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Sri Lanka's Elephants & other Wildlife
Tour Code: LKA04An 11-day celebration of Sri Lanka's Asian Elephants with visits to several premier reserves.
£3,495
£2,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The tropical island of Sri Lanka is the best place in the world in which to see Asian Elephants. Elephants are still relatively numerous in Sri Lanka and this wildlife holiday is timed to coincide with their annual migration through Minneriya National Park where several hundred elephants may be seen in a day. Then we’ll we drive through the picturesque Hill Country to visit in turn, Yala National Park and Uda Walawe National Park. Many more elephants and a wide variety of other mammals and birds inhabit both of these splendid parks. The highlight, though, is often Leopard, which we have a good chance of seeing here. For a taste of the island’s rich culture, we also visit the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya.
- Herds of Asian Elephants
- Many other Asian mammals & a good chance of Leopard
- Abundant birdlife including endemic species
- Superlative scenery
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Tasty cuisine
- Exotic tropical flora and butterflies
- Learn from our popular local naturalist tour leader
Everyone loves Elephants, or so it seems, but in a world with ever increasing human demands for space and natural resources the wild Elephant is inevitably the loser. Elephants are self-evidently big creatures, with a capability of devouring 200kg of green matter each day, so it is not surprising that just a few animals can wreak tremendous damage to farmland, creating disastrous potential for conflict with local villagers. There is evidence that Asian Elephants were once widely distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent but almost inevitably it has proved impossible for large numbers of Elephants to live alongside man. Today the mighty tusker is regarded as an endangered species with only small numbers surviving in widely fragmented remnants of their former range. Despite a growing human population, significant numbers of Asian Elephants may still be seen on the tropical island of Sri Lanka and this is the destination of our exciting tour which aims to not only observe wild Elephants in their natural habitat but also to provide some insight into the cultural importance of the animal and how the conflicts with humans are being addressed by conservationists. The Elephant is intrinsically part of the history, tradition, myths and culture of the island, a status celebrated by the annual Perahera ceremony which takes place in Kandy each August, during which ornately decorated Elephants parade through the streets of the city. The famous Elephant orphanage is situated close to the city and later in the tour we will have the opportunity to enjoy somewhat closer encounters with jumbos and maybe even help in washing the youngsters! This tour is a celebration of all things elephantine but along the way we are guaranteed to see a splendid selection of Sri Lankan birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies, as well as many glimpses of Sri Lankan culture.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: Three or four star tourist hotels are used throughout the tour, most with swimming pools and other amenities. Twin rooms with private facilities (single rooms being available on request)
- Food: Included with the price of the tour.
Extensions
Sinharaja extension
Dates & Prices
2026
2027
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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