PROGRAMME :
DURATION : 7 Days.
PERIOD :Valid till 31-October-2005

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 - Waikkala (HB)
Arrival and transfer to a hotel in “Waikkala”.

WAIKKALA is located in the Puttalam District, which falls into the dry zone category. Waikkala is in the midst of marine, coastal, estuarine, mangroves, marshland and man made habitat systems. All of these have contributed to the avifaunal diversity visible in the immediate surrounding. Much of the avifauna is characterististically wetland.

SOME OF THE BIRDS IN WAIKKALA
More than 60 species of birds can be observed here. Eg: Common sandpiper, little ringed plover, Purple coot, Painted stork, Stork-billed kingfisher and others.

SCHEDULE
Arrival & transfer to a hotel in Waikkala At leisure after a long flight Dinner & overnight stay in the same hotel at Waikkala.

Day 2 - Waikkala – Bodinagala – Wadduwa (HB)
Morning Bird watching trail with a boat tour. Leaving to Wadduwa after a late breakfast.

BODHINAGALA
This is a forest reserve belonging to the western zone category, with an extent of about 50 acres and is situated at Ingiriya in the Kalutara district. This small patch of lowland, being a natural rainforest, is home to many species of endemic flora and fauna. It is close to Colombo and therefore holds a specific importance.
The bird life of this area has the highest species diversity, with 151 being recorded, of which 9 are endemic. The most important record was the identification of the Green- billed Coucal, which is regarded as one the rarest endemic birds in Sri Lanka. We will see many more species including the Alexandrine Parakeet, Brown-headed Barbet and the Brown-breasted and Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers.

SCHEDULE
After an early morning Bird Watching trail at Ranweli & breakfast, proceed to Wadduwa via Bodinagala. On the way visit “Bodhinagala Forest for a birding trail. Lunch on the way to Wadduwa Dinner & overnight stay in a hotel at Wadduwa.

Day 3 - Wadduwa – Singharaja (HB)
Leaving to Singharaja Rain Forest from Wadduwa.

SOME OF THE BIRDS IN SINGHARAJA RAIN FOREST
Sinharaja rain forest, which is a world heritage site, may be described either as a Tropical Lowland Rainforest or Tropical wet evergreen forest. Birding in this ecosystem is very interesting. 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka have been recorded in Sinharaja.
Sinharaja is the best location to observe the flock behaviour of birds We will be looking for Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Blue Magpie and Spot-winged Thrush, Endemic White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Myna amongst others. Also keep an eye out for the endemic purple-faced leaf monkeys moving through the canopy, and the impressive grizzled Indian squirrel.

SCHEDULE
The breakfast will be served early to take the guests on their long journey with a packed lunch to the Sinharaja rain forest, which is a world heritage site. Arrival at the gate entrance for a forest exploration. Dinner & night stay over at martins lodge.

Day 4 - Singharaja – Udawalawe - Embilipitiya (HB)
Leaving Singharaja Rain Forest to Udawalawe.

SOME OF THE BIRDS IN UDWALAWE
This 30821 hectares dry zone game park was declared as a protected national park in 1972. It has an annual rainfall of 1524 mm and an average temperature of 29.40C. This park is world famous for it’s elephants. You will see whole herds of them, adults and young, bathing and playing in the water or feeding.
The safari will also be an unforgettable bird watching experience as Udawalawe has a wide variety of birds. The endemic species, the Red-faced Malkoha, has its favourite habitat in this parkland. Serpent Eagles, Hawk Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Black Eagles, Black Capped Bulbuls, Racket-tailed Drongos, Malabar Pied Horn Bills, White-necked Storks, Open Bills, Ibis, Shama (the Forest Nightingale), Strol-billed Kingfishers and peacocks are found in fair numbers. Among the migrant birds are the forest wagtails, Indian Pitta, Whiskered Terns, Osprey Sand Pipers and Terns.

SCHEDULE
After a cup of tea followed by an early wakeup call, morning bird trail to the forest will be arranged. Back at the lodge for breakfast that will be served before leaving to “Udawalawe national park” with packed lunch. Arrival at the gate entrance for a safari in the afternoon. Finishing the safari proceed to Embilipitiya for dinner & night stay at a hotel there.

Day 5 - Embilipitiya – Kalamitiya – Bundala – Tissamaharama (HB)
Leaving Udawalawe to Tisasamaharama via Kalamitiya & Bundala.

KALAMETIYA sanctuary is situated in the Hambantota District and falls into the dry zone category. Major habitat types are lagoons, mangroves and scrublands. These lagoons support breeding colonies of pelicans, herons, egrets and open-billed stork and large wintering populations of migratory ducks and shorebirds.

SOME OF THE BIRDS IN BUNDALA
The high species richness of birds in the Bundala National Park resulted in it being declared as Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar site in 1990. A wetland of international importance for migratory waterfowl. The park consists mainly of dry thorny scrubland and lagoons. The highlight of Bundala is the migratory Greater Flamingo, which visits in large flocks of over 1000 individuals, from Rann of Kutch- India. In particular we may find Indian Cormorant, Yellow Bittern, Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons. The area is also famous for crocodiles.

SCHEDULE
Arrival at Kalamitiya for a bird watching experience. Packed lunch will be provided. After lunch proceed to Bundala for a wild life tour & bird watching tour. Finishing the tour in Bundala proceed to Tissamaharama for the night. Dinner & night stay at Tissa Rest house or similar hotel in Tissamaharama.

Day 6 - Tissamaharama – Horton Plains – Nuwara Eliya (HB)
After breakfast guest will be driven to Horton plains national park with packed Lunch.

SOME OF THE BIRDS IN HORTON PLAINS
Horton Plains is one of the countries outstanding nature reserves. It covers the renowned World’s End, a sheer drop of 3700ft which offers an awesome view. Other attractions include Bakers Falls and Chiminini Pool.

Horton Plains Nature Reserve is approximately 10,000 hectares in extent. A remote, high plateau, 2000m, supports grassland fringed and interspersed with patches of dense montane cloud forest. This locality is famous among bird watchers for the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. You will also be looking for the endemic Yellow-eared Bulbul, the fantailed warbler, the Ashy headed babbler and the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie. There are three varieties of lizards located here including the horned lizard.

SCHEDULE
Proceed to Horton Plains from Tissamaharama around 6am. (a 5hrs drive . approx) Arrival at Horton Plains around 11 am for the bird watching & wild life trail.(soft trail for 6km) Lunch at Horton Plains . After lunch proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Evening at leisure after a city tour. Dinner & night stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 7 - Departure from Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast guest will be transferred to the Airport or the next destination.

- End of Programme -