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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 (GBP3,609 * AUD6,729)

Single Supplement: USD870 (GBP669 * AUD1,247)

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 followed by 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

Harriet Faithfull
LD, Sri Lanka 2018

This was my last hard core birding tour, and I did it so that I could have David Hoddinott as my guide again. He is so very superb and I got quite teary giving him a hug goodbye! I also enjoyed Holly Faithfull a great deal. And our entire group was most delightful.

Clayton Burne
MO, Sri Lanka 2013

I hope to go again with Clayton.

Stephan Lorenz
SA & PA, Sri Lanka 2018

So much went right on this trip that it is difficult to summarise all of our positive thoughts. One highlight: some of our group had the Sri Lanka Field Guide to birds, while others including ourselves were not able to get it prior to the trip. While en route, we expressed interest in getting this book; soon after the bus pulled over, the guide, Stephan Lorenz, exited to talk to someone, and returned with brand new copies of the field guide for all who needed it. We were flabbergasted! I call that service above and beyond. Everything else worked out very well, from the excellent guiding to the food and accommodations. Thanks again for a great trip experience.

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

Paul is an excellent tour leader and our local guide is as good as they come. We got all endemics, as hoped. Good lodges, interesting country, generally good meals, plenty of room in the van.

xPeter Kaestner
EP, Sri Lanka 2020

"Both Peter K and local leader were great. Our local leader went so out of his way to find and stake out owls, he'd start roaming the forest at 2 and have reports for us at dawn when we would meet in field. We had all 9 available owls due to his work. He also knew each area so well we found all endemics as he had such intimate knowledge of location and back up sites for each key species. Amazing, he sure pulled some birds out of almost thin air. Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sri Lanka Bay and Serendip Owls, etc. Also amazing with his knowledge of calls - my guess is Rockjumper has the country's best local guide - keep him happy! The bus was great, more room than we needed but that sure beats the alternative - made the long drives so comfy. Also had WIFI which added a real time killer to travel."

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Route Map

Tour Route Map