Mr. Michael Andrew Rile & Mrs. Wendy Kay R Heintz
Guide - Ruwan Sampath
Driver - Ruwan Fernando
Day 1:
Company driver Ruwan picked our two guests from Colombo airport around 4 PM and transfer to Aggressor Safari Lodge. It took around 3 hours to get to the lodge. On the way Ruwan stopped at a local restaurant for refreshment. Guests arrived at the lodge at 7.15PM after welcome drink guests went to their chalet to get changed. Guests stayed at the chalet in front of the river. Around 8.15 PM guests had their 1st dinner at the lodge. Guests told me they like to test a lot of Asian food since they lived in Singapore for a long time. I have introduced the lodge and other staff to the guests and brief them on the next few days.
Day 2:
After breakfast we left for Sigiriya for an exciting day ahead. Around 10 am we started to climb the rock they both were very fast and we managed to climb up to Lion Rock within 40 min time. As usual the surrounding views were fantastic. Guests took the opportunity take few pictures.
Around 1.30pm we had our lunch & guests enjoyed local foods in a restaurant in Sigiriya.
About 2pm we drove back to Habarana and entered Eco Park to see elephants gathering. There were a few small groups of elephants totaling more than 100. Few baby elephants interacted with their mothers, we kept our distance from them since herds are very protective of the baby elephants.
After elephant safari we got back to the lodge around 7.30 pm, had local dinner right after and had a few interesting conversations.
Day 3:
Early morning we went on our first Wilpattu national park game drive. At 6 am we entered the park. As a keen bird watcher Mrs. Wendy surprise by the number of different birds she saw at the park. Malabar pied hornbill was her favorite. They saw elephants, large samba deer, crocodiles, leopards, bear etc. It was a perfect safari. Back to the lodge we had local rice and curry as requested by guests. Then we visited a local ancient temple dating back to more than 125 years. Evening time we took guests to local dam where they witness small wild animals and lots of birds. Around 8 pm we had dinner.
Day 4:
After breakfast we left for Anuradhapura our first kingdom (3rd century AD to 10thcentury BC) we visited Isurumuniya, Tuparamaya, Sri MahaBodiya, JethawanaAramaya Ruwanweli Maha Stupaya etc… there was no sunny weather and it was a good time to walk.
From Anuradhapura we went to Polonnaruwa and on the way guests had a mixed lunch at Rajarata hotel.
Around 2pm guests checked in at Deer park hotel.
Around 6pm we went to the monkey research center to do the Loris tour. Where the guests received a warm welcome and cup of coffee. After the coffee we started our Loris tour. We spent about two hours there and managed to see five Loris’. We went back to the hotel about 8.45 and had dinner there.
Day 5:
After breakfast we left for Polonnaruwa ancient city around 8.30 from the hotel. Polonnaruwa belongs to the 10-13 centuries AD. In there we first met a head of about 30 macaque and we spent 20 minutes watching and photographing their activities. Then after a short walk the family of macaques came toward us. We went to see Manik Viharaya (Stupa) and Monkey kingdom main film location and Gal Vihara. Around 12 we went back to hotel Deer Park. Guests stayed a little longer there and enjoyed the pool. After we went back to the hotel, on our way we stopped in a local small shop for afternoon tea. For dinner, the guests were served local food call Pittu.
Day 6:
Today the guests slept for a bit longer and had a late breakfast. Guests took the opportunity to explore the lodge. Our senior staff Bandu and I took them for a walk. Again Wendy saw a lot of local birds, especially Ceylon Spurfowl endemic bird of Sri Lanka. They also had a village walk. Bandu took them to a local market.
Around 2pm we went for our second game drive at Willpattu Park and we had a very successful secession with variety of animal sights. We had both local and western dinner with a few glasses of wine.
Day 7:
After breakfast the guests relaxed for a few hours and left to the airport for their return flight back to the USA.
