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Unique wildlife

Sri Lankans have always revered their wildlife and way back in the third century BC were ahead of the game when royalty created the world’s first wild life sanctuary and just 2,000 years ago royalty again declared other areas sanctuaries.

Wherever you go, it’s the elephant that occupies a special place in Sri Lankan culture with images of the ubiquitous behemoth painted as murals in elephant-themed resorts and hotels, restaurants, advertising billboards, caps and t-shirts. However, unbeknown to most, it is birds that are the glory of the Sri Lanka’s wildlife, with the country boasting nearly 433 bird species, of which 20 are unique to the island including the flamingo, painted stork as well as the striking blue plumage kingfisher.

National parks

Sri Lanka’s national park safaris certainly rival those around the world and boast a wonderful variety of flora and fauna rolling grasslands, flowering plants and evergreen forests. Spanning over 1,268 square kilometres, Yala National Park is the country’s most famous. With the highest leopard concentration in the world and 215 bird species on show it’s a true birdwatchers’ paradise. Get up close and personal with elephants, monkeys, water buffalos,
sloth bears, crocodiles and spotted deer via safari with acres of forest, grassy plains and brackish to explore.

Closer to the country’s capital, Colombo, at just a four-hour drive from the city is Udawalawe National Park, which is also close to Sri Lanka’s famous tea plantation covered hillsides. The park is reputed to be the best in the continent to observe Asian elephants. Neighbouring Udawalawe National Park is the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, where mixed flocks of birds live in large canopy towers.

Ecotourism

With ecotourism on the move, the traveller now has a large, diverse choice of nature-basedbexperiences like white water rafting, trekking tours, adventure walks, river expeditionsbsnorkeling and scuba diving. Stay in delightful tree and mud huts set in tropical hideaways, onbfloating villas or in underground suites near the island’s picturesque tea plantations and sacred rainforests. Often run by local communities, it’s a win-win with activities helping to reduce
poverty, contribute to economic growth and allow the promotion of natural and cultural sites conservation.

Whale watching

For an adventure of a different type whale watching is one of the most exciting activities you can do. And it all happens in the small south coastal town of Mirissa where from November to April each year regular sightings of blue whales, some up to 30-metres, are common when feeding in the warm, krill-rich waters.