This Is the Best Safari Destination Outside of Africa
A lone elephant lumbers into the water in Gal Oya National Park and slowly submerges his body like a submarine. When he resurfaces, his trunk swoops into the air and splish-splashes water about.
From a boat, floating in the middle of the park’s reservoir and armed with binoculars, I’m watching—with awe—as this magnificent creature seems to be going through his morning routine.
It’s the first safari on my well-rounded REI Adventure itinerary, “Discover Sri Lanka: Temples, Tea Trails and Safari.” The adventure outfitter’s travel branch offers more than 175 trips around the globe, with varying levels of physical activity ranging from one to five. Sri Lanka is a newcomer on the roster and clocks in at a level two, with safaris that, yes, will get your heart racing. But, the hikes and bike rides will deliver the real cardio workouts.
While Africa is an obvious draw for safari-seekers—and, I suspect, may be getting renewed tourist interest after the release of Disney’s “The Lion King”—the island country of Sri Lanka is a lesser-known destination ripe for safari lovers. In addition to wildlife treks, adventure-seekers here can balance out their vacations with hiking, temple tours and culinary experiences.
A few days after the boat safari, my small group was ready for a more thrilling safari. This time, we were in Yala National Park, and loaded into an off-road vehicle at dusk and, a couple of hours in, hit the safari jackpot: We spotted a leopard graciously sauntering into the forested area. This turned out to be a multi-sensory experience, with the soundtrack provided by monkeys howling and scuttling in the treetop, alerting one another of the predator’s approach.
The animal kingdom was just waking up during our next safari, one at dawn in Yala, which included water buffalo and elephant sightings in addition to colorful birds flitting about.
But beyond these planned safaris (and there are three remarkable ones on this particular REI itinerary), there’s ample opportunity to simply admire wildlife. An elephant commands a roadway, wanting an apple as a toll as we’re en route to a national park. Near the location where Disney’s “Monkey Kingdom” was filmed, monkeys are as present as squirrels are in an American park, and they almost seem to be putting on improv comedy shows. Are they conspiring to ride away on this bike?
Beyond safari, the trip provides a highlight reel of the diverse geography of Sri Lanka, with chances to swim in the Indian Ocean and bike in the jungle.
The itinerary includes an early-morning hike to the top of Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress that would be a solid contender for the national postcard of Sri Lanka if such a thing existed.
Another hike meanders through the lush tea fields, and includes overnight stays in nearby glamping-style tents at a mountaintop resort. The infinity pool here is a perfect perch to take in the sweeping views, and, yes, you should book a massage in the serene open-air spa.
The trip also reserve a day dedicated to Kandy, to sample the hustle and bustle of city life in Sri Lanka (as well as street food and markets) and to visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses Buddha’s sacred tooth relic.
The grand finale is a stay at a beachfront hotel in Galle. For one final adventure, head to the Dream Cabana on Dalawella Beach. There, five rupees (which is less than an American dollar) will get you three, epic swings on a rope that launches from a palm tree and over the ocean, Tarzan-style.