Ethical accommodation providers, drivers and guides

[jinpyn]

Hi all

Absolutely wonderful to see such a valuable site with many posts verifying the ethics of wildlife viewing and the true sanctuaries. I urge the writers to also list their comments on tripadvisor as that's where most of the public will turn to as an online resource. And as we have mostly encountered, the majority of tourists will take things at face value, not investigating further to sieve out the true conservation organisations from the tourist traps, which is SOOOO important to do. So your forum on Responsible Travel may be missed out altogether.

I would very much love to promote Sri Lanka as a wildlife viewing destination, and especially so because the Asian natural heritage hasn't had as much exposure as the African ones. And that exposure is crucial to the conservation of species and habitats.

So, on my own trip to Sri Lanka, I want to be patronizing the right establishments and people. I trust in your feedback. Please advise if these are the rights guys.

Personnel:

Here's what I gather from the forum for drivers who also act as spotters for these national parks I would like to visit:
Yala: Ajith 077 608 3144 Rs3500

Minneriya 0776891735 - Sujeewa.

Rekawa: Saman - 0777 902 915 - Contact person at project office
Thushara - 0770 723 553  - Another member of the conservation team

Uda Walawe Saman 071-8428604

Does anyone have their email contacts? I'm visiting from outside the country, so email will be more convenient.

Does anyone have a contact for a driver/vehicle for my trip around the country? Ideally I would love to motorbike, but travelling partner isn't a biker

Mirissa Whale watching - Raja & the Whales - are they ethical? Is there a conservation project and an associated tour operator I can contribute to? As a side question - what are my chances of a sighting just before mid Oct?

Accommodation:

What's the take on luxury tented accommodation in the National Parks? I am tentatively booked on Big Game in Uda Walawe. Want to be able to stay in the national parks, but unable to book in bungalows, and not doing camping, so my options aren't too many.

Any accommodation in Yala to recommend aside from bungalows, camping and the ridiculously priced Mahooba luxury tented accommodation?

Any good, and by good, I mean more eco friendly or conservation focused accommodation in Mirissa? Is Buckingham Palace on Rekawa any good or am I better off with the eco tent by TCP on Rekawa?

Will be there from 30 Sep. Any advice soon is much appreciated.

Best,
Jin Pyn

[NG]

Excellent, Jin Pyn, you certainly do your homework!

I have met Ajith a number of times and gone with him too ( i am not a regular Yala goer, but camped with him in Yala 2) he was very very nice. Once when we wanted to go with him, he advised us against going into the park as it was very crowded and there would be no sightings at that time.

Have a great time!
N.

[jinpyn]

Thanks NG

What's the opinion on Big Game accommodation in Uda Walawe & Raja & the Whales at Mirissa?

Any contact for a conservation focused driver/spotter for Uda Walawe?

Best,
Jin Pyn

[Harien de Mel]

Hi Jin Pyn,

Welcome to the forum!

Here are my thoughts...

Yala

Don't go there on a weekend as it would be too crowded.

Does anyone have their email contacts?

Assuming that you are talking about Jeep drivers here, I seriously doubt they use email.

Mirissa Whale watching

Usually the sea is rough till November. I don't think you can do Whale watching in mid Oct. The best you could do is, explore the southern parts of the country towards the end of the trip so that if by any chance the monsoon finishes early, you might get a chance to do it. But highly unlikely.

Any accommodation in Yala to recommend aside from bungalows, camping and the ridiculously priced Mahooba luxury tented accommodation?

If you want to stay inside the park, the only option you have is one of the three luxury operations. Otherwise, there are plenty of options nearby. I'm unable to suggest one as I camp every time I go to Yala.

[rajivwelikala]

Hi Jin Prin,

Agreed with Harein, whale watching would be best reccomended from January- April.

Suggest you go to Wilpattu instead of Yala. There is a very good driver there named Senevi whom i can guarantee 100%.

The elephant gathering is in full swing, and the elephants will either be in Minneriya or Kaudulla so you can visit that area rather than Udawalawe. Also this is at the center of the cultural area in Sri Lanka, and lots of historical sites are in that area like - Sigiriya, Dambulla Rock Temple, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura etc.

Suggest following inteniary

Arrive colombo- drive straight to Wilpattu. (Can stay at a bungalow outside the park or book a room @ leopard den hotel)

Spend two nights in Wilpattu and then drive to Anuradhapura (ancient city lots of historical sites. Can stay at either a bungalow- Back of Beyond Waters Edge bungalow is very nice )

Spend 1 night in Anuradhapura and then drive to Habarana (stay at one of the many hotels- Chaya village, Cinnamon Lodge or bungalows- Back of Beyond Pidurangala, Galkadawala or many others)- Do an elephant safari to either Minneirya or Kaudulla depending on where the herds are at the time.

Spend 1 night in Habarana and drive to Trincomalee- Got reports that few blue whales were sighted few weeks ago in that are, but i got no contacts in that area.

or

drive to the hill country like horton plains and experience the montage cloud forests

or drive to Sinharaja Rainforest.


Hope the above is helpful. google some of the locations and accommodation places i mentioned and see what you would like to do.

[Thinuwan]

Hello Jin Pyn,

Glad to hear from you..!!
In case if you require any assistance while you are in Horton Plains National Park let me know in advance
I am a frequent visitor to Horton Plains [Carrying out some researches at the moment] and would like to show you around if I get a chance

Cheers.!

[reader]

Hello Jin Pyn,

Check this out. I personally have experience with him for arranging everything from pick up at airport to drop you back.

http://www.srilankadrivingtours.com/

Cheers!

[jinpyn]

Thank you so much so suggestions! And Raji, such a detailed one! I'm putting my planned itinerary back on the drawing board thanks to your suggestions. I didn't think the elephant gathering will still be on in Oct. Bummer on Mirissa whale watching. Will try to get information on the other area. Thinuwan, what research are you doing? Thank you for your very hospitable offer.

[rajivwelikala]

Hi Jin,

Its my pleasure,

Regarding the gathering , yes in October as well the elephants are around, but mostly @ Kaudulla National Park. What happens is that when it rains Minnriya fills up, so the eles move to kaudulla where by then the grass is green like lush meadows and the eles flock in their hundreds to feed on the lush grasses.

Also i highly reccomend Wilpattu over Yala simple due to below reasons

1- yala as you may know it is crowded. You will have so many vehicles at every sighting, its not going to be pleasant.
2. yala is a smal area where you are allowed to travel, wilpattu is massive and the forest is dense. You will get a better experience i feel @ wilpattu.
3. though elephants are few in wilpattu you can remedy this by going to minneriy or kaudulla. Wilpattu is great for leopard, bear, and so many other animals like birds, spotted deer, barking deer, sambhar etc. and on rare occasions a real treat like a Forest Eagle Owl.

[Namal]

The issue of Wilpattu over Yala is the it's easier to see animals in Yala, but the over roll experience is better in Wilpattu.

for whale watching in mirrisa i would recommend   http://www.mirissawatersports.com/

cheers and happy travelling

[jinpyn]

Again, thank you!!!

[jinpyn]

Me again! Any good contact for a jeep driver into Kaudalla/tour organizer from Polonnaruwa? And a good driver/spotter for Udawalawe? English speaking contacts would be best.

[os10]

Try Kumara on 072-601-7434. mention that you are a Lakdasun member he will give you a discount.

Also see http://www.lakdasun.org/forum/index.php?topic=5082.0

[jinpyn]

Hi again. Still confused - will I get a better chance to spot whales in mid Oct in Trinco or Mirissa? Thanks

[jinpyn]

Hi

For anyone who needs, I now have some email addresses and comments:

Uda Walawe Saman 071-8428604
www.samangamage@gmail.com
He is a park ranger. Very sharp eyes and very ethical as well.
Saw a fish eagle drinking just metres from the buffalo in the pool, all 4 species of eagles found in the park, crocs, spotted deer, buffalo, storks, elephants, including a tusker.

Minneriya & Kaudulla 0776891735 - Sujeewa.
wisdomsaf@gmail.com
He has a very basic eco lodge within park grounds between Kaudulla and Minneriya where elephants do come through.
Very experienced, campaigned to get Kaudulla started, though I find for 1st time safari go-ers, unless you ask, not much information given on the animals. Must actively ask questions.
Great for avid photographers as he has taken some great shots himself and will position vehicle for the best light.
Advice given was no news about elephants being in Minneriya, so we went with his advice to Kaudulla. Some others in the group went to Minneriya and said they saw around 200? It's difficult to know who to believe.

Yala: Ajith 077 608 3144
He has 15 years' experience and his own spots in the park to go to, though will also try to get you a good spot in front of others if he can for the leopards. We advised him it's not our priority to chase the leopards.
We saw 2 leopards - one in the am in a spot no other vehicle went. But leopards wasn't the highlight for me. There was so much action between the different species at the waterholes. We saw a peacock dance, jackels up close and one chasing a crow off a carcass, 2 tuskers, a young bull elephant chasing the wild boars, croc swimming away, lots of sand pipers and ibis and storks, spotted and sambar deer, heard the purple-faced langur sound the alarm ...

Rekawa: Saman - 0777 902 915 - Contact person at project office
Thushara - 0770 723 553  - Another member of the conservation team
- I didn't contact them. Sad to say, I have heard that in the last season, crowds were allowed to crowd round the turtles, shining their lights, cameras going off, making noises. Even an incident where the turtle was not allowed to return to the waters for a photograph.
- Unless there is crowd control for visitors, this project isn't run ethically or sustainably.

Whale watching: Raja & the whales. He doesn't chase the whales nor take payment if no whales are sighted, though it's still good to pay some for petrol and food costs for the attempt. Didn't try Mirissa

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