Sri Lanka's Tropical Flora

From a casual inspection of a map it may appear that the tropical island of Sri Lanka is a mere adjunct of southern India; in reality there are many differences between the two countries, not least the stunning flora and fauna which demonstrate more affinities with South-east Asia than with the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lanka is a lush, verdant country in which plant growth flourishes; indeed it is often said that almost anything placed in the ground will grow within days! This attribute was fully exploited by the various colonists occupying the island over the centuries, and each in turn added to the diversity of species through their ornamental and commercial introductions. In this way an extraordinary flora has developed, rich in unique endemic species but also augmented by a myriad of additions from all corners of the world.

For many years our holidays have enabled hundreds of clients to enjoy the wonderful birdlife and natural history of Sri Lanka but this tour is the first to celebrate the island’s flora, including not only native orchids and rare endemics but also trees and plants grown for their fruits or vegetables, and the oddities from around the globe which form the collections in Victorian botanical gardens. This will be a holiday for everyone with a love of the botanical world but, along the way, we will also encounter many of the endemic birds, colourful butterflies and more than a glimpse of Sri Lankan culture.

We fly first to the capital, Colombo, and following a morning of relaxation after the overnight flight, begin the tour with a visit to the coastal lagoons of Muthurajawela Sanctuary to observe a complex mangrove community which includes Acrostichum speciosum, the Mangrove Fern, and Nypa fruticans, the Mangrove Palm.

Leaving the coast, we drive inland to the famous rock fortress of Sigiriya where we spend an interesting two days investigating the semi-deciduous forests which surround this imposing monolith. The vegetation here comprises many flowering plants including Calatropis gigantea(Sodom’s Apple), Capparis zeylanica, Cassia fistula, Crataeva adansonii, Ochnalanceolata, Martynia diandra(Tiger’s Claws) and tree species such as Drypetes spp., Manilkara hexandraand Diospyros ebanum. Energetic tour members may also wish to scale Sigiriya rock to see the remains of the one-time capital city or simply to enjoy the breathtaking views.

From Sigiriya we then drive into the ‘Hill Country’ to historic Kandy, once the capital of an autonomous kingdom until captured by the British in the 18th century. During three days of exploration we will see many of the characteristic fruit trees of Sri Lanka such as Mango, Guava, Breadfruit and Jack, plantations of Teak, Rubber, Cocoa, and of course Tea which now represents the major industry of the hill region. Peradiniya Botanical Gardens, occupying a picturesque setting near the city, spans 147 acres and contains a staggering variety of plants including an avenue of Coco-de-mer Palms, the National Herbarium, a native orchid house and many other attractions. A noisy roost of several thousand Flying Foxes also adds to the exotic background for our visit! Whilst in Kandy we will also have the opportunity to see the famous Temple of the Tooth, beside Kandy Lake, and to attend a performance of traditional dancing which includes spectacular fire-walking!

Ascending higher into the hills, passing one tea estate after another and through stunning scenery, we eventually reach the hill capital Nuwara Eliya where we will be based for two nights. Situated at an elevation of 2,000 metres, the air is cooler here and pine trees grow beside the very British golf course and race track! A day excursion will take us across Horton Plains, a place of exceptional beauty and wilderness fringed by a cloudforest of peculiarly stunted, lichen-covered trees. A number of endemic birds and lizards occur on this great plateau and the vegetation is as unique as the location, containing countless species peculiar to the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Passing through yet more wonderful scenery, we descend next to the hot plains, stopping along the way to examine the typical flora and vegetation of different altitudes, including the interesting montane forest at Thanamalai which boasts many orchids, ferns and balsams among its ground vegetation. We stay for two nights close to the internationally renowned Sinharaja Forest. This world biosphere reserve is a quite remarkable reservoir of all that is unique about Sri Lanka. Most of the island’s endemic bird species may be found in the reserve, whilst a significant proportion of the insects, reptiles and trees in Sinharaja are also peculiar to the island, and the flora is equally exceptional. Delicate Bamboo Orchids and pitcherplants grow beside the main track into the forest and closer inspection of the vegetation will reveal an extraordinary wealth of species including masses of epiphytes, ferns and orchids.

After our foray into this unforgettable forest, we return to Colombo for our flight back to London, or join our exciting extension in search of Blue Whales.