Safari special: Gentle giants
Big, cumbersome and totally awe-inspiring, our planet’s gentle giants are a phenomena best seen in their natural habitat. If you want to spot elephants or whales, we know where to find them – from huge herds gathering in Sri Lanka to migrating humpbacks in South Africa. Timing is everything, so we’ll find out when to see these goliaths and arrange game drives or whale-watching experiences led by expert guides or naturalists.
When it comes to lodges, eco-retreats and camps, we are ready with recommendations and can tailor-make a safari adventure just for you.
Experience this...
Elephants in Minneriya…
If you’d love to see elephants in the wild, your first thought might be an African safari. But this isn’t your only option. Sri Lanka – and notably Minneriya National Park, in the heart of the Cultural Triangle - is a great place to see huge numbers of Asian elephants among scrubland, forest, and wetlands. In August and September, during the dry season, these wild elephants migrate to Minneriya in search of food and water. It’s not uncommon to see around 200 elephants feeding and bathing during the ‘Great Elephant Gathering’, surrounded by cormorants, painted storks, herons, and pelicans. Keep your eyes peeled for the park’s leopards, too.
Your personal Travel Counsellor can arrange a villa stay at Water Garden Sigiriya, near one of Sri Lanka’s eight World Heritage Sites and half an hour from the park. Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, one of our ‘Green Leaf’ options, is closer still.
…or how about elephants in Khao Sok?
Elephant Hills is an award-winning luxury jungle camp in Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park. This is not your typical all-inclusive resort in Southern Thailand. Choose between two locations set two hours from each other, one in the middle of the rainforest, the other at one of the world’s only luxury floating camps on Cheow Lan Lake.
Join a two-, three- or four-day safari, which includes Elephant Hills’ ethical elephant encounter. Watch them interacting in their natural habitat, playing in the water, before helping to prepare their lunch. You can also go on jungle treks, see limestone karst formations, and canoe your way down the meandering Sok River. A fabulous experience for the whole family.
Whales in Hervey Bay…
Australia is one of the best places in the world for whale-watching, with a strong chance to see orcas, southern right whales, and dwarf minke whales as they migrate along the coastline. Humpback whales are the most commonly seen, with over 30,000 passing from June to November.
Visit Hervey Bay in Queensland in early September and you may see mothers with them, although you don’t have to be on a boat; take the Coogee to Bondi Walk in Sydney and you’ll have a good chance from this lofty look-out!
Opt for rainforest retreats like Peppers Noosa Resort, or the eco-resort Kingfisher Bay Resort around 90 minutes away by ferry and car on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island, with no roads and stunning natural beauty.
... or how about whales in Hermanus?
South Africa should also near the top of your list for a whale-watching adventure. Time your stay between June and September to catch the annual southern right whale migration, said to be the best land-based whale-watching in the world. You may even see calves in the water, as the mothers come to give birth in this area. Head to Hermanus, just under two hours from Cape Town, for the chance to spot Bryde's and humpback whales on a boat tour.
The elegant “grande dame” here is The Marine, right on the cliff path, or for a private beachfront house look at Mosselberg on Grotto Beach. We also highly recommended the neighbouring Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, which has been voted (time and again) one of the best resorts in the world and chock-full of both character and indigenous flora and fauna.
Suggested itinerary
We’ve chosen a safari experience where you can see both elephant and whales! This is the ultimate Sri Lanka experience, staying at boutique hotels, lodges and eco-tents en route. First up is Minneriya National Park and Horton Plains National Park, where you'll also discover stunning grasslands and the cloud forest, home to rare birds and large herds of deer.
We’ll take you on a safari into Yala National Park in search of leopards (the park has one of the world’s highest densities), before entering Sinharaja rainforest, often compared to the Amazon. Here, walk among giant gum trees and gaze up into the canopy to spot purple-faced leaf monkeys. We’ll also arrange for a whale and dolphin-watching boat excursion from the southern town of Mirissa.
Travel style
Your flight to Sri Lanka will land in Colombo and our representative will meet you at the airport to start your adventure smoothly. We’ll arrange transfers between each hotel and safari location in a private car. Your drivers will be English-speaking and qualified by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.
We can make a tailor-made adventure to suit you, so you can swap experiences, choose to stay longer at a destination, or pick a few ideas and let us create a holiday from scratch. Talk to your Travel Counsellor to start planning.
Your handcrafted journey starts here
- 1 night at Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo in an Executive Suite on a Bed and Breakfast basis
- 2 nights at Water Garden Sigiriya Hotel in a Deluxe Villa on a Half Board basis
- 2 nights at The Bellwood Manor, a boutique hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Stay in a Junior Suite on a Half Board basis
- 2 nights at the luxurious Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala National Park. Stay in a Cocoon Suite on an All Inclusive basis
- 1 night at The Rainforest Ecolodge in the Sinharaja rainforest. Stay in a Chalet on a Full Board basis
- 2 nights at Cape Weligama - Relais & Chateaux in Weligama. Stay in a Master Suite on a Bed and Breakfast basis
- Return flights with Etihad Airways and private car transfers between the hotels and attractions listed on the full itinerary (ask us for details)
- 4x4 safari in Minneriya National Park with a naturalist guide
- Entrance to Dambulla Cave Temple (your guide will climb with you)
- A safari in Yala National Park with a trekker and driver
- Tour of Galle Fort and Galle with your driver-guide
- Whale and dolphin-watching boat excursion from Mirissa (seasonal Nov-April).
Prices from £6,635 per person including the whale-watching excursion. Flight upgrades are available on request. Subject to availability, T&Cs apply.
Contact your Travel Counsellor today to get things started.
