Transport
Wir haben online gebucht. Die Zeit am Voucher stimmte nicht mit dem eigentlichen Abholzeitraum überein, es macht durchaus einen Unterschied ob man um 5 Uhr oder um 3.45 Uhr abgeholt wird. Die Gruppe war sehr groß, und wir wurden in 4 Jeeps im Park durch die Gegend gefahren. Nur eine Gruppe hatte den Guide dabei und konnte so mehr über den Park erfahren, die anderen Jeeps mussten sich die Infos zusammenreimen. Alle anderen Jeeps hatten Gurte zum Anschnallen, außer unserer. Etwas fahrlässig.
If there's a single word that defines Sri Lanka, it's ‘wild'. This is a destination famous for its wildlife, particularly elephants. Udawalawe National Park, home to some 500 elephants, is considered the best park to spot them in the country. On this tour, you'll visit the park's Elephant Transit Home to see orphaned young elephants being fed and then tour the park in a 4x4 safari. Dilini, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘As well as being a top spot for elephant spotting, the park is great for bird enthusiasts, with over 180 avian species recorded. Keep your eyes peeled for various eagles, owls, herons, and waterfowl.'
First up, we'll visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are cared for after rescue from the wild. You'll arrive at feeding time so you can watch the little ones bottle-feed from a viewing platform just metres away. Once the elephants have been rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild, often straight into Udawalawe where they can rejoin the existing wild herds.
Udawalawe National Park is centred on a huge reservoir and features vast open grasslands, making wildlife spotting relatively easy as you set off by 4x4 vehicle on safari. It's a great place for spotting elephants, and the lack of tall vegetation makes it perfect for other animal-watching, too. In addition to elephants, you can expect to see water buffaloes, various deer, wild boars, macaques and crocodiles. And, if you're lucky, there's also the elusive Sri Lankan leopard to look out for. To top it off, lunch is included.