Sri Lanka: An Island to Rival a Continent
Product Manager Ian Loyd introduces our new tour to Sri Lanka in search of its secretive mammals. Here we reveal just how much Sri Lanka has to offer the wildlife enthusiast as we seek out and celebrate its spectacular smaller species.
For such a relatively small island, Sri Lanka really has it all. Considered one of the most biodiverse countries in Asia, and with a surprisingly large range of climatic zones and ecosystems, there's an abundance of wildlife to discover.
Deservedly famous for its large mammals, Sri Lanka offers some of the best elephant and leopard watching experiences on the continent. However, there are also many charismatic smaller mammals, which although elusive, are just as captivating to observe.
Many of Sri Lanka’s smaller, lesser-known species receive far less conservation support, so shining a spotlight on them through sensitive tourism can be an excellent tool to encourage local communities to conserve their habitats.
Starting our tour in Sri Lanka’s cultural heartland, we base ourselves at a beautiful lodge close to the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, where we have a patchwork of wetlands and forest habitats right on our doorstep. Our lodge’s very own private reserve provides a perfect protected haven for the nimble, saucer-eyed slender loris and two rare felines - the stockily-built fishing cat and the tiny rusty-spotted cat (the world’s smallest feline). Both species stalk these wetlands after nightfall.
On both night walks around our lodge’s private reserve, and on extended night drives in nearby habitats, we hope to encounter a variety of exciting, rare mammals. During the day, we can enjoy endemic primates varied birdlife, and visits to Kalawewa National Park, which is known for its dense population of elephants, including a high proportion of Sri Lanka’s rare tuskers.
From here we head west, taking a boat cruise in search of spinner dolphins through the sheltered waters of Kalpitiya Lagoon in search of its resident Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (colloquially known as ‘pink dolphins’) before reaching Wilpattu National Park, which only reopened to visitors in 2003. Here we enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in this densely forested park, seeking out its exquisite leopards and bold sloth bears in particular.
This huge, forested space supports one of the highest concentrations of leopard in Asia and is regarded as the best place in Sri Lanka to see the shaggy sloth bear. Amongst the lush monsoon forest and lakes known as ‘villus’, we also keep our eyes peeled for sambar, spotted and muntjac deer, water buffalo, wild boar, stripe-necked mongoose and giant squirrels. With ever-present and diverse birdlife, and impressive reptiles such as huge mugger crocodiles, Indian flapshell turtles, star tortoises and Bengal monitor lizards to discover, there's plenty of wildlife to capture our interest.
We explore the park again after dark. With the help of local guides, we search the paddy fields, forest edges and wetlands that border the park for a whole new cast of intriguing rare mammals. We hope to watch as an elegant jungle cat stalks the rodent-rich field margins, or discover a snuffling crested porcupine amongst the scrub, or maybe we'll observe a pair of golden jackals patrolling their territory, or spy a skulking spotted chevrotain. If all this wasn't enough, we also have the chance to find up to three species of civet.
Join us to discover another side to Sri Lanka. From our luxury lodges to exciting safaris and nighttime wildlife excursions, we step off the trodden path and celebrate Sri Lanka’s most remarkable mammals.
If you're interested in our Sri Lanka's Rare Mammals in Style tour, our friendly team are available to help - just contact them today.
