Sri Lanka’s Big Five
If you’re a passionate wildlife photographer looking for a unique and immersive experience, Sri Lanka’s Big Five Wildlife Photography Tour is the perfect opportunity to capture the island’s most iconic animals in their natural habitats. This carefully crafted 12-day journey takes you through some of Sri Lanka’s most remarkable national parks and wilderness areas, offering the chance to photograph not only the famous “Big Five” — leopards, elephants, bears, buffaloes, and deer — but also a stunning variety of birdlife, reptiles, and other fascinating creatures.
Our adventure kicks off at Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest and most untamed reserve. Known for its ancient dry forests, peaceful lagoons, and diverse ecosystems, Wilpattu offers incredible photographic opportunities. Here, we’ll spend full days exploring the park with private safari vehicles and expert guides, ensuring we’re in the right place at the right time to capture its famous residents — like the elusive leopard, wild elephants, and the Sri Lanka Sloth Bear. This park is also home to a variety of birds, including the Sri Lanka Junglefowl, making it a perfect spot for both wildlife and bird photographers.
From Wilpattu, we’ll head to Minneriya National Park, where you’ll witness the incredible Great Elephant Gathering. During the dry season, herds of elephants gather at the Minneriya Tank, providing one of the best opportunities for large herd photography. These gentle giants are often seen bathing and interacting with one another, and the park’s open landscapes and golden-hour lighting make for breathtaking shots. We’ll also photograph other wildlife such as wild boar, crocodiles, and water buffalo, making for a varied and fulfilling experience.
Next, we venture to the cool highlands of Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its dramatic landscapes, endemic species, and misty weather, Horton Plains is a photographer’s paradise. As we hike through the park’s grasslands and forests, we’ll have the chance to photograph rare birds like the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, the Blue Magpie, and the Yellow-eared Bulbul, as well as other wildlife, including sambar deer and wild boar. The stunning panoramic views, especially from World’s End, create a magical backdrop for your photographs, offering both wide-angle landscape shots and intimate wildlife portraits.
Then, we’ll travel to the Sinharaja Rainforest, one of the last remaining tropical rainforests in Sri Lanka and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This biodiverse hotspot is a must-visit for photographers looking to capture endemic species in a truly unique setting. With the help of local guides, we’ll track down rare and elusive species like the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Layard’s Parakeet, and Red-faced Malkoha. Sinharaja is also perfect for macro photography, with opportunities to photograph insects, reptiles, and amphibians. If you’re interested in night photography, the rainforest offers incredible chances to capture nocturnal creatures in their natural environment.
Throughout the tour, we’ll ensure your comfort with carefully chosen lodges that offer modern amenities, air conditioning, and delicious local cuisine. All meals, airport transfers, and logistics are taken care of, so you can focus entirely on your photography.
This tour is ideal for wildlife photographers who want to sharpen their skills while immersed in one of the most biodiverse environments on the planet. You’ll be guided by local experts and accompanied by a professional photographer, providing personalized advice and support throughout the journey to ensure you make the most of every photographic opportunity.
Leopard Photography: Yala National Park is one of the best places in the world to photograph leopards. Known for its high density of these elusive big cats, you’ll have the chance to capture stunning images of leopards in action, from stalking prey to resting in the shade.
Incredible Wildlife: Beyond leopards, Yala is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including elephants, crocodiles, wild boar, and a variety of bird species such as the Painted Stork and Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. This diverse ecosystem provides endless opportunities to capture wildlife in their natural habitats.
Expert Guidance: Throughout your journey, you’ll be guided by experienced wildlife photographers and naturalists who will share their knowledge and expertise. With their help, you’ll gain invaluable tips on composition, lighting, and capturing the essence of Sri Lanka’s wild landscapes and creatures.
Small Group: With a maximum of 6 guests, this tour offers an intimate experience where you’ll have personalized attention and plenty of time for one-on-one advice on how to improve your photography skills.
Private Safari Vehicles: We’ll travel in exclusive safari vehicles, giving us the freedom to explore off-the-beaten-path locations within the park. This ensures the best chances to find wildlife and get those perfect shots, without the distraction of larger crowds.
Day 1: Arrive Sri Lanka
Upon your arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo), our representative will greet you and transfer you to your first destination, Negombo. This laid-back coastal village offers the perfect opportunity to rest after your long flight. It’s a calm beachside town where you can unwind, prepare your gear, and get to know your fellow photography enthusiasts.
Overnight: Negombo
Day 2: Transfer to Wilpattu National Park
After a restful night, enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for your first wildlife photography experience. We’ll depart for Wilpattu National Park, which is approximately a 4-5 hour drive from Negombo. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and freshen up before your afternoon safari. Wilpattu is renowned for its elusive leopard population, and the park also hosts sloth bears, elephants, and diverse bird species.
Afternoon Safari: Explore the park’s lakes (villus) and dry forests as you photograph the unique wildlife in the golden light.
Overnight: Wilpattu National Park
Day 3: Full Day Safari in Wilpattu National Park
Start your day with an early morning safari. This is the best time to capture leopards in their natural habitat, as they are most active during the cooler hours of the morning. The park is also home to large populations of elephants, offering fantastic opportunities to photograph these majestic creatures.
Packed Breakfast & Lunch: We’ll provide packed meals for you to enjoy inside the park, allowing for maximum photography time.
Midday Break: Enjoy your packed breakfast and lunch inside the park while resting and waiting for new wildlife sightings. The cooler, shaded areas are perfect for photography and relaxation. Afternoon Safari: Continue exploring Wilpattu’s vast wilderness in the afternoon, when the wildlife is active again, and the lighting is perfect for capturing dramatic landscapes and wildlife moments.
Overnight: Wilpattu National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Minneriya National Park
Enjoy breakfast and prepare for your next wildlife adventure. Afterward, we’ll drive to Minneriya National Park (approximately 3 hours). Minneriya is famous for the Great Elephant Gathering, a natural phenomenon where large herds of elephants gather around the park’s Minneriya Tank. This is an unmissable chance to photograph elephants in a stunning setting. Afternoon Safari: Capture the elephants as they drink, bathe, and socialize in the reservoir. Look out for other wildlife as well, including wild boars, water buffaloes, and an array of bird species.
Overnight: Habarana
Day 5: Full Day Safari in Minneriya National Park
Begin your day with an early morning safari to capture the elephants in the soft light of dawn. The park offers various landscapes, from dense forests to open plains, which provide varied opportunities for wildlife photography. The Great Elephant Gathering occurs mainly in the dry season (June to September), making this a prime time for capturing large herds.
Midday Break: Return to the lodge for lunch and a break.
Afternoon Safari: Explore other sections of Minneriya, photographing various bird species and other wildlife like sambar deer, crocodiles, and leopards. Overnight: Habarana
Day 6: Transfer to Horton Plains National Park
After breakfast, we’ll drive to the cool, misty highlands of Horton Plains National Park (approximately 4 hours). Upon arrival, check into your accommodation before setting out for the World’s End Hike, one of Sri Lanka’s most famous treks. The hike offers panoramic views of the central hills and the valley below.
Photography Focus: Capture the stunning landscape, endemic species such as the purple-faced langur, and the elusive Sri Lankan sambar deer. The cliff drop at World’s End makes for dramatic landscape shots.
Overnight: Nuwara Eliya
Day 7: Morning Safari in Horton Plains & Transfer to Kumana National Park
Begin your day with a sunrise safari in Horton Plains. As the mist clears, photograph the rich biodiversity of the park, including endemic plants, animals, and birds like the Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and Sri Lanka White-eye.
Late Morning Transfer: After the safari, drive to Kumana National Park (approximately 5 hours).
Evening Safari: Upon arrival, embark on an evening safari through Kumana’s wetlands and scrublands. The park is famous for its birdlife, especially migratory birds. You’ll also have a chance to spot elephants, leopards, and crocodiles.
Overnight: Kumana National Park
Day 8: Full Day Safari in Kumana National Park
Start your day with a morning safari in Kumana National Park. This park is a paradise for bird photographers, with over 200 species of birds. You might capture images of the Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Painted Storks, and Herons. There’s also a chance to photograph elephants and leopards in the park’s diverse habitats. Afternoon Safari: The late afternoon is perfect for capturing wildlife as they come to waterholes and rivers. Look for leopards in the dense forest and elephants along the wetlands.
Overnight: Kumana National Park
Day 9: Transfer to Yala National Park
After breakfast, we’ll drive from Kumana to Yala National Park (approximately 3-4 hours). Yala is one of the most famous parks in Sri Lanka, known for its high density of leopards and diverse wildlife. Upon arrival, we’ll check into your lodge near the park.
Afternoon Safari: In the afternoon, head out for an evening safari in Yala. This park offers excellent opportunities to capture the elusive leopard, along with elephants, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species. The golden hour provides fantastic light for photography, especially in the park’s varied landscapes.
Overnight: Yala
Day 10: Full Day Safari in Yala National Park
Spend your day exploring Yala National Park on a full-day safari. This park is famous for its high concentration of leopards, which makes it one of the best places for photographing these big cats. Packed Breakfast & Lunch: Meals will be provided for you to enjoy inside the park, maximizing your time in the field. Midday Break: Enjoy your packed meals at a scenic spot inside the park, where you can relax and observe wildlife.
Afternoon Safari: Continue your safari, capturing more of Yala’s wildlife in the late afternoon light. You may encounter elephants, crocodiles, and a variety of birds, along with the chance to spot leopards in the park’s open terrain.
Overnight: Yala
Day 11: Transfer to Sinharaja Rainforest
After breakfast, transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sinharaja Rainforest (approximately 4-5 hours). This rainforest is home to an incredible variety of endemic species, including rare birds, plants, and insects. Afternoon Exploration: Enjoy a guided rainforest walk, photographing the lush vegetation, endemic birds like the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, and primates such as the Purple-faced Langur.
Overnight: Sinharaja
Day 12: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure.