The area is beautiful, with snow capped peaks up to 3000 meters. The hikes are very doable, especially up to and back from the refugio. We visited the national parks and saw the good work that Rewilding Apennines is doing. Exodus donates the trip profits to them.
Sri Lanka Wildlife Holidays
Top Wildlife of Sri Lanka
- Sloth Bear: These medium-sized (average 290 pounds) bears evolved during the early Pleistocene era and can be distinguished from Asian black bears by their lanky builds, shaggier coats, pale muzzles and white claws. They also have a specially adapted lower lip and palate, which the nocturnal insectivores use to feed on termites, honeybee colonies. The isolated Sri Lankan population is a subspecies, and currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.
- Indian Pangolin: Often referred to as “scaly anteaters” because they’re covered in a thick protective armour of overlapping scales, pangolins are among the world’s most endangered groups of mammals. Nocturnal and usually resting in deep burrows during the day, the pangolin is tough enough to curl into a ball and defend itself from a tiger or leopard attack.
- Sri Lankan Leopard: This endemic subspecies, which is smaller than the Indian leopard (average 94 pounds and around four feet body length), is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN. But the southeastern coastal arid zone of Yala National Park boasts the world’s highest density of wild leopards, with studies estimating an adult population of 18 individuals on one 39-square mile block of the park.
- Red Slender Loris: This small, nocturnal primate is a focal species of the EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) conservation project – a distinction reserved for animals with few close evolutionary relatives. Found only in Sri Lanka’s rainforests, their small size (7-10 inches tall, weighing around one pound), huge eyes and prominent ears give them an endearingly odd appearance.
- Purple-faced Langur: Once commonly found in Sri Lanka’s wet zone villages and the suburbs of Colombo (the capital city), this endemic Old World monkey is now on the IUCN’s Endangered list due to habitat loss caused by rapid urbanization. Primarily found in densely populated rainforests, their distinctive vocalizations (which include harsh barks and whoops) have been mistaken for leopards.
- Sri Lankan Elephant: Yala National Park is renowned as one of the best places to see this endangered endemic species, which can also be seen in Udawalawe, Lunugamvehera, Wilpattu and Minneriya National Parks, as well as unprotected areas. In fact, Sri Lanka is estimated to have the highest density of elephants in all of Asia, despite the population decline caused by habitat loss and fragmentation.
- Sri Lankan Jackal: This golden jackal subspecies, which is also known as the Southern Indian jackal, grows to be slightly larger than their mainland cousins (which average 28 inches long and weigh around 15 pounds). Their winter coat is also shorter, smoother and not as shaggy, with speckled black-and-white backs and colours that range from a warm tan to a rusty ochre.
John Kaminer Italian Apennines: Walks & Wildlife
jeanette hambrey Discover Costa RicaThis country is so diverse and exodus shows you that from the start! We started on the Caribbean side at Tortuguero and basically got soaked the whole 3 days we were there, it rained and it rained but our group got on with it with a smile. That area would have been wonderful if the weather hadn’t been against us but it was what it was!
We still suffered a bit of bad weather at Arenal and i never got to see the volcano as the cloud was on top of it all the time, the walk was lovely up to it though and the landscape is beautiful.
The weather started to improve as we travelled over to the pacific side , the birds and the wildlife are abundant , we saw that many sloths on this trip we stopped taking pictures of them ha
There are some long drives in this trip but never more than a couple of hours on the road without stopping, lots of views to look at and of course we stopped if the driver or guide saw anything interesting to see as well, (a couple of macaw’s were spotted and we pulled over to get some great photos)
The wildlife is all around you if you take the time to look, the leaf cutter ants and the ant highways through the forest floor , the frogs , the sloths… so much to see!
Whilst you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic for this trip , i would suggest that you are able to walk long distances and tackle some steep slopes. You can always sit by the pool if you don’t want to go on the hikes but you would miss out on the whole point of the holiday if that is what you aim to do.
Exodus pull it out the bag every time with the accommodation , all the rooms were lovely and well chosen , its one of the reasons i have booked with Exodus 4 times now.
Debby Orsini Galapagos Escape – Solaris (Itinerary C)Our party of four loved our itinerary, guide and boat. The days were filled with excursions, snorkeling and great food and lectures. We highly recommend the Solaris C excursion!
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