Jungle Tourism | The Adventure Travel Site

Safaris at Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Looking to spot wildlife away from restricting and often artificial zoo environments? Then plan a safari to Yala National Park in Sri Lanka and look forward to an unforgettable adventure!

Getting to the Park

The main entrance is in Palatupana which is around 305 km from the commercial capital, Colombo. While you will need a 4WD vehicle, the park does offer jeeps and guides too. When it comes to planning a Yala safari in Sri Lanka, wildlife tours are amongst the options worth considering since your transport and accommodation are taken care of.

Majestic Leopards

One of Yala’s main allures is the fact that it is home to the highest leopard density on the planet! Be it on special wildlife drives or photographic leopard safaris from tour specialists like Nature Odyssey, there are many adventures to see these majestic predators. Early morning and late afternoon are generally the best times for such safaris.

Animal Highlights

Of course, as you travel around Yala be on the look-out to spot other wildlife too; you may see a sloth bear ambling along the road, elephants socialising in a herd, spotted deer leaping through the foliage, water buffaloes basking in the sun or mugger crocodiles in search of a meal!

Amazing Avifauna

Birdwatching enthusiasts have much to look forward to since Yala is home to endemic and migratory species. Having a guide or bird guidebook will help to identify these many varieties; they include the grey heron, great stone plover, painted stork, serpent eagle, Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the Sri Lanka grey hornbill.

Explore Yala National Park

When it comes to viewing wildlife, few places in the world can match the thrills on offer at Yala National Park. The stronghold of the famous Sri Lankan leopard is the perfect stage for a daily myriad of action and drama that could rival any soap-opera!

How to Get There

You’ll have to make a choice on whether to travel through Kandy or Galle. Sri Lanka’s extensive, well-kept road systems will ensure that you’ll have a nice and relaxing drive regardless of your choice. You could also take the train from Peradeniya – which is just beyond Kandy.

Places to Stay

While there is an abundance of Yala hotels to choose from, picking the right accommodation can go a long way in making a good experience truly great. Properties such as Cinnamon Wild Yala are not only located close to the park but organise safaris too which adds to the convenience of enjoying thrilling escapades in the untamed bush.

The Adventures that Await

Experience a full day’s safari at Yala – marvel in the gentle majesty of great elephant herds, revel in the playful antics of a troop of langurs and if you’re lucky, hold your breath as a leopard patiently stalks its prey. You can also check out the ancient rock monastery of Sithulpawwa, a must-see if you’re visiting the park.

When to Visit

June to September remains the ideal time to visit as the temperature hovers around a comfortable 26.4°C. This not only makes embarking on a safari quite a pleasant endeavour, but it also greatly increases the chances of leopard sightings – after all, it’s comfortable for them too!

Udawattekele in Kandy

The Udawattekele Forest Reserve is the historic royal park that crawls across the uppermost spine of the Kandyan plateau. It spans 257 acres and was once known as “Uda Wasala Watte” which means “the gardens above the palace.”

Senkada and Rajasinghe

Ancient records state that there was once a brahmin called Senkada who dwelled in the caves in Udawattekele and that was how Kandy got one of its older names; Senkadagala. The cave was visible on a walk through the forest reserve until 2012 when it collapsed in a landslide. The gardens were used as a pleasure garden by the kings of Kandy and were forbidden to the public.

Colonial Era

During the colonial era, the British used some of the lands to construct a garrison and pathways that today are used and disused trails through the reserve. On the south-eastern side stands an abandoned British garrison now overgrown. It was attacked by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s forces in 1803 and the British troops manning the garrison were massacred.

The Fall of the Kingdom

After the Fall of the Kandyan Kingdom, the forest was subject to human activity including clearing and logging. Its condition deteriorated until it was declared a forest reserve in 1856 and made a sanctuary in1938.

Important Part of the Plateau

The Kandy lake is fed from springs that originate in Udawattekele. It also carries out air purification thanks to its elevation and placement above the city. There are many a hotel in Kandy that are in close proximity to make it to the sanctuary in under a couple of minutes. The reserve is only 10 minutes’ drive from Kandy town so you can easily get to it from a hotel in Kandy that is comfortable and spacious like Kings Pavilion.
The forest is home to endemic trees such as Madatiya, Tel Kekuna and Ankenda. There is a dense spread of flora thus restricting sunlight from reaching the underground layer. Some of the species of creeper are over 200 to 300 years old.

Most thrilling wildlife safaris in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s diverse wildlife is renowned globally, therefore it is no surprise that a vast number of visitors make sure they visit at least one of the national parks in this paradise island. Listed below are a few national parks for your itinerary.

Yala National Park
The most famous national park in Sri Lanka, Yala is situated in the south-east region of Sri Lanka and is the second-largest park on the island. Situated roughly 300 kilometres from Colombo, several Sri Lanka holiday packages, such as the ones offered by Tangerine Tours, include this popular wildlife park. You are sure to spot an excellent range of wildlife here in Yala!

Wilpattu National Park
Located 26 kilometres from Puttalam, the park covers 425 square feet of the coastal area. Wilpattu is also one of the oldest and largest national parks in Sri Lanka. You’ll find plenty of dense shrubbery and grasslands covering this park, with its main attractions being endemic sloth bears, leopards, barking deer and elephants.

Wasgamuwa National Park
Providing refuge to countless displaces wild animals, this national park earned its place in 1984. Here is where you’ll spot a large number of elephants if you’re looking to spot them. Bird watchers find this national park rather fascinating as well, as it is considered one of the best bird-areas in Sri Lanka.

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

With diverse birds and animals, Sri Lanka is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. There are several fully-fledged national parks and bird parks scattered around the island as well as sightings for marine life off the coast all year round. 12% of the country is dedicated to wildlife protection; from wet rainforests to arid plains.

The Birds
Thanks to a rich tropical climate Sri Lanka there are over 400 species of birds including 200 migratory species and 33 that are endemic to the country. There are plenty of bird watching hotspots dotted across the country as well as national bird parks. It truly is an ornithologist’s dream come true.

The Mammals
One of the most iconic experiences in Sri Lanka is seeing an elephant in the wild. It is a phenomenal experience and one that you should consider. Minneriya is possibly the best place, especially since the elephants gather at the edge of a man-made lake to socialise and swim.
Yala and Wilpattu National Park are great to spot many of the 102 mammals, 90 of which are indigenous to the island distributed across the diverse climate and geography of the island.

The Marine Life
With packages like Tangerine Tours, you can also book a safari into the sea to go whale watching or swimming with a dolphin or simply staking out on a beach to watch a sea turtle wander in to lay her eggs.

Things You Shouldn’t Miss
Make sure you add Minneriya National Park, Horton Plains, Yala National Park, Sinharaja Rainforest and Wilpattu National Park to your itinerary.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+.

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island with a priceless variety, so as its wildlife- ranging from authentic birds, mammals like elephants and even colourful marine life. The safari parks and sanctuaries there have been designed in such a way that they give the best experiences to their visitors, and this is why you should allocate some time to admire the wildlife in Sri Lanka- once you visit it.

The Birdlife

During your tour in Sri Lanka, travel to Kumana, Yala, Horton Plains or even the Sinharaja Rainforest with Walkers Tours and enjoy the best of birdlife in the country. Discover the behaviours of the migrant species as well as the endemic ones.

The Mammals

As the country is blessed with a diverse climate, vegetation and altitude, there are different species of mammals extensively distributed in Sri Lanka. If you visit any national park here, you will be blessed to see mammals moving in herds in the wild so make sure you capture these rare moments as memories.

The Marine Life

During your tour in Sri Lanka visiting the beaches will obviously be one of your top priorities. Make sure you allocate some time to admire the whales, dolphins, whale sharks and marine turtles- which can be explored via excursions arranged as per your requirements.

The top attractions

While all the above-mentioned experiences are worth enjoying, there are also some super special sceneries that you won’t need to miss. The leopard at Yala National Park, herds of Elephants roaming at Uda Walawe National Park and the monkey population at Polonnaruwa are just some of them.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Wildlife Hotspots in Sri Lanka

If you love witnessing wildlife in their natural habitat then Sri Lanka is the destination for you. Here are some key places where wildlife abounds.

Yala and Wilpattu
There’s nothing quite as thrilling as spotting an elusive Sri Lankan leopard on a safari at the Yala or Wilpattu national parks. These majestic predators are not the only wild inhabitants you may see; be on the lookout for Sri Lankan elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, monkeys and a wide range of bird species too.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve
A Biosphere Reserve, this forest sanctuary is a premier spot for bird watching. If you stay at a Sinharaja eco lodge Sri Lanka has to offer, you can easily see many of these birds. The Rainforest Ecolodge, Sinharaja is one such option from where you can head off on birdwatching excursions to spot endemic species like the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon and Sri Lankan junglefowl.

Minneriya and Udawalawe
At Minneriya National Park you can witness The Gathering (June to September) featuring hundreds of elephants, while the Udawalawe National Park is home to a sizeable elephant population too. On safaris at these parks, one also see a diverse array of other species including toque macaques, mugger crocodiles, deer and if you’re lucky, a leopard or two.

Mirissa and Trincomalee
Located on the south and east coasts respectively, Mirissa and Trincomalee are two of the best spots for whale watching in Sri Lanka. Apart from seeing species like blue whales and humpback whales, you can glimpse playful dolphins too!

Kuang Si Falls

The Kuang Si falls is a must-visit if you are nature lover who is holidaying at or are passing through Luang Prabang.

Image credit-Benh LIEU SONG, Kuang Si Waterfalls Luang Prabang Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

About Kuang Si falls

The waterfalls from a height of about 200 feet and a trail beginning at the shallow bottom pools take you right to the top of the Kuang Si Falls. The colour of the water is a beautiful aqua blue and makes for a great photo backdrop too.

Why you must visit Kuang Si falls

This gorgeous work of nature is a favourite side quest for the travellers in Luang Prabang and if you want to have a bit of nature time in your trip, add this to your list.

Getting there

Being about 30 kilometres away from the south of Luang Prabang hotels, this waterfall will take about two hours to get to if you leave from Avani+ Luang Prabang, for instance.

Entrance

You will be charged a fee of 20,000 kips to gain access to the falls, but it is definitely worth the cash since the trails and paths are so clean and amazingly maintained by the people of Luang Prabang. Most of the pools here can be swum in except one or two, which are holy.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.Google+

Most Thrilling Wildlife in Sri Lanka

From tropical rainforests to the coastal wilderness, Sri Lanka is teeming with wildlife, some species found nowhere else. Here is a destination for the avid bird watchers and pachyderm lovers alike.

Butterfly Sinharaja Rainforest| Img by: Kelum Chathuranga via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Yala

When planning a trip to Sri Lanka, holiday packages that include a visit to Yala National Park should be given most consideration, especially if you wish to catch a glimpse of the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. Situated along the south-eastern coast of the island it’s a haven for wildlife enthusiasts.

Sinharaja Rainforest

Considered by many as the last home of the Sri Lankan lion, a diverse array of wildlife and plant species can be found here. Nestled in clouds it is only accessible by foot, a knowledgeable guide can be the decisive factor on this awe-inspiring trek. Tour operators such as Tangerine Tours offer comprehensive tour packages to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Udawalawa National Park

One of the three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant roams across the ranges of the island. But nowhere will you see such a concentration of these gentle giants as in Udawalawe National Park. It is truly a paradise for the Pachyderm lover.

Horton Plains National Park

One of the most unique eco-systems in the country, this plateau is teeming with herds of Sambar Deer and Wild Boar. Horton Plains is also home to the endemic Bear Monkey, Toque Monkey, and the Long-tailed Squirrel. No visit to the island is complete without a trip to this Shambala hidden in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

Green Jungle Park

If you are a person who likes to involve some nature activities in your vacation then visiting the Green Jungle park is a must.

About the park

What was once rubbish and garbage dump is now a beautifully preserved forest. With an amazing waterfall that acts as a backdrop to this park, the view here is nothing short of splendid. The conservation society in this area has shown how people can change nature for the better when they set their minds to it.

Location

The green jungle park is located about 30 kilometres away from the city and you have to travel south to access the area. If you are staying at the hotel in Luang Prabang the likes of Avani+ Luang Prabang you can get yourself a cab and also get the directions from the help desk.

Activities inside the park

Within the park, you will find that there is a zipline activity space that stretches out to about 900 metres along with rope courses and monkey bridges. Partaking in these would be fun for everyone in the group.

Food and drink

Within the green jungle park, you will also find that there is a cafe where you can have a few snacks and a cold drink after you enjoy the activities, look around the flower gardens, take a dip in the natural swimming pools and explore the produce market.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+