Loading search...
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
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 (Inc flights)
£2,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
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
Grading
Gentle Day WalksEveryone 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
2025
2026
Array
(
[175] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 175
[parent_id] => 165
[level] => 2
[path] => tour-focus/bargain-mammal
[title] => Bargain mammal
[alias] => bargain-mammal
[description] => Bargain Mammal Watching
Naturetrek offers a wide selection of long-haul wildlife holidays primarily focusing on mammals. These tours offer an intensive mammal-centred focus, outstanding value for money and top quality sightings. They are led by at least one expert local English-speaking naturalist, and visit countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and more.
Naturetrek Bargain mammal Holidays
These tours are best suited to keen, active mammal-watching enthusiasts – whether expert or beginner – and people looking for an action-packed mammal-focused tour.
Our bargain mammal-watching tours offer:
- An expert English-speaking local naturalist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk mammal-watching with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable mammal lists!
- Focused searches for endemic species, while also looking for non-endemics
Naturetrek’s selection of bargain mammal-watching holidays includes tours to the Americas in Brazil, Peru and Panama. In Africa our selection includes Botswana, Zambia, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in Asia we offer bargain mammal tours to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Borneo.
Our specialist recommends...
“I’d recommend Ecuador – Amazonian Mammals for a good introduction to South America’s rainforest mammals. In Africa, it’s hard to beat our Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park holiday for its combination of Leopards, other ‘big game’ and first-class accommodation! In Asia, try India – Bandhavgarh National Park for Tigers and other Indian mammals.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/6wx9O1cRFQUm/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] => Bargain mammal
[note] => 18
[parent] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 165
[parent_id] => 1
[level] => 1
[path] => tour-focus
[title] => Tour Focus
[alias] => tour-focus
[description] =>
[params] => stdClass Object
(
[category_layout] =>
[image_az] =>
[image_alt] =>
)
[metakey] =>
[note] =>
)
)
[186] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 186
[parent_id] => 165
[level] => 2
[path] => tour-focus/mammals
[title] => Mammal Watching
[alias] => mammals
[description] => Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
[params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/6wx9O1cRFQUm/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => Mammals [note] => 08 [parent] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 165 [parent_id] => 1 [level] => 1 [path] => tour-focus [title] => Tour Focus [alias] => tour-focus [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => [note] => ) ) )
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!
Video
