Sri Lanka has some of the richest wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that offers the opportunity to its visitors to indulge in the most thrilling safari experiences. Sri Lanka safari is all about exploring the untamed side of life in the country. Dominated by the population of elephants, leopards, deers, boars and flamingos, their wildlife in Sri Lanka will surprise at every turn during your safari. There are 7 National Parks for the most thrilling Sri Lanka Safari. They are: Yala, Wilpattu, Udawalawe, Wasgamuwa, Kaudulla , Gal Oya, Minneriya, Bundala national park

Yala National Park

Yala national park contains five blocks, with the two south-eastern coastal blocks being the most frequently visited by the public. The park is also connected to adjoining wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the largest of which is the Lunugamvehera National Park. Overall, Yala covers an area of 979 square kilometers that hosts a variety of different ecosystems, ranging from jungles to freshwater wetlands, that makes it an ideal home for several species of wildlife.

Yala is home to more than 200 species of birds and 40 species of mammals, but it is probably most well-known for its leopard population. There are more leopards per unit of land in Yala than almost anywhere else in the world, and the park is considered to have far more leopards sightings than any other national park on the island. It is best to visit between January and July to increase your chances of spotting these magnificent creatures.

Elephants can also be spotted at Yala, but the possibility of sighting them varies throughout the season. This is because Lunugamvehera National Park acts as a natural corridor between Yala and Udawalawe National Park, which the elephants use to move between habitats. Your best chance of spotting them is during the dry season, between May and August.

Yala is also home to crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys, sloth bears, water buffalo, wild boar, deer and golden jackals. Around 130 different species of birds have also been recorded in the park, including pelicans, storks, herons and flamingos.

Wilpaththu National Park

Wilpattu was first designated a wildlife sanctuary as far back as 1905, it wasn’t until February 1938 that this 13,500-hectare park was elevated to national park status. Yet, its story begins much earlier than this. The copper shoreline of the reserve, specifically at Kudiramalai, a rocky promontory, is widely believed to have been the landing spot of the Indian Prince Vijaya in the 5th century BC. He married Princess Kuveni of Sri Lanka, and together they established the Sinhalese race. The region’s alternative name – Thambapanni or the ‘color of copper’ – came about due to the reddish color of the sand that stained the hands and feet of Prince Vijaya and his 700-odd followers when they came ashore. The ruins of Kuveni’s palace is just one of 68 archeological sites within Wilpattu National Park.

‘Willy’ and ‘pattu’ broadly translate as the Land of the Lakes, and this is exactly what defines this beautiful reserve. In amongst the lowland forest, open shrubland and thick jungle lie up to 60 ‘villus’ – natural, shallow rainwater-collecting basins, which expand and contract with the seasons. Wildlife is drawn to these pristine waterholes and the lush grassy banks that surround them, which makes them prime spots for wildlife spotting throughout the year.

Wilpattu National Park is home to Sri Lanka’s most exciting, longed-to-see wildlife. These include the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, the Asian Elephant and the Sri Lankan Sloth Bear alongside a supporting cast of spotted and sambar deer, crocodiles, mongooses and water buffalo. Leopard sightings are amongst the best in the country despite the reserve having a much less dense leopard population than Yala National Park. The aquatic features of the park also make this one of Sri Lanka’s best places for bird watching – some of the endemics include the Ceylon gray hornbill, the Ceylon Parakeet and the Red-backed woodpecker. You may also spy the brownish chicken-like Sri Lankan Jungle fowl, Sri Lanka’s national bird.

Embark on a mindfulness based stroll through the wild enchantment of a Tropical Rainforest. Experience, Forest Bathing: Being immersed in the healing energies of a Forest. Seeing, touching, tasting, smelling & listening to the vibrant presence & ecosystem that brings the forest to Life. Practice the art of Nature Mysticism: Come to the realization that you are part of something much greater than yourself. Tune into the life force of a mystical rainforest while listening to the uplifting sounds of colorful birds.

Sri Lanka is already a most sought-after holiday destination, hiking and trekking in Sri Lanka gives you an opportunity to go offbeat and explore the length and breadth of the country in adventurous ways. Jungle trekking in Sri Lanka is one of the popular experiences travelers like to venture in during their vacation in Sri Lanka. The dense rainforests store wonderful surprises in the forms of wildlife, waterfalls, and enchanting views. The best part is that most of these treks are just day long making it convenient and possible even for the beginners.

Top Places for Trekking In Sri Lanka

There are quite a number of trekking trails in the country, here are top few trekking adventures in Sri Lanka that will make it easier for you to choose and plan your adventure in this tropical paradise.

• World’s End In Hortons Plain National Park
• Ella Rock
• Adam’s Peak
• Pidurangala
• Knuckles Ranges
• Meemure
• Kitulgala Rainforest Trekking
• Sinharaja Forest Reserve
• Belihuloya
• Ohiya

Madu River is a wetland, near the Small town "Balapitiya" along the Colombo Galle highway. This is the point where the Estuary of the Madu river is. The river flows through a terrain where it creates a large number of islands, and the eco system creates a beautiful wetland.

Explore the sights and sounds of the lush mangrove forest as you discover the secrets of the Madu River, on an exciting boat safari.

The Madu River is located near Galle in the south of the island and is a paradise for nature lovers. Attracting locals and tourists alike to witness its tropical sceneries and calming atmosphere, the river is dazzled with approximately 15 islets scattered along the river and mangrove forests that are home to over 300 species of fauna from colorful birds like woodpeckers and king fishers to creepy crocodiles and more! A gentle boat cruise along this river will keep you entertained as you watch for crocodiles or water monitors as they slither beneath the murky surface or as the endemic birds of prey hover over you! En-route, you’ll visit a small island called Koth Duwa with its beautiful temple and statue of the Buddha. Towards the end of your adventure, treat yourself to a soothing, natural treatment at the local ‘fish spa’, where fish are held in their natural environment and sectioned off by nets. Perch yourself on the deck and pop your feet in for a natural fish treatment as your dead skin cells are cleaned off leaving your feet smooth and clean!

A hot air balloon is a type of an aircraft. It is lifted by heating the air inside the balloon, usually with fire. The hot air balloon is the oldest form of human-carrying flying technology that can successfully carry people. The heated air is kept inside the balloon by its fabric. This is called the "envelope". It is usually made of nylon. The passengers and the pilot stand in the basket, which is attached to the balloon by ropes. The basket is usually made of wicker. Baskets can come in many sizes. It can have enough places for up to 36 people. It depends on the size of the balloon to carry that much weight. Hot air balloon ride can be categorized as a thrill, a frightening as well as an adventurous experience and it’s a spectacular way to take to the air and get a panoramic view of the ground below. Hot air balloon is a famous adventure sport that provides an unforgettable experience for travelers with a low flying 500 M – 2,000 M with a bird eye view.

Sri Lanka is a hotspot of adventure holidays with plenty of thrilling activities including wildlife safaris / hot air balloon / white water rafting / trekking / hiking etc and hot air ballooning is a demanding adventure sport in Sri Lanka. Dambulla / Kandalama / Sigiriya areas are the best locations for hot air ballooning activity due to its climate in Dambulla .Kandalama is exceptional for flying balloons, due to its extremely calm and predictable nature. Float over the scenic beauty of Sri Lanka and enjoy this breathtaking activity in the Cultural Triangle during your family holidays in Sri Lanka.

Blue whales are jumping out of the ocean to upstage the other natural wonders for a few weeks between February and mid-March. This is krill feeding time when blue whales are king. The southern coast around Galle and Mirissa are the places to go in search of responsible blue whale watching in Sri Lanka during these times. Be prepared for magic..

Sri Lanka is rapidly gaining fame in the whale -watching world for the opportunities to observe blue whales in at least two different locations between December and July. Other whale and dolphin species are opportunistically observed during tours, but blue whales are definitely the most frequent target of tours.

The three main whale and dolphin watching areas in Sri Lanka are Mirissa in the south-west, Trincomalee in the north-east and Kalpitiya on the northwest coast. The most frequently targeted species of whale for whale watching in Sri Lanka is the blue whale, which can be observed off the coast of Mirissa between December and March, and off Trincomalee between March and July. Bryde’s whales and sperm whales are sometimes also opportunistically observed during trips that are focused on blue whales. Whale watching platforms range in size from small boats seating 4-6 passengers to large double-decked vessels taking up to 300 passengers. Even the Sri Lankan Navy offers whale watching tours! Tours sometimes head up to 20 km offshore, so vessels need to be large and powerful enough to cope with longer journeys and potentially rough sea conditions.

Best dolphin and whale watching season in Kalpitiya − Sri Lanka is from Mid October until end of March! During these months large schools of the playful spinner dolphins are dwelling just three nautical miles out, in front of Kappalady beach. Another 2 miles further out the continental shelf breaks steeply into the deep ocean. Because of the converging deep currents and the rich sea life this is the preferred habitat for the blue whale, sperm whale and gray whale - the largest mammals which have ever inhabited our planet.

Sri Lanka is a birder's paradise. A tropical island in the Indian Ocean situated 10 degrees north of the equator, boasting of diverse and favorable climatic conditions and natural habitats such as forests, scrublands, grasslands, wetlands, seas and agricultural lands. The country is home to 439 species of birds of which 236 are breeding residents, 203 migrants and the rest vagrants. For a country as small as Sri Lanka having 33 endemic species and 68 endemic subspecies of birds with a species endemism of 11% goes to demonstrate why Sri Lanka is one of the finest Bird Watching Tours destinations in the world. This includes endemics such as Fowls, Pigeons, Parrots, Parakeets, Malkoha, Coucal, Owl, Owlet, Hornbill, Barbet, Magpie, Bulbul, Warbler, Babbler, Thrush, White-eye, Mynah, Starling, Flycatcher, Flowerpecker, Pigeon, Barbet, Flameback, Woodshrike, Drongo and Swallow

In addition there are close to 200 seasonal migratory birds both terrestrial and aquatic, moving away from the Northern winter traveling from as far as Siberia, Scandinavia and Western Europe, arriving around August /September and leaving around April/May. Since Sri Lanka is situated at the farthest southern point away from the south of India with no other landmass until the South Pole, the migrating birds end their long journey in Sri Lanka, making it a regular wintering ground. Some of the migrants include the Openbill, Ibis, Heron, Egrets, Pelicans, Cormorant, Water-cock, Swamphen, Waterhen, Stilts, Duck and Grebe.

The museum offers guests an insight into the structure and stratification of various crystals and gemstones. It is home to some unique gemstones and rare specimens of precious stones. Another highlight is the ancient equipment used to source the gemstones as well as to create handmade jewelry.

A unique feature of this Gem museum is the simulator gem mine located inside our premises of the organization. This gem mine will cater to the curiosity of clients who may not get an opportunity to visit a real gem mine in Ratnapura- the source of most Sri Lankan gemstones. For more detail click https://tiesh.lk/

Learn about the world famous Ceylon tea by visiting a factory in Nuwara Eliya. Ceylon tea is world famous for its quality and flavors. It is consumed the world over and preferred as a cup of cheers and revives.

Research has proved that tea is the beverage that is good for your health and well-being. Polyphenols in tea reduce hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, blood glucose and bacterial activity. Anyway tea is an accidental discovery in the year 27 BC in China. Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Royal botanical gardens at Peradeniya Kandy, Sri Lanka, when tea plants were brought from China.

In 1867 James Taylor, Scottish planter planted Tea seeding out Loolecondera Estate in Deltota Kandy. This was a substitute crop for coffee which was affected by coffee blight disease.

Arriving in Ceylon in the year 1890 Thomas Lipton bought plantations that produce tea, now world famous Lipton Labels sell in his network of nearly 300 shops back in London.

Today Sri Lanka produces tea throughout the year around and the total tea production is about 300 million kilos per annum. Total export volume reached 286.02 million kgs in the year 2021 which earned USD1.3 billion accounting for 2% of GDP.

Nuwara Eliya is the region for the world's best brewed tea. Take a guided tour to the tea factory perched high in the hills. The tea estate is one of the most easily accessible estates in the hill country and takes around 30 minutes for you to go through the entire manufacturing process from grading to packing and learn how Sri Lankans “green gold” is manufactured.

Our tea factory visit is inclusive of a tea tasting experience which is interactive and guided and can learn by testing the different types. The unique flavor contours that give the different teas their peculiarity.

Sri Lanka is emerging as a great destination for the international Golfing community. The country can boast of both colonial and modern style Golf courses which are scattered across the country. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced golfer, golf in Sri Lanka is a great way to spend your time. These Golf courses are located amidst the most beautiful tropical sceneries imaginable. You can also combine Golfing with other great experiences such as wildlife safari, tea trailing, wellness retreats, beach holidays and great culinary experiences among many other wonders.

Sri Lanka has Five 18 Hole Golf Courses i.e. Royal Colombo Golf Club (capital/at sea level), Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (central hill country/2070 meters) Victoria Golf & Country Resort (central hill country/600 meters), Shangri La Hambantota (south coast/at sea level) Eagles Golf Links (Eastern coast/at sea level).

Additionally, there are several 09 Hole Golf Courses spread island-wide such as Sandy Bay Golf Links Trincomalee, Koggala Golf Club, and Diyatalawa Army Golf Club. All golf courses charge a fee of between 250 and 500 kronor, and you can also expect to have to pay for a caddy and ball-finder.

We are very lucky to be living in a time when the original, ancient teachings of the Buddha are still available to us. The teachings of Buddhism are clear and straightforward and bring immediate happiness into our lives. The Buddha explained that there are four steps we need to follow in order to achieve the goal of true happiness:

1. We need to associate with good people who know the teachings of the Buddha and who are trying to follow them.
2. We need to listen carefully to those teachings.
3. We need to reflect wisely on those teachings and apply them to our lives.
4. And finally we need to put those teachings into practice and lead our life according to their instructions.
​

>