Off the beaten track and into the wild

Author: Sulan De Silva

When you first see Sri Lanka from above as you descend, one of the key things you will notice is how green the entire island looks. No, it is not an optical illusion. The country is as green up close as it is from afar.  in fact, 27% of Sri Lanka’s land area is forest cover; which doesn’t even include all the brush jungles, wetlands, and uninhabited lands. What all of this amounts to is a lush, tropical paradise that is simply brimming with a vibrant population of flora and fauna.

Sri Lanka is uniquely diverse in its geography and natural habitats; making for an abundance of variety in breathtaking sights and excursions, as well as natural life. And this little piece of writing is going to give you the lowdown on all of it!

We said it once, we’ll say it again. Sri Lanka’s level of biodiversity is unprecedented. It’s truly amazing how such a tiny land mass can hold so much variety. Travel from one corner of the island to another, and you’ll see the landscape going through drastic changes, along with shifts in climatic conditions.

Just imagine. You’re at the beach; the sun is bright, it’s hot, there’s an uplifting breeze blowing in from the sea, and the water is just perfect for a dip, the waves are ideal if you want to surf. Pure tropical bliss. Island living at its best. Now, take a ride inland. Six hours into the drive and you’ve got low-hanging clouds, the glare of the sun becomes less pronounced, and the climate has gone temperate. There is no sweltering heat. Instead, the atmosphere has become cool and crisp; invigorating you to the core. Oh, and there are lush green mountains all around, appearing in the mist and a couple of Sambar Deer cross the road in front.

Don’t worry, you haven’t crossed dimensions. As one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots identified in the world, with the highest biodiversity per unit-area-of-land among Asian countries, this is what Sri Lanka is all about.

The natural biodiversity in turn has created unique habitats that sustain all kinds of plant and animal life; which are captivating discoveries as the habitats themselves. Each time you head out into our beautiful outdoors, chances are that your eye is going to catch something that you’ve never seen before.

Writing this section; we couldn’t figure out on where to start! Sri Lanka offers so many different natural settings, it’s a task giving an overview of all of them.

Geographically, Sri Lanka can be divided into three main zones based on elevation; the central highlands, the plains, and the coastal belt.

The coastal belt

The coastal belt is largely comprised of scenic beaches and lagoons, with a few rocky outcrops and cliffs found on the north-eastern and south-western corners of the island. Some of the more stand out beaches in Sri Lanka are namely; Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa, Tangalle, Arugam Bay, Pasikudah, Nilaweli. Each of them are distinctive in their setting; the colour of the water, sand texture, animal life, and surrounding geography, all contributing to create a singularly unique experience.

The cultural triangle and south-central plains

Contrary to typical plains that are empty and devoid of natural form, flat lands in Sri Lanka are more densely packed with flora and fauna. The cultural triangle and the south-central plains are the two regions that are part of this geographic zone; significance in their potential appeal to the discerning naturalist and traveler.

The region belonging to the cultural triangle presents an aura of ancient glory; the land playing host to the remains of an ancient kingdom, that is set amidst hundreds of acres of man-made lakes, and vast paddy cultivations.

The south-central plains are something else totally. The southern lowlands extend all the way to the foothills of the central highlands; across a landscape that is seemingly barren and dry in parts and lush with dense vegetation closer to the foothills. The region contains the highest number of natural forest reserves and is home to a large percentage of the island’s endemic bird, amphibian, and plant species. Sri Lanka’s only virgin tropical rainforest; Sinharaja Rainforest is also found in this region.

The central highlands

Spiraling up steep mountain roads brings you to the central highlands of Sri Lanka; where the warm weather found in the coastal regions quickly transform into a much cooler climate. From rolling hills carpeted in lush fields of tea, to formidable mountains rising to the sky, breathtaking waterfalls, and vast plateaus brimming with life; the central highlands offer scenic beauty that is uniquely Sri Lankan.

If you take our nine provinces of the country, and list down the all sites and excursions you want to experience in each, you’ll be at a total loss in deciding which ones to prioritize! Our recommendation to you; make multiple trips!

Typically, islands are not known to be particularly rich in their concentrations or diversity of wildlife. Sri Lanka is an exception to this rule and packs a punch when it comes to showcasing some great creature features.

Parks galore

Closeted within Sri Lanka’s national boundaries are a number of wildlife reserves; each boasting versatility in its topography, and plant, and animal life. Spread across the island, the wildlife parks present different settings that range from grassy plains, to plateaus, rainforests, coastal wetlands, and dense jungles. Some of the popular destinations are the natural reserves Yala, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Wilpattu, Wasgamuwa, Bundala, Horton Plains, Kumana, and Sinharaja.

A myriad of animal and plant life can be viewed at these parks; which include the elusive Sri Lankan leopard, sloth bear, freshwater crocodile, spotted dear, and of course, the much-loved Asian elephant.

Just to give you an idea of the abundance animal life you can experience in our paradise island; the Yala national park alone is home to 215 bird species and 44 mammal species.

A Haven for Life Like No Other

Now that you have reached the end of our little introduction to Sri Lanka’s natural world, we hope that you are effectively convinced to make your way down here to check it out for yourself. We cannot endorse a wiser decision.

The fact that most of these locations, remain minimally commercialized to date, just adds to the natural charm and exotic intrigue of the entire experience. It is for this reason that travelers and nature fans world over, continue to frequent the island to embrace the scenic beauty as well as the rich biodiversity that is unique to us. After all, where else in the world would you have such versatility packed within such a tiny space of land? The answer is nowhere. Nowhere but here in Sri Lanka.