Another amazing adventure for me - this time in Sri Lanka, 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean', and with a friend!
Our excellent decision was to join the Sri Lanka Wildlife Photo Safari by Bobby-Jo Safaris. She of my Serengeti & Indian Adventures - knowledgeable, smart, funny, kind and an outstanding photographer. Our journey consisted of many good things - the wildlife was mostly cooperative while the weather was mostly hot, humid and sunny with a bit of a downpour at times. Many thanks to my friend Karen and our travel companions Fiona, Julie, Lynn and Maxine with Bobby-Jo and Mevan for making this an enjoyable, memorable journey.
We added an engaging people focused photography experience to the journey - that page is still a work in progress.
YALA NATIONAL PARK
It's a 6 hour drive from Colombo to Yala NP where we spend 3 nights at the Yala Chalets by Lalan Leisure.
It's a six hour drive to Yala
Yala Chalets
Fresh fruit in abundance
Yala combines a strict nature reserve with a national park. Divided into 5 blocks, the park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons. Two blocks are currently opened to the public. Zone 1 is mostly flooded right now due to the sporadic early rains - we visit zone 5.
Situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule. Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks, and crocodiles. The best time to visit Yala is usually between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.
Early morning - park entry
Lunch stop
It was yummy
As startled as we were
The downpour is brief
The Guardians
Tourists behaving badly
Weheragala Reservoir
Pond Heron - they're everywhere!
Purple Heron
Purple Heron Preening
Rose-ringed parakeets
Crested Hawk Eagle
Crested Snake Eagle
Little green bee-eater
Itchy
Indian Roller
Egret & Hyacinths
Water Lillies
Giant Cealotrope
White-throated Kingfisher
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Plain Prinia
Curlew
Chital
Monsooning
Still smiling
Lunch spot
The trees are amazing
Everyone's listening for alarm calls to find leopards
Peafowl - Yala NP
Malabar pied Hornbill - female
Malabar pied Hornbill - male
Tufted Grey Langur
Toque Macaque
Bengal Monitor Lizard
Rose-ringed parakeets
Leopardess
Although Kumana NP borders Yala NP, there is no direct road and we travel many hours to reach Aragum Bay. Our last park stop is to view the fruit bat colony.
Fruit Bats
KUMANA NATIONAL PARK
Bus Station
Garden Centre
Juxtaposition
Rice fields
Located in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, the 18,149 hectares Kumana National Park is a well-known eco-tourism attraction and bird sanctuary where a multitude of birds breed and roost. Besides the prolific birdlife, the park is also home to some of the large mammals such as Elephants and Leopards. The vegetation consists mainly of mangrove trees, kumbuk trees and the karan fern, as well as the open marsh area.
Our visit to Kumana starts with a visit to the 'Behold the Turtle' conservation project. This initiative involves collecting turtle eggs, safeguarding them in a hatchery, and releasing the hatchlings into the sea. The project aims to protect endangered sea turtle species and promote biodiversity. An activity we were lucky enough to witness twice thanks to our dedicated, connected guide @MevanPiyasena.
Nest 62 contained 90 eggs
They're Loggerhead, Green and Olive Ridleys
Karen doing her thing!
Image courtesy @bobbyjophotography
Out guide spotted the Croc
Salt Water Crocodile
Mugger Crocodile
Mugger Croc Juvenile
Sri Lanka bronze skink
We return frequently to check for Leopards
Golden Jackal
Yes, we were caught in the downpour
Tusker - only 10% of males have visible tusks in Sri Lanka - no females have visible tusks.
Trucking Through - Large male in Musth
Reaching for the best browse
Pheasant tailed Jacana
& chick
Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters
Love you and leave you
Black-winged Stilt
Stone Curlew (Thick Knee)
Welcoming committee
When it's rainy season
There is a road around the shore
We are on the road!
Getting around is occasionally a challenge.
Greater adjutant Stork
Black-necked Stork
Painted Stork
Asian Open-billed Stork
Eurasian Spoonbill
Chital Stag
Black-necked Hare
Bengal Monitor Lizard - Big Boy!
Brown Fish Owl
Little Cormorant aka Indian Cormorant
Crested Hawk Eagle - Juvenile
Lunch Break - Crested Hawk Eagle - Adult
Pin-tailed Snipe
Leopards & Water lilies
A final sunset in Kumana
POLONNARUWA
"Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. " ~ UNESCO
HURULU ECO PARK
There are three national parks in close proximity - Minneriya, Kaudulla and the Hurulu Eco Park. All three are immensely popular for their large herds of elephants. From December, they migrate to Hurulu Eco Park to find food and shelter, and remain until June.
WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK
Soup
Veggie Roll
Veggie Balls
A Western Dinner
Banana Fritter
Image @bobby-jo photography
