They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the right location is what makes the perfect picture. Our photography tours can keep your hands glued to the camera with locations that overflow with wildlife and natures serene landscapes. We can deliver the memories that will last you a life time!
15 Day Tour
Visit the best destinations in Sri Lanka for wildlife, cultural and scenery photography on our 15 day Click! Click! Photography Tour
Arrive at the Bandaranayake International Airport, Katunayake and transferred to Kithulgala for one night. If time permits birding in the rubber plantation nearby (Depending on the flight arrival time)
Overnight stay in Kitulgala
After Breakfast visit Kithulgala Rain Forest Reserve for lowland endemics such as Green-billed Coucal.
Afternoon proceed to Sinharajah
Overnight stay in Sinharaja
After Break Fast a full day day at Sinharaja Rain Forest with the emphasis on endemic plants, reptiles and birds
Sinharaja is the last remaining primary lowland tropical rainforest in Sri Lanka. Its importance is recognized by UNESCO, and it is a must for wildlife enthusiasts. The forest is located about 30 kilometers (a couple of hours drive) from Ratnapura, in the south-west of the island. Everything about Sinharaja is special and the flora contains many endemic plants, animals and birds, including some 139 varieties of Sri Lanka’s 830 endemic trees! It is one of the few places that you can see the Blue-Faced Green Leaf Monkey and the Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot. Pretty Bamboo Orchids grow commonly beside the trails and many of the trees are adorned with epiphytes. A wonderful diversity of butterflies occur in the forest, including the spectacular Blue Morpho and Bird-Wings, dancing like windblown paper through the high canopy. Lizards are plentiful and the residents include a number of rare endemics. Although plenty of mammals inhabit Sinharaja, sightings are always a matter of luck. However, troupes of Purple-Faced Leaf Monkeys are likely to reveal their presence by the fearsome roaring calls of the males.
Sinharaja is noted for its birdlife, (much of which is endemic) including four eagles: Mountain Hawk, Black, Cresented Serpent and Rufous-Bellied. Some of the numerous other species include: Crested Goshawk, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Layard’s Parakeet, Red-Faced Malkoha, Green-Billed Coucal, Malabar Trogon, Brown-Backed Needletail, Chestnut-Backed Owlet, Yellow-Fronted Barbet, Black-Crested Bulbul, Yellow-Browed Bulbul, Spot-Winged Thrush, Orange-Billed Babbler, Ashy-Headed Laughing Thrush, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-Faced Starling, Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Myna and Black-Throated Munia. Even at mid-day it is possible to encounter one of the mixed species bird waves which usually comprise Orange-Billed Babblers in association with Crested Drongos, Malabar Trogons, Red-Faced Malkohas, Blue Magpies and a miscellany of other species
Overnight stay in Sinharaja
After Breakfast one more visit to Sinharaja and leave for Yala.
Overnight stay in Yala
A Full day, game drive to Yala National Park with emphasis on elephants and leopards. Yala’s star attraction, and one of the main reasons for our visit, is undoubtedly the Leopard. Yala west has one of the highest densities of Leopards in the world and is possibly the best place on earth to see and photograph this usually elusive species in the wild. Yala’s star attraction is also the magnificent Sloth Bear, and there is usually an individual, or mother Sloth Bear with cubs, which is tolerant of vehicles. During our game drives we will have an excellent chance of connecting with this seldom seen creature. Indeed, in June and July, when the Palu Trees begin to bear ripe fruit, Sloth Bears can be seen on most game drives!
Other conspicuous wildlife regularly seen at Yala which we may be able to point the lenses at includes the attractive Chital (or Spotted Deer), the large Sambar, Golden Jackal, Wild Boar, Tufted Grey Langur, Toque Macaque, Stripe-necked and Ruddy Mongooses and Black-naped Hare. Some pretty impressive reptiles are likely to crop up too, namely Marsh Crocodile and some rather large monitor lizards.
And then of course there are the birds. Yala has a very rich and varied avifauna, and over 300 species are known from the park. As we travel around on our safaris we will no doubt have opportunities to photograph a good number of these, with possibilities including such charismatic species as Ceylon Junglefowl and Great Thick-knee, and we may get to see some of the dry zone specialities such as Sirkeer and Blue-faced Malkohas and Malabar Pied Hornbill at close quarters.
Overnight stay in Yala
A full day, game drive to Yala National Park, with emphasis on elephants and leopards.
Overnight stay in Yala
After Breakfast game drive to Bundala National Park for dry zone birds and other fauna and flora.
Evening, Palatupana Lewaya (Salt Pan) for shore birds. The important wetland areas of Bundala Lewaya and the Kalametiya Reserve are located on the south coast, and are home to almost all water birds resident in Sri Lanka, as well as countless migratory birds between November and March. Highlights include Greater Flamingo, Lesser Adjutant and Painted Stork. Other common species are Marsh Sandpiper, Intermediate and Great Egrets, Brown-Capped Babbler, Asian Openbill, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-Winged Stilt, Golden Plover, Little Stint, and Curlew Sandpiper. Elephant, Chital, Grey Langur, Water Monitor and crocodile are also often seen, with Olive Ridley, and Leatherback Turtles nesting on the beaches from April to June
Overnight stay in Yala
After Breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya for two nights. En route, visit ancient monastic ruins of Buduruvagala . Pause at Ella Gap for landscape photography.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Very early start for a full day at Horton Plains National Park, for montane endemics. Horton Plains, Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau. This is a fascinating place, a mixture of open grassy expanses and patches of forest, much of the latter festooned with epiphytes. The scenery is spectacular and on clear days it is possible to see the distant summit of Adam’s Peak. At World’s End, the plateau drops steeply to the plains over 1,000 meters below and this becomes a swirling cauldron of cloud as the day progresses.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
After Break Fast at Hakgala Botanical Gardens for habituated purple faced leaf Monkeys. More opportunities for montane birds. Perched underneath the shadow of the Hakgala or Jaw Tooth rock, at an elevation of 1,670m, the beautifully landscaped Hakgala Botanical Gardens spread over nearly 3 sq kms. With magnificent views of the surrounding hills and the jungles of the Hakgala Nature Reserve, the gardens are filled with roses and orchids, eucalyptus, pine and camphor, fruit and scented herbs and rare ferns, an array of flowers and foliage from Sri Lanka and different parts of the world. An eminent British Botanist founded the Hakgala Botanical Gardens in 1860.
After lunch, leave for Kandy for two nights and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth. The Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) contains the most sacred relic of Buddhism and the most precious symbol of Sinhalese pride. Carried around by the ancient king, the tooth in question has witnessed all manners of calamities.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
After Breakfast full day at Knuckles for montane fauna and flora, some of which is confined to this range of mountains.
Overnight stay in Knuckles
After Breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Gardens and proceed to Sigiriya for two night stay. providing fantastic opportunities to photograph a wide range of bird species such as Purple Heron, Common and Pied Kingfishers, the impressive White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brahminy Kite and, if we are lucky, the superb Brown Fish-Owl. Among the reptiles, water and land monitors (huge lizards) are plentiful. Large numbers of Toque Macaques and Tufted Grey Langurs are also seen around the property, allowing fantastic opportunities to photograph primate behaviour. Asian Palm Civet, Golden Palm Civet and Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel are some of the other mammals seen regularly. En route we visit the Dambulla Rock Temple where we will be able to see the famous rock paintings and temples. The temples are comprised of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms. Within these rooms a collection of over 100 statues of Buddha is housed, surrounded by the ornately decorated walls. This spectacular site is worth visiting not just for its historical significance, but also for the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside as one climbs up the rock.
Overnight stay in Sigiriya
After Breakfast visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa Here, we will encounter troops of Toque Macaques, which were famously featured in both the BBC’s Temple Troop and David Attenborough’s Life of Mammals. Here, we will be intrigued by the power play between the Toque Macaques and Tufted Grey Langurs. Troops of the attractive northern race of the endemic Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys can also be found in this area. . In the evening, game drive to Minneriya or Kawdulla National Park for elephants. From July to October, anywhere from 100 to 300 Asian Elephants gather on the receding tank (lake) beds here. The gathering provides a fantastic opportunity to photograph elephants in many different situations, such as young elephants and calves at play, big males interacting with the herds in their search for potential mates whilst others are drinking, bathing and playing in the water.
The open areas around the lake are excellent for photographing raptors including Brahminy Kite, Grey-headed Fishing-Eagle and the majestic White-bellied Sea-Eagle. Toque Macaque, Tufted Grey Langur, Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel, Jackal and Chital (Spotted Deer) are some of the other mammals that we are likely to see and may be able to photograph.
Overnight stay in Sigiriya
After Breakfast; Climb Sigiriya Rock -Lion Rock. The dramatic story of this iconic rock centres on Prince Kasyappa, the son of King Dhatusena (459 – 477 AD). Being the King’s son by a non-royal consort, Kasyappa executed his own father to gain the throne. The Crown Prince, Mogaliana, fled to India in fear of his life. In order to protect himself from future attacks from the rightful king, Kasyappa made Sigiriya his capital and built a palace on the summit of the rock, elevated at around 650 feet. He then proceeded to use his artistic genius to create a vision of heaven on earth, making landscaped gardens with water pools, fountains and terraces. The moat around the Sigiriya sanctuary is another excellent site for photographing the Tufted Grey Langur and Toque Macaques, which are plentiful in the area and are the most photogenic of subjects. Over 150 species of birds have also been recorded here, and there is sure to be something of interest to point the cameras at, such as a Crested Hawk Eagle or a Greater Racket Tailed Drongo.
Afternoon proceed to a hotel close to Airport for overnight stay
Overnight stay in Katunayake
Proceed to Airport in time for departure
