Sri Lanka Day 3 : Kadulla Elephant Kingdom Safari

When I first started to research on Sri Lanka when I have planned for the trip, I was surprised to find out and that going on safari is a common attraction there.

They have many national parks with great wildlife to offer. I had always thought I’d have to go to Africa to go on safari to see the wildlife. 

So here I was, actually pretty excited when I got the chance to go on a jeep safari during my time in Sri Lanka. Finally a wish came true somehow a type of a safari ride though.

Safari ride’s are like hoping on an open back jeep that goes through open field where you can spot animals roaming. This will bring us closer to animals and their habitats. Thus I didn't expect this in Sri Lanka.

A ride in the open top 4WD was going to be adventures and thrilling. I have always wanted to do a jeep safari as what are seen in travel documentary. Since I had my DSLR with me, it was an opportunity to capture wildlife photography and indeed it is a photography spree for me.

I was going to Kaudulla for the safari ride. My friend has visited Minneriya National Park and it was not an impressive adventure. She couldn’t spot many animals in her last trip. So this time she chose to take me to Kaudulla instead.

One of the most amazing things about this place is the endless jungle.  It stretches for miles and miles in every directions, as far as the eye can see.

Therein dwells of all kinds of amazing creatures, the most exciting of which, for me, it was the wild elephants.

Though Kaudulla and Minneriya share the stretch of main land, it depends where the animals gather on seasons. More than 200 elephants can be found at Kaudulla and we were hoping to spot at least a few of them but it all depends on the luck if they lure out of their shyness to greet us.

Our guides urged us to stay calm and quiet as not to disturb the animals. They kept a safe distance at all times and – this should be obvious – nobody was allowed to leave their jeep.

We boarded the jeeps at the park entrance, not even the threat of the scotching sun could stop the excitement that was dwelling inside me and the others in the jeep that I was traveling with. 

Our jeep

 As the road turned from asphalt to mud, the scenery changed from overgrown forest to lush but so there so many bumpy plains. 

the trail begins

Vast open land

I intentionally went in with low expectations, hoping to see perhaps an elephant or two.  What I ended up seeing was atleast about hundred elephants eating, mating, playing in the water, and generally roaming in groups doing elephant thingy.

The park is the home to deers, leopards, peacocks, other bird species too and it’s speciality is known for its elephant population.

There, in the distance, there were wild elephants. I could hear shrieks of joy coming from the jeeps behind me, muffled under the roar of the engines.

The elephants in Kaudulla National Park are used to seeing people, but they’re still wild animals and we were grateful that they let us join them for a while in their wilderness.

water reservoir

The best part came later when we came across a solo elephant which was our first elephant spotting. That was just magical. This time I felt like we were experiencing him alone in the wild.

first spotting of elephant

It was comfortable enough in the jeep but we were bouncing around a lot and it was awesome as though we were on a roller coaster.

Beautiful sight of the park

We also saw eagles, peacocks, cranes, storks and buffalos.

Flock of birds and herd of buffaloes in the distance

hundreds of birds different types

Cranes

Stork

Eagle

Peahens

My natural instinct would have been to observe from afar, but the jeep driver had other plans as he inched forward, closer and closer, trying to get the best view so we could take photos. This was a photographic safari after all.

herd of elephants

Part of me was a little nervous, my mind consumed with the thought that these animals weighed more than the open-topped jeep I was in and considering just how fast they could move in comparison to our jeeps but it’s the kind look in many of their eyes that draw you in and the playfulness of the young stomping across the grasses that will leave you with a smile. It’s a real event, especially because of all the baby elephants present.

Mom and baby calf

another mom and older calf

younger one are protected by mothers

Grazing with their trunks

Baby having milk

milk time

play time

They had weathered skin, happily flapping their ears and their strong trunks picking the grasses. Suprisingly the elephants were very quite while they were grazing on the grass. The smaller elephants were shadowed by their mothers, protected from though some of the curious babies tried to leave the group as the mothers would guide them back into the group.

I learnt some new thing about the elephant's behaviours from the jeep guide. He was kind enough to explain about them

You can differeciate the male elephant with their huge skull shaped head and they roam alone. So the first elephant I spotted earlier was a male and he had sharp fine tusks too.

The male elephants would join the herd if they want to mate. So we had a glimpse of the a huge male looking for a partner. The Mr. Elephant will check each Ms Elephant if they are ready to mate with him. Once he finds, he will try to impress her. Once mated he stays with her still she gives birth.

It was funny as we watched the Mr Elephant looking for his partner as some Ms Elephants rejected him. If he could find one in this herd his lucky otherwise he would roam around to another herd if he is welcome. If that herd as a male dominating, then he has to find another different herd and try his best.

That's  male elephant - massively huge

The females will be in groups with their young’s and they also do take care of the other young one’s. It is the responsibility of the mother to protect her young’s, I guess that's the nature's instincts of motherhood in all living things.  

Apparently,  a female elephant trumpeted and it was so loud as it echoed throughout the vast land.

Somehow with the vibration of the jeep, my photos weren’t as sharp though so I turned my camera off and instead sat back to enjoy the moment I was surrounded by elephants. As I watched them it was such an amazing moment. A jeep in the mid of wilderness and I am with about 30 elephants around me.

more herds of elephants

another herd of elephants

The were so graceful and dainty with gentle walk and strong trunks waving at us.
Having the opportunity to see a memory of elephants in the wild like this had me saying “wow” over and over again. 

Every muddy hill and puddle seemed like a new challenge for the driver. I did wonder for a minute if he was seeking the bumpiest ride just to watch us fall over in the back of the jeep for our amusement of the real feel of the adventurous ride.

As the sun was setting slowly, I could see darkness falling between the trees and the elephants were heading back to the forest. 

getting dark soon

sunset at the reservoir

As the adrenaline of seeing these giant animals wore off and the tiredness began to kick in as we slowly made our way out of the park and back to our hotel for the night. It was an great expedition for as I conquered the Ancient fortress and the great wilderness of Kaudulla in one day.

Of all these experiences in Sri Lanka, thus this had to be one of the most memorable one, as the memory of getting up close to the elephants in the wild. 

They were so beautiful, untamed, and majestic worth of respect, love and attention along together with the muddy, claustrophobic, roller coaster jeep ride. The end result was falling in love with an astoundingly gorgeous country.