Our Sri Lanka birding and wildlife tour takes us to without doubt one of the world's most pleasurable birdwatching and game viewing destinations. This friendly island nation boasts verdant scenery, characterised by terraced tea plantations and forest patches, and is blessed with many surprisingly large national parks brimming with game and birds. These attractions, coupled with a fascinating history and vibrant culture, make this a truly exotic destination and a pleasure to explore. From the central highlands to the rich lowland rainforests, Sri Lanka is one of only a handful of magical destinations where it is possible to see every single country endemic in a well-planned trip such as this, making this extension a ‘must’ for the keen birder!

Top Birds

Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Wood & Sri Lanka Green Pigeons, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Serendib Scops Owl, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted & Crimson-fronted Barbets, Red-backed & Crimson-backed Flamebacks, Layard's Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Sri Lanka Drongo, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Black-capped, Yellow-eared, Yellow-browed, White-browed & Square-tailed Bulbuls, Sri Lanka & Hill Swallows, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar, Brown-capped, Orange-billed, Dark-fronted, Tawny-bellied & Yellow-billed Babblers, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Sri Lanka White-eye, Sri Lanka & Southern Hill Mynas, White-faced Starling, Spot-winged, Sri Lanka Whistling, Sri Lanka & Pied Thrushes, Dull-blue & Kashmir Flycatchers, Indian Pitta, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Marshall's Iora, Blue-faced & Sirkeer Malkohas, Jerdon's & Indian Nightjars, Slaty-legged Crake, Barred Buttonquail, Small Pratincole, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Black, Cinnamon & Yellow Bitterns, Legge's Hawk-Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Orange Minivet, Jerdon's Bush Lark, Loten's Sunbird & Black-throated Munia

Top Mammals

Leopard, Sloth Bear, Purple-faced Langur, Water Buffalo, Asian Elephant, Stripe-necked Mongoose

Habitats Covered

lowland, hill & Montane forest, teak woodlands, lakes, coastal & inland wetlands, mudflats, saltpans

Expected Climate

warm and humid in lowlands, cool in highlands, chance of rain in forest areas

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader / 12 with 2 Rockjumper leaders

Tour Pace & Walking

undemanding

Accommodation

basic to very comfortable lodges and hotels

Ease of Birding

mostly unchallenging with very few skulky species

Number of Species Expected

+-240

Other Attractions

Yala National Park, Sinharaja Rainforest, tea plantations, Horton Plains & surrounding mountains

Photographic Opportunities

Excellent

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
MW, Sri Lanka

I had been looking forward to visiting Sri Lanka for a long time, since it was still Ceylon. This tour was all I had hoped for. We did quite well on the birds, seeing or hearing just about everything possible in the country, including all the endemics and specialty birds. The tour was well run and the guides excellent. The local guide was determined to get us everything possible and was quite willing to go the extra mile for every bird. Glen was superb, always cheerful, extremely knowledgeable, even going so far as to find us a steady supply of stout for dinner. When we got stuck in Columbo because of a blizzard back home, Glen did what he could to ensure we made it back. We really look forward to traveling with him again.

Glen Valentine
DH - Sri Lanka 2024

The leadership on this trip was great! Glen Valentine was fantastic as usual. He is very responsive to everyone's needs, and constantly adjusting in response to even casual comments. He is wonderful at spotting and hearing birds up, down, far away, in the dark - wherever they are. I especially appreciated his wizardry with a scope - getting us great views of many birds through impossibly think vegetation. He makes everyone feel comfortable. The local guide Ashoka was absolutely fantastic at spotting, at local expertise, and general natural history background. Some amazing examples, he spotted an Indian Pitta in dark thicket from a moving jeep, and found a clear view of the head of a Legge's Hawk Eagle through thick vegetation that eluded all the rest of us - and then Glen got it in the scope in seconds! Glen and Ashoka were a great team. Ashoka speaks great English and was able to keep in mind what everyone had seen or missed, just as Glen does. Ashoka had great background knowledge on other animals and plants, and was enthusiastic to share.

Stephan Lorenz
MF, Sri Lanka 2019

The Sri Lanka Exclusive Tour was awesome. Stephan Lorenz was knowledgeable and worked very hard to get all tour members on the birds. I can highly recommend this particular tour and guide for a super life birding experience.

Stuart Elsom
MC - Sri Lanka 2023

I have a great time on the Tour. This was my first time with Rockjumper Tours and I would 100% recommend to travel with them again. The Leaders always put the participants first in seeing the bird and made sure everyone could have time at the scopes. Very well organised and a pleasure to be on tour with. A sense of humor always is a plus and there was not shortage of that, lots of laughs and great memories. Go...Rockjumper, a real pleasure

Stephan Lorenz
MM & GM, Sri Lanka 2018

We really enjoyed both tours. The leader, Stephan Lorenz, was very helpful and worked hard to make the birding trips a success. We appreciated the local guides on both trips as well. They were all very good at getting the job done and making it all enjoyable and seamless. We always feel we are in good hands when we go on a Rockjumper tour.

Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game 2024

21 Nov 2024 - 01 Dec 2024 (11 days)

USD3,395 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: André Bernon

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Tour Leader: Nigel Redman

Tour price (Per person): USD3,395 * GBP2,714 * EUR3,165 * AUD5,212

Single Supplement: USD630 * GBP504 * EUR587 * AUD967

Can be linked with:

Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game (Small Group) 2025

21 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025 (11 days)

USD4,495 - 4 Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos

Tour price (Per person): USD4,495 * GBP3,593 * EUR4,190 * AUD6,901

Single Supplement: USD620 * GBP496 * EUR578 * AUD952

Can be linked with:

Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game 2025

16 Nov 2025 - 26 Nov 2025 (11 days)

USD3,595 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk

Tour price (Per person): USD3,595 * GBP2,874 * EUR3,351 * AUD5,519

Single Supplement: USD620 * GBP496 * EUR578 * AUD952

Can be linked with: India - Northern: Birds & Tigers 2025

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Route Map

Tour Route Map

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