Animal World (sri lanka)
Elephant watching..................................................................
Elephant watching made easy
Sri Lanka is renowned for Elephants and rightly so since there is a huge Elephant population in Sri Lanka for a relatively small country. It is no secret that Elephant watching and Elephant back safaris are one of the main attractions for tourists. With the end of the civil war there is a huge increase in the number of the tourists the wildlife and tourism ministries are smoothing the way for eager tourists who are looking to get a glimpse of the Elephants. There are many places where you can see the Elephants in Sri Lanka and while some places are fun and entertaining some places could be a little dangerous. One sure things is you will definitely see an Elephant in the below mentioned places but they are a bit hard to spot in some national parks.
Elephant Back Riding is very popular among tourists
National Zoological Gardens - Easiest and the nearest place
Since most of the tourists prefer to stay in Colombo the easiest and the nearest place you can watch Elephants is in the National Zoological gardens in Dehiwela. Its about a half an hour drive from Colombo and there are 10-20 Elephants in the Zoo. There are Elephant back rides available if you are interested at that. One of the most popular items with the tourists is the Elephant show at around 4PM where the Elephants perform some acts to entertain the crowds. The trip to the zoological garden itself is a great experience because you can view lots of tropical animals especially if you are coming from European countries
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - watch and study Elephants in semi-wild conditions
Pinnawela is an Elephant orphanage which is situated near Kegalla town which is about a two hour drive from Colombo. This is a breeding place for Elephants as well as a place to take care of injured Elephants because of various human activities. There is also a research center where you can study Elephants. Bottle feeding baby elephants and watching them take a bath in the river in semi-wild conditions are two of the main attractions. Check out Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.
Udawalawe National Park
Of all the national parks or reserves in Sri Lanka this is the best national park to see Elephants. Even during the mid day when Elephant usually go into the bush you can see plenty of Elephants. Another great thing about Udawalawe National park is that Elephants are somewhat used to people so you have a very good chance of getting pretty close to the Elephants. Although I really couldn't see much of a difference other than the size according to the guide that went with us there are three types of Elephants in Udawalawe and you have a very good chance of seeing all of them in one visit.
Wasgamuwa National Park
Home of the notorious "Kane Hila" Wasgamuwa national park if famous for Elephants that charge and hit safari jeeps. Most of these charges are mock charges but some do actually get hit while visiting there. One main reason for this is somewhat adventurous drivers who gets very close to Elephants and provokes them. This is another national park full of elephants so you must be very very unlucky if you didn't see and elephant over here. If you are the adventurous type and want's something a bit more thrilling than just watching elephants then Wasgamuwa is the place to be.
Its hard not to see an Elephant in Sri Lanka
Almost all national parks in Sri Lanka have elephants so it is almost impossible not to see an Elephant if you go in the right time. The best times to see elephants are from 6AM to 8AM in the morning and after 5PM in the evenings. In places like Udawalawe and Wasgamuwa you can see them almost any time of the day. Although the most famous national park in Sri Lanka its a bit difficult to see elephants in Yala national park but you should be good in any other national park
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Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka brings in multifaceted joys. The majestic beast, the locations in close proximity to the cultural attractions and the terrain rich with bird life all add up to bring in memorable experiences to the tourists holidaying in Sri Lanka. Elephant Back Safaris are one of the newest and most thrilling safari experiences in Sri Lanka. These Elephant Back Safari not only make it possible to view wildlife from the back of an elephant, but perhaps more importantly, provide the unique opportunity to share a day in the life of the elephant.
Elephant Back Safaris not only make it possible to view wildlife while riding an elephant, but also to view the wildlife enthusiasts chances to be familiar with the nature and behavior of tamed Elephants. The holiday makers may opt to share a day with the majestic beast by picnicking in the bush in the shadow of the elephant or by swimming, grooming, feeding the elephant too. The most popular locations of Elephant Back Safaris are Habarana, Sigiriya and Kaudulla.
Carriage of guests in Elephant Back Safari
All Elephant Back Safaris are accompanied by the mahout. A wooden saddle, a basket like enclosure upon a wooden platform is large enough to carry four passengers. Riders needs to be on alerts to stoop down on and off to being knocked by the overhanging branches of trees along the path.
Habarana, the most popular area for Elephant Back Safari
Habarana located 210km north east from Colombo is the transit point of the large herds of wild elephants at the National Parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla. Habarana is a popular location among the wildlife enthusiasts and nature tourists. Moreover, Habarana being the central location of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, the culture tourists touring therein too grab the opportunity to enjoy an Elephant back safari in Habarana. The irrigation reservoirs and waterways of the area bring in a riverine terrain where the elephants would wade through, or swim to reach the banks in the farther end. The ride would also takes place over the main road, the pathways, villages, jungles, swamp and river.
The best period for Elephant Back Safaris at Habarana is during March to July when the water level of the river is high enough to ride the elephant, with a good part of it submerged. From August to November the level of water of the river is low. December to February being the rainy season at Habarana, river would in full flow.
Elephant Back Safaris at Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park
A ten minute drive east of Habarana is Minneriya National Park famous for large herds of elephants. A fifteen minute drive north east is Kaudulla National Park, another regular tourist attraction in view of its large herds of elephants. Elephant back safariin these National parks afford opportunities to enjoy the sight of wild elephants as well as the birdlife.
The Elephant, the riders and the mahout
The tamed elephants are accompanied by mahouts carrying a lightweight spear-like bull hooks. Elephant Back Safaris afford the opportunity to riders to be familiar with behavior of the elephants.
Elephant Back Safaris at Yala National Park
Elephant Back Safaris at Yala National Park brings in the chance to enjoy the sights of wildlife and birdlife that abound in the wilderness. Yala National Park is one of the popular National Parks in Sri Lanka.
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Accommodation - for this bird watching tour:
in Sri Lanka, covered in our tour plan
Anuradhapura - Flourished more than Two Thousand years ago. Greatest of the islands three most famous ruined cities, birth place of Sinhala royalty and national capital from the third century B.C. to the 10 th Century A.D. Countless fascinating ruins including Sri Maha Bodhi Bo tree - The oldest historical recorded tree in the world. Anuradhapura is in the heart of the tank country in which was developed distinctive Sinhala irrigation system and hence the distinctive Sinhala economy and culture.
Polonnaruwa- The medieval capital of Sri Lanka , more than one thousand years old. Polonnaruwa peaked during the reign of king Parakramabahu the great, when Sri Lanka had an empire extending into India . See its places and Public Hall, Shrines and temple, the massive but exquisite Gal Vihare sculptures, carved in living granite and the mammoth Sea of Parakrama.
Sigiriya- This is the rock fortress, which was the pleasure palace of the a single King called Kashyapa in the 5 th century A.D. In a pocket of the giant rock are the famous frescoes of the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya.
Dambulla Cave Temple - A vast isolated rock mass like Sigiriya was one of the retreats chosen by a Sinhala King, when he was driven by South Indian King in the 1 st Century B.C. On re-gaining his throne, he turned caves which had sheltered him into a rock temple.
Kandy - This is the capital of the Hill Country and is a World Heritage City. Home to the famous Temple of The Tooth, remains the Sinhalese cultural and spiritual Centrex, one of the top attractions in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka to be expected in this bird watching tour
Endemic Birds to Sri Lanka:
Sibly and Monroe, Who revised the recent modern Bird Taxonomy in 1990, have mentioned that there are 23 numbers of birds species, are endemic to Sri Lanka. Later in 1994 Priyantha Wijesinghe in his Bird Checklist of Sri Lanka has increased the number to 26. Then, in 2004 Pamela C. Rasmussen, in her book on Birds of South Asia (Rasmussen and Anderton) further increased the number to 33.
Birds found only in Sri Lanka and India
Globally threatened birds found in Sri Lanka
Critical - none
Endangered
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Links for more information
Migration routes of birds to and from Sri Lanka
According to the geographical location in the Indian Continent, the land of Sri Lanka is situated at the extreme southern point beyond the south of India. The stretch of ocean from here to the south pole contains no other land. Hence, for the migrant birds that travel south from India, Sri Lanka is the final destination.
There are 3 flying routes across India along which immigrant birds come to Sri Lanka. These are – the western route, the eastern route and the Andaman Island route.
THE WESTERN ROUTE
From the northern and northwestern parts of the world along the western coastal line of India, then towards the extreme south of India, which is commarin point. Then they fly across this coast and arrive in Sri Lanaka mostly across this coastal line between Mannar and Kaluthara.
The migrant birds take this route initially from Europe, West Asia including western Siberia, & from the western regions of Himalaya including Kashimir.
THE EASTERN ROUTE
From the northern and northeastern parts of the world, along the Eastern coast line of India, towards the south. Passing the coastline between Kalmier point and Ramesvaran, which is further south these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka from India, from East Asia which includes eastern Sibiria and Mongolia, from the Eastern regions of Himalaya including Tibet, these migratory birds fly along this route initially.
ANDAMAN ISLANDS ROUTE
Apart from the above-mentioned two routes there is still another route to the North Eastern coast of Sri Lnaka, which is the Andaman Islands flying route. This route falls across the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. It is believed that these migratory birds arrive in Sri Lanka along this route from south East Asia and the East each year.
Each year the migratory season commences in October and ends in April – May in the following year. Very often, the birds take the same route they arrived. However, some birds return along different routes.
The departure of these birds flying across Kalpitiya in large flocks is a fascinating sight. The beauty of thousands of birds departing at the same time from dew-drop shaped Jaffna as they leave the country is an unforgettable memory, etched in the minds of those who experience this splendid sight.
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