Charles and Susan Anderson will be leading a very special tropical wildlife trip to Sri Lanka in April 2010. At this time of year Blue Whale are found just a couple of miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. They should provide us with some of the very best whale-watching in the World. In addition to the many Blue Whale we may also see Sperm Whale, several species of Dolphin, and a good variety of seabirds. And while whale-watching will be the primary focus of these trips, there will also be opportunities to visit nature reserves on land, as well as historical and cultural sites, and to relax. This holiday concludes with a trip to Udawalawe National Park for wild Elephants. Trip DetailsOur HotelsThis holiday is land-based, and we will stay for most of the time at the 5* Lighthouse Hotel and Spa in Galle. This splendid hotel is idyllically situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the tropical Indian Ocean. The rooms are airy and spacious, and have private balconies with views out over the ocean. There are two pools, a spa, a sports centre, and a wide choice of dining. Our stay here is on a bed and breakfast basis; the cost of other meals is reasonable. The Lighthouse is a “Small Luxury Hotel” and a wonderful, relaxing place to base ourselves. Details at:
Our hotels at other locations will be: Boat TripsWe will make six excursions out to the whales. For this we use the 54’ (16m) Spirit of Dondra. She has shade over part of the deck, a toilet, and an experienced local crew. This operation was set up after the 2004 tsunami to provide employment for local young men from affected families. They are now established as the premier whale watching operation on the south coast. The boat is based at a small harbour, just a 40-minute drive from Galle, along the scenic coastal road. There is a toilet at the jetty. March-April is the calmest time of year, so we do expect good conditions. It is normally particularly calm in the mornings, so we will leave early, taking a packed breakfast with us. We often see Blue Whales in less than an hour of leaving port. So our 4-6 hour excursions should give us plenty of time to spend with these giants. If conditions are suitable we may venture a bit further offshore to an area where Sperm Whales are frequently recorded. We are also likely to encounter a few species of dolphin. Other ExcursionsOur whale-watching trips will occupy us for six full mornings. The remainder of the afternoons (and one full day) at Galle will be free to relax, or take part in a landbased excursion. These may include: Galle Fort. The old town of Galle is enclosed within the walls of a 17th century Dutch Fort. Much of historical interest remains, and the whole Fort is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wandering on the ramparts and exploring the narrow streets will be a real highlight for many. Martin Wickramasinge Folk Museum. Martin Wickramasinge was a famous Sri Lankan author, and his family home has been preserved as a Folk Museum. It houses memorabilia from the author’s life as well as a good selection of early agricultural and countryside artifacts. However, for us the main attraction of the Museum is the garden and its wonderful birdlife. Hiyare Rainforest Reserve. At Hiyare the rainforest is quite open, and there are expansive views over a reservoir. It is a wonderfully peaceful location, where animal highlights may include monkeys, Giant Squirrels and a fabulous selection of birds. Kurulu-bedda Mangrove. Just outside Galle, and less than a mile from the Lighthouse Hotel this patch of riverside mangrove is home to a fascinating variety of wildlife, including Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys. ItineraryDay 1. Thurs 8 April. Arrival in Sri Lanka. Arrive
at Bandaranayake International Airport and transfer to 5* Mount
Lavinia Hotel just south of Colombo. Remainder of day at leisure
(the Mount Lavinia overlooks the sea, has a large pool, two restaurants,
and is within easy reach of the city centre by bus or taxi).
Day 2. Fri 9 April. Head to Galle. After a leisurely
breakfast, drive south along the coast road to Galle. The journey
will take about 3 hours, and we will have a short drinks break.
We will also be looking out along the way for birds such as Kingfishers
and Drongos. Check in to the 5* Lighthouse Hotel, our home for the
next week. Days 3-5. Sat 10 to Mon 12 April. Whale -watching. Three days of whalewatching, with a 4-6 hour boat excursion every morning. In the afternoons there may be opportunities to visit local cultural and natural history sites, or to relax at the hotel. Day 6. Tues 13 April. Today is Singhalese and Tamil New Year. At leisure. Days 7-9. Wed 14 to Fri 16 April. Whale -watching. Three more days of whalewatching, with a 4-6 hour boat excursion every morning. On one afternoon we will visit a local cultural or natural history site, on the other we will relax at the hotel. Day 10. Sat 17 April. Transfer to Udawalawe. After a sumptuous buffet breakfast we say goodbye to the Lighthouse Hotel. We travel by coach along the south coast, past the famous Dondra Head Lighthouse, and on to Tangalle, where we will stop for refreshments. After Tangalle the road passes through expansive wetlands, where we can expect to spot Egrets, Storks and Stilts among others. Then we head inland to Embilipitiya, near to Udawalawe National Park. The journey will take about 4-5 hours, depending on how many times we stop for birds and other attractions. Check in to the 2* Centauria Hotel. Day 11. Sun 18 April. Elephants! Morning game
drive in Udawalawe National Park to see Elephants, other wildlife
and a host of birds. Wild Elephants are the main attraction, and
we do expect to see many at home in the savanna-like landscape.
We can also expect to see several other mammal species, such as
Spotted Deer or Mongoose, and a host of birds. We will return to
our hotel for lunch in the heat of the midday. In the late afternoon
join a gentle bird walk in the hotel gardens and surrounds. We will
be on the lookout for Malabar Pied Hornbills, Stork-billed Day 12. Mon 19 March. More Elephants, then head
North. A second morning game drive in Udawalawe National Park, for
more Elephants and much other wildlife. Day 13. Tues 20 April. Flight home. Morning transfer
(about 20 minutes drive) to Dates & Cost 8 - 20 April 2010 (12 Nights) £1,790 per person. Trip dates are for time in Sri Lanka. Add on time at each end to
include international Single Supplement is £290
Includes: Bed and breakfast accommodation (plus one dinner hosted by Chas and Susan); six whale watching excursions; other excursions while at Galle; naturalist guides; all land transport. Lunches and dinners while at Embilipitya; Udawalawe National Park permits. Does not include: International flights; insurance; drinks; most lunches and dinners (prices are very reasonable - £25 pp per day for food and drinks should be sufficient); airport taxes; gratuities; personal items. In view of uncertainty about future oil prices, we reserve the right to pass on any fuel supplement if necessary. Payment schedule: To confirm your booking we will
require a non-refundable £300 deposit per person. The balance
should be paid no later than three months before departure. Flights: You will need to arrange flights to Sri
Lanka. Scheduled airlines flying to Sri Lanka from UK include Emirates
(EK), Sri Lankan (UL) and
Qatar Airways (QR). Note that both Easter
and Sri Lankan New Year are in April, so this is a busy time for
flights; do book early. Our trips are timed to coincide with the
following flights: Stopovers On Emirates you do have the option of a stopover in Dubai, while
on Qatar Airways you could stopover in Doha. Both are very pleasant
modern cities. Contact DetailsFor booking, enquiries and full details including suggested flights, please contact: Please Quote "BDRP Sri Lanka 10-1" when booking. Dr Charles Anderson Tel & Fax 00 960 3327024
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Blue
Whales and Elephants
