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WildWings, 577 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol. BS16 3AF.UK
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Just a few miles off the coast of southern Sri Lanka in spring, good numbers of Blue Whales are found along with Sperm, Bryde’s and False Killer Whales plus a variety of dolphins including Spinners, Bottlenose, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose, Risso’s, Spotted and Striped! During the previous four years we have seen Blues 90% of the time out on the water, usually between 2-10 animals with encounters lasting up to an hour each time. WildOceans are pleased to offer these excellent holidays run by our good friends Chas and Sue Anderson, well known for putting the Maldives, then the Seychelles and now Sri Lanka on the map in cetacean terms. Our small groups and exclusive use boats mean more time at sea and uncrowded views of the whales and dolphins we encounter. Add looking for Leopards and Wild Elephants plus other mammals, lots of birds, butterflies and dragonflies and you have the recipe for a superb natural history trip!
There are two itineraries on offer for 2011.
Blue Whales, Leopards and Elephants
Our whale-watching will be based from a 5* hotel and spa in Galle, with its spacious rooms directly overlooking the Indian Ocean. Boasting two pools and a wide choice of inexpensive dining, there will be time to relax as well as enjoy the morning’s whale and dolphin watching and a whole host of optional activities including visiting nature reserves, as well as historical and cultural sites for those that wish. The itinerary includes six full morning trips out onto the sea (4-6 hours, with packed breakfasts) to make the most of the calmer conditions usually found earlier in the day. Our vessel is a 16m local boat with a partially shaded deck and w.c. The vessel is crewed by local men from families affected by the 2004 tsunami. Blue Whales are normally encountered within an hour of leaving port and if conditions are good, we will venture further out for Sperm Whales too. Other in-water marine life includes Manta Rays, Sunfish, tuna and flying fish and up to five species of sea turtles. Over 40 species of tropical seabird have been recorded, 10-15 can be expected on these trips and up to 100 species of bird or more can be seen in total. Next we will spend two and half days at Yala National Park, one of the best places in the world to see a wild Leopard. Our recce in 2010 produced Leopards on six out of seven game drives! This tour also includes a visit to Udawalawe National Park to see wild Asian Elephants, other mammals, reptiles and birds, dragonflies and butterflies.
Further detailed information of this holiday and the previous trip reports are available from us on request.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Colombo and transfer to the 5* Mount Lavinia Hotel, rest of day at leisure. Meet Chas and Sue for pre-dinner drinks.
Day 2: Drive to Galle and check-in to the 5* Lighthouse resort hotel for the next week. Afternoon at leisure.
Days 3-5: Three morning whale-watching trips. Afternoon optional excursions or at leisure.
Day 6: Morning at leisure. Afternoon rainforest excursion.
Days 7-9: Three more morning whale-watching trips. Afternoons, optional excursions or at leisure.
Day 10: Drive along south coast to Yala via wetlands, overnight 3* Yala Village Hotel.
Days 11-12: Morning and afternoon game drives in the park for Leopard, wild Asian Elephants, Spotted & Samba Deer, Mongoose and more.
Day 13: A final morning game drive and then drive to Embilipitiya, overnight 2* hotel, afternoon bird walk or at leisure.
Day 14: Morning game drive in the Udawalawe National Park for Elephants and more. Afternoon drive back to Colombo, overnight 5 * Beach Hotel.
Day 15: Morning transfer to Colombo airport for homeward flights.
Holiday Information
Dates: 16th – 30th April 2011
Guides: Charles ‘Chas’ Anderson
Price: £2699 per person sharing a twin room, single supplement £585pp
Facilities: All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities.
Deposit: £500
Max group size: 9 plus guides.
Price includes: Transfers to/from Colombo airport, hotel accommodation as described with breakfast daily, one dinner, six whale-watching excursions, other excursions from Galle, naturalist guides and ground transport. Lunches and dinners at Yala and Embilipitya, game drives and national park permits.
Price excludes: Flights UK - Colombo (available from £629 including current pre-paid taxes and fuel surcharges), travel insurance, vessel fuel surcharges if levied, other meals, drinks and other items of a personal nature. (£20pp per day should more than cover other meals and drinks.)
Trinco Blues NEW!
During the 1980s a good population of Blue Whales was discovered off the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Now the area is accessible again a recce was conducted in 2010 and sure enough, lots of Blues and within just minutes from the beach in front of what will be our hotel, the 4* Chaaya Blu. We plan five mornings out on the water, in our own chartered 20 foot long launches, which both have sun covers, but no loo. We will go out early most mornings, when the sea is calmest, sometimes taking a packed breakfast with us. Other species seen here include Spinner and Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins. Our hotel is right on the beach, rooms with balconies overlooking the sea, a pool and various dining options.
Itinerary
Trinco Blues
Day 1: Arrive Colombo in the morning. Transfer by road to Habarana, four hour drive, overnight 4* hotel. Afternoon at leisure or birding the hotel grounds.
Day 2: East to Trincolmalee, a three hour drive. Check-in to our hotel, afternoon at leisure, sunset drinks overlooking the ocean.
Days 3-7: Five days whale-watching, afternoons optional excursions or at leisure.
Day 8: We head back west via Habarana to Negombo, seven hour drive. Overnight 4* hotel.
Day 9: Transfer back to airport for flights home.
Holiday Information
Dates: 13th – 21st February 2011
Guides: Charles ‘Chas’ Anderson
Price: £1779 per person sharing a twin room, single supplement £279pp
Facilities: All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities.
Deposit: £400
Max group size: 9 plus guides.
Price includes: Transfers to/from Colombo airport, hotel accommodation as described with breakfast daily, five whale-watching excursions, naturalist guides and ground transport. Dinners at Trincolmalee.
Price excludes: Flights UK - Colombo (available from £539 including current pre-paid taxes and fuel surcharges), travel insurance, vessel fuel surcharges if levied, other meals, drinks and other items of a personal nature. (£20pp per day should more than cover other meals and drinks.)
More detailed information is available about both these holidays on request from us.
2012: Departures will be in April, price and date TBA, contact us for details when available.
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