Here, you will see herds of elephants, water buffalo, sambar deer, monkeys, and even the occasional leopard, as well as many species of birds and butterflies. This is a rare opportunity to explore the wild side of Sri Lanka from Bentota.
The park is located less than an hour's drive from Bentota in grasslands and some mountainous areas at the foothills of the central highlands. This creates a mixed wet and dry climate zone, which is perfect for maintaining habitats for such diverse species; there are marshes, forests and grasslands. An elephant orphanage, Ath Athuru Sevana, is located within the park. It was founded to help protect the endangered Sri Lankan elephant, whose numbers are steadily increasing after decades of decline. It is not unusual to see whole herds of adults and calves, feeding or bathing and frolicking in the Walawe River and the surrounding wetlands. At the orphanage, you can see calves being bottle-fed. As many as 250 elephants are believed to live permanently in Udawalawe.
With luck, you'll also see flocks of colourful birds and flights of butterflies. Birds such as painted storks, Sri Lankan spurfowl, red-faced malkoha, white wagtail, cormorants, and black-headed ibis are often spotted, while more than 130 species of butterflies have been counted. There are also reptiles like mugger crocodiles, water monitors and snakes. Among the mammals are buffalo, boars, deer and many others.
Ever since it opened four decades ago, the refuge has been at the forefront of conservation projects and there are now 17 times more animals in the shelter, where they are fed, bathed and allowed to roam freely.
As you head inland, the climes become cooler, the landscapes more verdant and the countryside hillier. Located in the heart of the Kegalle district at the foot of the central highlands, the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was founded in 1975 with just five calves. Over the years, the refuge has grown in size and population and nowadays there are almost 100 of these gentle giants in the centre. On top of all the elephants rescued from the rainforests, there have been dozens of births at the shelter, with the first arriving in 1984.
The central tenet of the orphanage is that the animals can roam freely during the day and that a herd structure is allowed to form. Here they lead normal, happy lives. They are fed their breakfasts each morning - milk for the calves, leaves (mainly coconut) for the adults - and then taken to the River Maha Oya for a two-hour bath. Watch the elephants frolicking in the water; it is one of the most beautiful sights in nature. Enjoy a traditional lunch in Pinnawala before returning to Ahungalle.
This vibrant port city was known to ancient Greek and Roman traders and was colonised by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, leaving it with an architectural legacy that has made it one of the most attractive cities in South Asia. Discover the top sights and attractions such as the Gangaramaya Temple and the famous Pettah market.
Vibrant, bustling and colourful Colombo is a city that captures the heart of all visitors. Its mix of cultures, religions and languages merely adds to its aura and mystique. See how these combine with historic landmarks such as the Pettah Dutch Bell Tower at the Kaiman Gate.
Head to the historic district of Slave Island, where Portuguese and Dutch colonists held African captives, and admire the famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh, with its multicoloured gopuram packed with figures. See the stunning Gangaramaya Buddhist temple, which, like the city itself, blends old and new. Admire the banks of Buddhas and stupas, all perfectly in line.
Other places of interest are some of the city's residential areas, where you find stately homes of the affluent, and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, a gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of China. There is also the option to visit the House of Fashion the Premadasa Jewellery and Arts Centre, and the National Museum.
Discover one of the true treasures of Sri Lanka with a full-day tour of the sacred city of Kandy in the lush central highlands. This is an adventure into a world that many thought lost forever; see elephants frolicking in the water, wander through a fragrant spice garden and visit a tea estate before exploring the last ancient citadel of the Kingdom of Kandy. This tour has it all: wildlife, nature, scenery, history, culture, architecture and spirituality - the essence of Sri Lanka.
As you head inland, the climes become cooler, the landscapes more verdant and the countryside hillier. Visit an elephant orphanage, which has grown in size over the decades. When it opened there were just a handful of calves and today there are almost 100 of these gentle giants living in the refuge. After their breakfast, they are taken each morning for a bath -one of the most beautiful sights in nature.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, which includes the 200-year-old National Herbarium. Admire fields of orchids, be dwarfed by gigantic trees and inhale the aromas of the thousands of varieties of flowers, plants and spices. Explore a genuine tea plantation and learn about the production process of the world's favourite leaf, which despite the fame of Ceylon tea was introduced to Sri Lanka only in 1847.
Then bow before the majesty of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the jewel in the crown of the charming city of Kandy, which is located in a small wooded valley deep in the hills around a lake. Lunch will be in Kandy.
