/ Rainforest Bird-watching tour
Sri Lanka consists of central highland belt, coastal plains and wet & dry zone forests making homes for endemic, migrant, water and wading birds. Sinharaja rainforest, with 147 bird species including 21 out of 26 bird species endemic to Sri Lanka, is a red-hot bird watching destination in the island.
This evergreen rainforest has been recognized as a world heritage and boasts a complex biodiversity. The vegetation structure of Sinharaja consists of several vertical layers (overstory, canopy, understory, shrub layer and ground level) with different bird species making habitats at each level. Among the many endemic birds Red-faced Malkoha, the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie and the Ashy-headed Babbler are some of the prominent birds you may come across during a bird watching tour.
Bird watching is an art. In particular, with a complex and diverse ecosystem, bird watching in a rainforest needs totally different skills, experience and knowledge. This is where Ceylon Rustic Guide shines.
Experience early morning in the rainforest and listen to the chorus of sounds in the waking wilderness of Sinharaja – the only place in the world to spot certain species of birds. Search for one of the smallest orchids on Earth and endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as a variety of rare insects, reptiles and amphibians. Sinharaja is known as ‘the lungs of the island’ due to its recycling policy and our love for nature – even if we are far away from the rainforest, we benefit from it every day.
This is a full-day tour that starts and ends in Colombo, and is suitable for nature lovers of all ages.
Key Details
Deniyaya/Kudawa
3.00am/6.00am
Fully Air-Conditioned Car/Safari Jeep
6 hours
Colombo/Deniyaya/Kudawa
Solo/Bird-lovers/Couple/Family/Students
Tour Highlights
Min 2, Max 20
Accommodation in Colombo/Deniyaya/Rathnapura
Binocular, Trekking shoes, Water
Birding, Trekking
What Included
colombo stay
Trip Itinerary
2.00 AMYou will be pick up from your hotel in Colombo
6.00 AMReach Deniyaya/Kudawa
6.30 AMArrive at the buffer zone village (the final point that cars can go – from here onwards, only tuk tuks can help) and travel through the beautiful landscape of rice fields, palm trees and bamboo to your destination, marveling at the wild cinnamon, coffee plants, ferns and wild ginger you will see on the way. Plus, you can spot a few species of bird here in the morning. It’s a 500 meter walk to the entrance – make sure you’re dressed for the jungle, with socks coming up over your trousers to stop the leaches getting in. Brush your shoes with salt before hand – they don’t like it!
When you reach the rainforest, your guide will take you along a well-marked path under the 45m-high canopy. Although there are a lot of species of birds around to grab your attention, explore at a slow pace, as the path is slippery with leaches. Due to the high density of the forest, it is not easy to see the birds unless you have a skilled eye. Walk slowly and quietly under the four-layer canopy structure, using peripheral vision to spot the wildlife. Meanwhile, your guide will introduce some natural medicine that can be found during your two-hour trek to the waterfall. You’ll also see lizards, spiders, endemic black monkeys, giant squirrels, black centipedes and all kinds of local flora as you walk.
Have a packed lunch at a natural stone terrace after diving in for a refreshing bath at the waterfall – although it’s colder than the sea, which is at least 28 degrees Celsius, it is still lovely. You can also enjoy the jump from the top of the waterfall and impress your friends!
In the evening, you will visit a buffer zone village. The aim is to find a few endemic birds that were deep in the rainforest during the morning hours. As you make your way back, you will see a huge tree that is more than 400 years old, according to locals – an undeniable impression of majesty in the rainforest. In the late evening, travel back to Colombo.
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