Miscellaneous Adventures - The Adventure Travel Site

Leopard Spotting in Yala National Park

Did you know the Yala National Park in Sri Lanka has the highest density of leopards anywhere in the world? What this means is that you have a great chance of spotting these majestic creatures on a safari here!

Leopard|Via-Pixabay,nicolasustainability,CC0

Introducing Panthera Pardus Kotiya

The endemic Sri Lankan Leopard or “Panthera pardus kotiya” has a rusty yellow coloured coat with characteristic dark spots. Generally a solitary hunter, it is the island’s apex predator and has been listed as endangered.

Planning Your Excursion

Leopard spotting is best done early in the morning or later in the afternoon. It’s best to stay at a Yala hotel right near the park itself. Such hotels generally provide their own guided safaris which add to the convenience.

Nocturnal Sightings

For a truly unique experience look to undertake a safari at night! One such experience you can try is the Infrared Night Drive offered at Cinnamon Wild Yala that features night vision goggles to spot leopards and other creatures of the night without disturbing them.

Best Times to Visit

Leopards may be spotted at Yala all year round, though the park is generally closed in September. May to August is usually the rainy season and you have a better chance of seeing leopards early morning. December to March marks the dry season and an afternoon leopard safari is ideal. Of course, the king of Sri Lanka’s jungle doesn’t follow a particular schedule so you never know when you may spot it!

Helpful and Amazing Shenzhen Facts for Travelers

Reviving from its past being a region of fishing towns 40 years back, Shenzhen is now the 7th biggest city in China and a major tourist destination. Read on to know more facts.

Shenzhen| Img by: SSDPenguin via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

The transformation over the years

Until Shenzhen received a special economic administrative status in 1980, it was just a region of swamps and fishing villages. In the late 1970’s it’s population increased by 19.5 million people and most of the villages got urbanized. Now it has become China’s 7th largest city in terms of urban area.

Splendid Cantonese cuisine

When you come to Shenzhen and don’t savour a popular Cantonese cuisine dish, then you have made a huge mistake. For instance, Dim Sum is the top pick for mid-day snacks and meals. If you like to eat like a local, try out a dish like congee which is a common breakfast food here. Also, don’t forget to entice your taste buds with a variety of flavoursome Chinese dishes.

China’s richest city

Shenzhen is known as Mainland China’s richest city with a per capita income of 26,000 USD but still, it couldn’t surpass Hong Kong. It is a hotspot among foreign buyers across the world as well. The city itself is filled with many top-notch accommodations like Somerset Grandview Shenzhen which features some of the leading furnished apartments in Shenzhen.

Theme parks

After mountains and beaches, tourists are mostly drawn for theme parks. Shenzhen is home to some to some of the best theme parks like Window of the World, China Folk Culture Village, Happy Valley, and Splendid China.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka

Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka is the oldest and largest national park; also known as the leopard sanctuary in Sri Lanka, famous for its population of leopards.

Image Credit-Gihan Jayaweera, Leopard at Wilpattu National Park, CC BY-SA 3.0

Historical importance

About 500 BC, prince Vijaya and his followers from India landed at Thambapanni in the North West of Wilpattu defeating the Rakshas who inhabited this area; settled down and developed the land to originate the Sinhala kingdom. Many archaeological remains of that era are scattered around Wilpattu. To view these ruins, guidance of a competent tour guide is advised.

Way to explore

The best way to explore this park is to get professional guidance from Cinnamon Nature Trails one of many operators that offer Sri Lanka Guided Tours with a resort located near the park.

Wilpattu Park features

It is a large park sanctuary spread over 130,000 hectares in the North West coast of the dry zone in Sri Lanka, west of Anuradhapura. What’s unique about this park is that it is dotted with small natural lakes or ‘Villus’ collecting rain water for wildlife.

Animal population

It is world famous for its leopard population, has the largest collection of leopards also known as the Panthera pardus kotiya in Sri Lanka. The park is also famous for Sloth bears and barking deer.

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

A Thrilling Safari at Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka

From stealthy leopards and grinning crocodiles to majestic eagles and iconic elephants, the Wilpattu National Park in Sri Lanka offers an unforgettable safari into the wild.

Wilpattu National Park| Img by: Hasitha Tudugalle via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

Getting There

Wilpattu is located around 188 km away from Colombo and the main Hunuwilgama Entrance can be easily accessed from Anuradhapura or Puttalam. The best times for a safari are generally from 6am to 10am and from 3pm to 6pm. Excursions organised by wildlife tour specialists like Nature Odyssey are an ideal option since they offer transport, accommodation and guided jeep safaris.

Mammals

On your adventure tours in Sri Lanka at Wilpattu National Park, you have the chance to see leopards, sloth bears and elephants which are amongst the biggest draws at the park. Spotted deer, water buffalos and wild pigs may also be spotted here.

Birdlife

Wilpattu is made up of “villus” or natural lakes which attract a large variety of bird species. The whistling teal, white ibis and garganey are a few of the wetland bird species that can be spotted, while the Sri Lankan junglefowl, painted stork and eagles also call this park home.

Reptiles

The mugger crocodile is one of the most prominent reptile species in Wilpattu and makes for a great photo opportunity too! The common cobra, Indian python, soft-shelled turtle and monitor lizard are also found at the park.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Despite being a relatively small country, the wildlife in Sri Lanka is one of the finest. You’ll be surprised at the number of habitats, herds of elephants, different species of birds, leopards and schools of dolphins are a few to name. The biodiversity on the island is one that will not cease to amaze you.

National Park | Image Credit - Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikimedia Commons — National Park | Image Credit – Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0 Via Wikimedia Commons

Yala National Park

Yala forms a total area of 1269 sq. km, 260 km southeast of Colombo. This huge area of grassland, lagoons and the light forest is home to plenty of wildlife. adventure tours in Sri Lanka include Yala National Park as a must visit, since it boasts animals from leopards, elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, etc.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sinhajara is a vast area of tropical rain forest bounded by rivers on three sides, another biodiversity hot spot found in the Island. You can opt for a tour package such as the likes of Silvertree Travel to coordinate and plan.

Pigeon Island National Park

A marine national park in Sri Lanka has located 312 km from Colombo. The sanctuary spans 471.4 hectares in total. On entering the Island, the first thing you’ll witness would be Blue Rock pigeons, an endangered species, nesting and breeding. The island possesses 100 species of exquisite corals, making it a breeding ground for over 300 species of fish.

Uda Walawe National park

This park centres the Uda Walawe reservoir and is ideal for elephant watching. Besides elephants, you’ll spot deer, buffalos, jackals, crocodiles, etc as the lack of dense vegetation makes way for easy spotting.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Sri Lankan Sloth Bear

Sri Lankan sloth bears with their shaggy black coats are now restricted to the Northern and Eastern lowlands jungles of Sri Lanka. They normally aren’t easily seen as they are quite the shy animals and enjoy their solitude.

Image Credit-Sandhillcrane, Sri Lanka Sloth Bear, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sri Lankan sloth bear

It is a sub species a little different to its Indian cousin and are omnivores, so they enjoy eating small fruits, bee hives and even small insects like ants and termites. They have specially developed a lower lip for gathering these small insects. You will most often find the young cubs sometimes ride on their mother’s back or perched on top of a tree as these animals are excellent climbers.

Habitat

Sri Lankan sloth bears are found in jungles especially in the dry zone. This bear can easily be spotted in Yala and Wilpattu national parks. There are many instances where humans have been attacked by the she bears with her cubs and some tribal villagers have suffered as a result of this. Therefore, close encounters are best avoided while on your jungle trek.

How to view these sloth bears

The best way to see them is to get assistance from a tour operator like Cinnamon Nature Trails, one of the many Sri Lanka wildlife tour operators that provide customized packages for customers.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Exploring the Isaan

There’s an old saying which says, ‘if you haven’t explored Isaan, you haven’t experienced Thailand’, this rings true to almost everything that’s on offer here. Want to know more?

Image by Diego Delso, Isla Tapu, Phuket, Tailandia, 2013-08-20, DD 36, CC BY-SA 3.0

1) Ton Tann Night Market

Generally considered a little more upscale than the conventional night market, here at the Ton Tann Night Market you will find various traditional food stalls and street vendors. There are many boutique shops as well, and even a large centre stage that features an array of live performances.

2) Bueng Kaen Nakhon Lake

Of all the lakes in Khon Kaen, the Bueng Kaen Nakhon Lake located to the southeast of the city centre features a variety of bars, coffee shops and restaurants all around it. Food stalls which pop up towards the evenings serve an assortment of local delicacies. If you’re looking for a hotel, Khon Kaen has many that you can check out, such as the AVANI Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre for example.

3) Wat Nong Wang

Learn about the culture of Buddhism and the history behind it at the Wat Nong Want temple which feature many relics as well as a gorgeous panoramic view of the town.

4) Horse Races

The horse races on Sundays are something to treat yourself to. You can grab a bite and even bet if you feel like it, all while enjoying a spectacle of a sport.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Plan a Trip to Wilpattu National Park Sri Lanka

Embark on a journey to witness nature at its best and raw state, discover tranquillity as you wander through the wilderness at the Wilpattu National Park.

Image Credit- Rehman Abubakr, WilpattuNationalPark-April2014 (8), CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

Located 26 Kilometers north of Puttalam and 30 Kilometers west Anuradhapura, Wilpattu Sri Lanka is placed at the lowland dry zone in the north western region of Sri Lanka. It has a number of lakes and tanks supporting a variety of wildlife. It is also regarded as one of the oldest and largest nature reserves in Sri Lanka.

A bit of History

The park was designated as a sanctuary in 1905 and was upgraded to a national park in the year of 1938. Today it has become as one of the most sought over nature travel destinations in Sri Lanka.

Climate

The region receives an annual rainfall of approximately 1000mm and the average temperature fluctuates between 25-30 Degrees. The inter monsoonal rains during March and the north east monsoonal period from December – February are the main sources of rain and what makes this land thrive with wildlife.

The Experience

The reserve is home to an extensive range of flora and fauna, some of the species of plants and animals are endemic to Sri Lanka. Witnessing them up-close and personal will certainly be a worthy experience and you can make that happen by planning your tour with Cinnamon Nature Trails.

Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+

Witnessing the Beauty of Khareef

A time when Mother Nature breathes new life into the surrounding landscapes, Khareef is the name given to the monsoon season in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and Salalah in particular. Here are some must visit places during this time (later part of July to the start of September).

Ayn Gharziz

A perfect spot for a refreshing swim during Khareef, Ayn Gharziz features an idyllic natural pool. Easy to reach from well-placed Salalah hotels, this area is also home to waterfalls and offers beautiful backdrops in which to have a picnic too.

Jebel Ittin

Another well-known picnic spot, Jebel Ittin is an enchanting destination to visit especially during Khareef. Within 25 minutes from Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, this area also offers some wonderful views and easy access to many local restaurants.

Sahalnoot Valley and Spring

The rainy season makes visiting this area with its picturesque spring particularly popular for friends and family. It provides plenty of opportunities for rewarding hikes and sharing BBQ meals together.

Mughsail Beach

The white sandy shores of Mughsail Beach are a captivating sight during Khareef (and any other time of the year!) and it has become a popular picnic spot too. One of the highlights during this time is the chance to see the full force of the area’s blowholes with the water reaching to heights of around 20 metres.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

Get one with nature! Discover the native bird species of Sri Lanka

One of the places in Sri Lanka where numerous species of birds are present throughout the year would be Yala National Park. Most of the birds seen here are indigenous birds while migrating birds drop by as well.

Image Credit- Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland CC BY-SA 2.0 () via Wikimedia Commons

The Sri Lankan Junglefowl

This class of bird is much like the red junglefowl. It is also called the Ceylon Junglefowl. The bird wears a feather coating of shades of bright yellow on the upper body, gradually darkening into orange and then a dark blue at the tail. It is also the national bird of Sri Lanka.

The Indian Peafowl

This is undeniably one of the most gorgeous birds in Yala. The male bird holds an astonishing tail in countless hues of blue. These beautiful feathered creatures are quite commonly seen when on bird watching tours.

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Also known as the white-breasted eagle, this takes after the Sanford’s Sea Eagle of Solomon Islands when it comes to looks. Fish is this bird’s main diet. Its call is like the loud honking of a goose.

Bird watching in Sri Lanka

If you wish to embark on a bird watching adventure during your stay in Sri Lanka, there are plenty of tour agents offering great packages. Also, properties belonging to major hotel chains such as those under Minor Hotels chain may offer excursions to Yala park as well.

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+