Lots of wildlife and the wonderful Elephant Transit Centre at feeding time.
The drive from Kandy to Udu Walawe took us over mountains and through numerous tree-shaded tea estates. Having visited several tea estates around the world, including in India, we didn't want to stay here but it was nice to pass through them - it's a very scenic drive.
We stopped at a fruit stall to get some of the lovely red bananas and other fruit for our driver, Ruwan.
A little later at a local cafe high in the mountains with fine views for Ruwan to have breakfast. We tried roti filled with a spicy mushroom mix which was very good, the spiciness not too much for us which was nice to know as Ruwan said it was fairly typical for Sri Lanka. When we arrived in the country we were warned by numerous people that Sri Lankans like their curries very spicy!
We didn't try the sweet, dark concoction wrapped in a leaf. It was probably jaggery which is very sweet and good, but this smelled really bad.
We stopped at a couple of viewpoints along the way, including at Ella Falls, arriving at our next hotel, Kalu's Hideaway, around 3:30pm.
Though the room was quite spartan, it was clean, and perfectly acceptable for one night, which was all we had here. The public areas are full of cricketing memorabilia - it is owned by the famous Sri Lankan cricketer Romesh Kaluwitharana.
The following day we had a a 5:30 a.m. start for Udu Walawe NP.
It was a chaotic entry to the park, with three stops for paperwork. There were plenty of jeeps but once inside the park they split up and we were soon on our own spotting lots of different birds.
There were lots of Green Bee-eaters and quite a few Water Buffalo.
As were travelling down the track a young male elephant suddenly dashed out of the bush on our right hand side, eye wide open, screeching as if he were attacking! Immediately a large female in front and to the left came charging and bellowing towards us. Our driver banged on the jeep bonnet a couple of times and they soon calmed down.
Two smaller females were also part of the group, helping to look after the calf. They all carried on feeding, walking around the jeep, then wandered off into the bush. It was an incredible experience, though I never like to upset the elephants if at all possible.
We had our picnic breakfast by a lovely large lake where there were lots of Water Buffalo and different birds.
We came upon another small group of elephants, not sure if they were the same as we'd seen earlier. They were placidly feeding by the side of the track.
We came across yet more elephants, including a huge male in the bush.
There were many animals that we couldn't catch on camera including a beautiful Paradise Flycatcher and a jungle cat which dashed across the road in front of us so fast I didn't even have time to lift the camera! It was small, but larger than a domestic cat.
This was a really lovely experience.
The Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation and is supported by the Born Free Foundation. They care for orphaned elephants until they are old enough to be released into the wild.
When the elephants first arrive they undergo intensive health care and are introduced to a rehabilitating herd. They are fed on milk initially and, as they grow, are allowed increasing amounts of freedom to live in the wild. They return voluntarily at feeding times. After 5-7 years they are released into the wild and are monitored with GPS/VHF collars to ensure a successful transition and wellbeing.
Feeding time is open to tourists to watch but it is very well-organised, with the audience kept separately on a terraced stand behind a fence - everyone gets a good view.
We went to the 10:30 a.m. feeding time. An older elephant called Namal with a prosthetic leg (courtesy of Cologne University which also donated his enclosure and medical training facility) was fed first then led away into his own compound. Then the rest of the elephants are allowed in.
The smaller elephants run into the feeding area and head straight for the attendants who feed them milk through funnels and hoses. The older ones are a little more sedate and feed on some kind of grain and sugar cane (I think).
