants. After you have explored the city, you could proceed to do some shopping in the very heart of Galle. You will come across shops with a fine variety of gems and jewelry, antiques, art galleries, and design stores.

Day 9

Set off on your early morning expedition to encounter the activity of whale and dolphin watching—the gentle giants of the ocean. As you set off on the boat cruise, listen to the cacophony of tunes created by spinner dolphins traveling in pods. In the deeper waters, you will spot blue whales traveling in groups. As you venture further out, the sperm whales that travel in solitude This makes Sri Lanka unarguably the best place in the world to sight both blue and sperm whales together. Don’t forget your camera to catch their tails flipping.

Visit Sea turtle hatchery in the southern cost and these sea turtle hatcheries are for the survival of sea turtles for the next generation.

Retreat to the comforts of your hotel for peaceful relaxation on the sand-swept beaches!

Day 10

Beach Stay with many choices for spending your time. Leisurely strolling on the golden beaches, enthralled in the magical atmosphere. Lazing on a sun deck, reading a book of your choice, and sipping a cool, fresh tropical fruit drink of pineapple, mango, or banana

Day 11

As all good things must come to an end, we bid you farewell as our chauffeur transfers you to the airport to meet your departure flight home.

Sri Lanka Travel Tours

Big Five Game
wild life
tour