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Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game - The Wildlife Society

© Black-backed Pygmy-Kingfisher by Daniel Danckwerts
Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game - The Wildlife Society 2028

14 Mar 2028 - 25 Mar 2028 (12 days)

USD4,695 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Joshua Olszewski

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Tour Price (Per person): USD4,695 (GBP3,645 * AUD6,875)

Single Supplement: USD870 (GBP675 * AUD1,274)

This tour pairs with: India - Ranthambore - Birds and Wildlife Challenge 2028

Pricing notes : A donation of US$300 will be made to The Wildlife Society in support of their work for every booking received on this tour.

 

This tour offers a superb exploration of Sri Lanka’s remarkable avian riches, taking in the island’s most productive birding regions and showcasing its exceptional endemism, biodiversity, landscapes, and wildlife. Run in partnership with The Wildlife Society, the tour is open to all participants and is not restricted to Society members.

Our journey takes us from the lush forests of Kitulgala to the montane grasslands of Horton Plains, through the dry lowlands of Yala and Uda Walawe National Parks, and finally into the misty forests of Sinharaja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Across these varied habitats, we will target Sri Lanka’s 34 endemic bird species, with excellent chances of recording them all, including standouts such as the striking Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, elusive Serendib Scops Owl, Sri Lanka Spurfowl, and Red-faced Malkoha. The country’s rich mammal and butterfly fauna, scenic tea country, and warm hospitality add even more depth to the experience.

For those wishing to extend their departure, the Sri Lanka tour can be extended with the optional Ranthambore Challenge, a conservation-focused journey through some of northern India’s most celebrated wildlife and cultural destinations. The extension includes Ranthambore National Park, where dry deciduous forests, lakes, and rocky escarpments support a wealth of birds and mammals, including the iconic Tiger; Bharatpur and Keoladeo National Park, one of India’s legendary wetland birding destinations; and Agra, where we will visit the magnificent Taj Mahal. Along the way, we will seek a superb selection of northern Indian birds while supporting conservation efforts for the Endangered Indian Skimmer, making this a rewarding complement to the Sri Lankan adventure.

Top Birds

Sri Lanka Spurfowl; Sri Lanka Junglefowl; Sri Lanka Wood & Sri Lanka Green Pigeons; Green-billed Coucal; Red-faced, Blue-faced & Sirkeer Malkohas; Serendib Scops & Sri Lanka Bay Owls; 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; 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; 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

Up to 12 with 1 Rockjumper leader and a local leader

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Mostly undemanding. Suitable for all birding & wildlife interest levels. Comfortable tour for the reasonably fit. A few very early mornings & long days. Optional owling.

Accommodation

Comfortable lodges and hotels

Ease of Birding

Moderate to easy. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions. A few trickier/skulking species. Not unusual to record all endemics on a single tour.

Number of Species Expected

+-240

Other Attractions

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

Photographic Opportunities

Good. No dedicated hides, ad hoc feeders.

What our clients say about us

Glen Valentine
PR - Sri Lanka 2024

By now you should know I am a total fan of Rockjumper, after more than 10 trips with you ! Impeccable organization, outwordly guides, birdiest spots, incredibly talented leaders (thanks, Glen), I can’t ask for more and look forward to my next trip with you!

Clayton Burne
Sri Lanka 2013

Loved Clayton, his bird skills and all-over knowledge of everything.

Stuart Elsom
TM - Sri Lanka 2023

This was a fantastic tour and I attribute its success to the guides, Greg de Klerk and Stu Elsom. They are professional and skilled, both at finding birds and handling people, and I learned a lot from them. We saw all of the endemic bird species and had some great views of game, including a jungle cat. At the beginning of the tour, I thought that a group size of 12 was going to be too many, but I had better experiences seeing birds than I have on tours with half as many participants.

Quinton Paul Josop
KS, Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game (Small Group) 2026

An excellent tour! Paul Josop lived up to our expectations for a Rockjumper guide - excellent knowledge of the birds; conscientious about getting everyone on the birds; on top of all the arrangements for meals, lodging and transportation; worked well with the local guide; and shared his excitement and good humor throughout the trip. The WhatsApp group that he set up was brilliant. He shared photos with us, as did other participants, and it was an easy way for us all to keep in touch. We would love to travel with Paul again. Our local guide, Ashoka, was outstanding also. Thank you to all.

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.

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Route Map

Tour Route Map