Excursions in Kalpitiya
Relaxing mind, body and soul with nature
It’s the paradise of the ocean in Kalpitiya where the breezy winds hit you with a heavenly experience that you would have never felt before, feel the difference and relax your mind, body and soul.
Leave Bar Reef Resort with a packed meal as well as a cool box with snacks and cool drinks and head for Wilpattu, which is a little over 1 hour away. You will meet your game drive jeep at the gate,and just sit back and enjoy the excursion.
The Bar Reef shelf is a stunning coral garden featuring extraordinarily beautiful coral formations with gorgeous tropical fish darting in and out around them. The Bar Reef shelf is situated just off the end of the Kalpitiya strip.
Bird Watching
Bird watching at Anaivilundawa Wildlife Sanctuary and International RAMSAR Site
Wilpattu National Park
To explore Sri Lankas nature trails on road less travelled head further up from Kalpitiya to Wilpattu National Park.
Bird watching
Bird watching at Anaivilundawa Wildlife Sanctuary and International RAMSAR Site
Bird watching or birding is a form of wildlife observation in which the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement by binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Sri Lanka is a paradise for Bird life.
Anaivilundawa is a man made wetland constructed in the 12th Century AD and is located on the western migratory bird route, A Haven for birdlife. This is a sanctuary with prolific bird life in beautiful surroundings. The vegetation of the site consists of a scenic forest in the low country dry zone and in addition to birds, mammals such as mouse deer, hare, mongoose, squirrels, wild cats (such as civets), wild boar and fruit bats and reptiles and amphibians like land monitors, water monitors, lizards, geckoes, skinks, and tortoises can be sighted.
There are over 160 species of birds at this site. However, of special interest are species such as Spoonbills, Ibises, Darters, Harriers, species of Bee-eaters an Owls etc…
Key Facts
- Accompanied by an expert naturalist (Birding by walk).
- Only 45 minutes from Bar Reef Resort.
- Air-conditioned car or mini van.
- Picnic breakfast, lunch and water are included.
- Please inquire for rates from the Reservation and Resort reception.
- Commencing @ 06.00
For further information
Wilpattu National Park
To explore Sri Lankas nature trails on road less travelled head further up from Kalpitiya to Wilpattu National Park. The park is located in the northwest coast low land dry zone roughly a one hour drive from Barreef Resort.
Wilpattu, is renowned as Sri Lanka’s largest National Park and is one of the oldest National parks. It was declared a National park in the year 1935. It was a declared Sanctuary before this period and the jungles existence is also written in the country’s ancient history.
There are many types of vegetation to be found in Wilpattu; Littoral vegetation, including Salt grass and low scrub monsoon forest with tall emergents, such as Palu (Manilkara hexandra),Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), Milla (Vitex altissima), Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Ebony (Disopyros ebenum) etc.
Wilapattu in the meaning of its name captures what it entails a land of many lakes “Willu” or collection of water bodies (tanks) of various sizes. Among Sri Lanka’s National Parks Wilpattu National Park is unique with its Biodiversity. Over 25 species of mammals, unique Flora and Birds can be found in Wilpattu Jungles.
Endangered animal species found in Sri Lanka such as the wild elephant, sloth bear, leopard, and the wild water buffalo adorn the rich wilderness of Wilpattu. The Sri Lankan elephant roam in herds while some magnificent giants walk with pride as lone elephants. Another special feature of Wilpattu is its Leopard population, renowned world over for spotting the majestic leopard. However to date the actual leopard population of this park is unknown.
The wild sambhur, spotted deer, mongoose, and mouse deer are also permanent residents of Wilpattu. Most commonly sighted reptiles slithering in the Villus (water bodies) are the water lizard, Crocodile, common Cobra, Rat snakes and the Indian Python. Among the birds one can see circling the skies of the Wilpattu is the painted stork, open bill, little cormorant, Sri Lankan Jungle fowl, many species of owls, eagles, gulls, wetland birds such as spoonbill, purple heron, egrets, white ibis, whistling teal, pintail.
Wilpattu is receives around 1000mm of Annual Rainfall mainly from the northeast monsoon between December- February and the Inter-monsoonal rains in March.
Key Facts
- Accompanied by an expert naturalist + Binoculars.
- Only 1 hour from Bar Reef Resort.
- Air-conditioned car or mini van and a comfortable safari jeep.
- Picnic breakfast, lunch and water are included.
- Please inquire for rates from the Reservation and Resort reception.
- Half day Safari (From 04.00 to 12.00 and 12.30 to 18.30) and Full day Safari (From 04.00 to 18.30).
For further information
Lagoon Tour
Hidden gems of Sri Lanka
The Lagoon tour takes you through the heart of the livelihoods of the people. The vast body of salt water breathes life in every possible sense. It’s the ideal way to see nature and the local people live side by side.
The more recent technology development in Sri Lanka in the form of Wind power plant can be seen from a far distance like white poles marking the boundary towards the Indian Ocean. The white giant fans rotating its blades to the rhythm of the wind have become a permanent backdrop to the scenic Puttlam Lagoon.
Your boat ride will take you across the pristine waters of the Lagoon in Kalpitiya towards the sand dunes and Salt Pans in a distance. The little fishing villages and local community living on the border of the Lagoon and the stretch between the lagoon and the mighty ocean will let you see the hard work the locals put in to earn their livelihood from the locally available natural resources. From small fishermen to the large scale fishermen share the same space in the lagoon. Shrimp farms which are a booming business in the Lagoon area of Kalpitiya can be observed in a distance.
For the Nature lovers young and old the time spent on the boat will give you a delightful surprise of the Marine life in the Lagoon. One can have a closer look at the diversity of Flora, Fauna, and birds endemic and common creatures to the area that make the Lagoon their habitat.
Key Facts
- Accompanied by an expert naturalist + Binoculars.
- Four hours boat ride especially to observe The Pink Dolphins of Kalpitiya (Indo – Pacific Humpback Dolphins) and bird watching.
- Two hours boat ride especially to bird watching and observe the mangrove Eco system.
- Picnic breakfast or lunch and water are included.
- Tuk Tuk ride to reach the lagoon while having local experience.
For further information