On Monday we left Kalpitiya and arrived at the Backwaters Lodge on the outskirts of the Wilpattu National Park for a four night stay. The few Sri Lankans that we had told our plans to stayed that four days there was way too long. “There is nothing to do there!” But our four night stay was nonrefundable and a bit pricey, so we were locked in. We arrived crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. And our highest hopes were exceeded! It is an oasis of nature with wonderful hospitality and an aura of relaxation that we thoroughly enjoyed. The four days went by too quickly!

On Tuesday we did schoolwork in the morning and then relaxed in the afternoon. We saw in the river, read books in the hammocks, rented a couple of kayaks for an hour, watched the monkeys jump from tree to tree and just chilled. It was wonderful! There are several neat little places to sit and relax throughout the property. And the owner and staff are kind and helpful. They serve delicious, fresh, traditional food family-style which has been a wonderful way to get to try new foods.

On Wednesday, September 17th, we headed out on our big adventure. A full day safari through the Wilpattu National Park. It was an unbelievable experience! We saw so much wildlife up close and the park itself is so beautiful and diverse. We saw a ton of monkeys, a snake eating ants out of an ant hill, a lot of peacocks wandering around, so many different birds, several crocodiles (some sunning themselves, some swimming), a lot of deer from babies to large bucks, several buffalos (including a young male and older male who had a screaming fight before the older male charged the younger one) and two monitor lizards.

All of which was amazing. But the highlights were the elephants and the leopards. First we saw a large male leopard emerge from the forest and walk across the path in front of us not more than 10 meters away. It was breathtaking to see how powerful and muscular he was! Later on another jeep spotted a female napping on the path and everyone converged there. She was harder to see and it was crowded, but still beautiful. The first elephant we saw as we were watching a buffalo. Out of the corner of our eye, we saw a male elephant emerge from the forest and walk into the shallow lake. We spent a long time watching him use his truck to grab some wet grass, shake it off and eat it. I could have watched him all day! Later on, on our way out of the park, we saw three adults and two baby elephants off in the distance. And then, when we were almost out of the park, we had a scary encounter (but I don’t think we were in any actual danger). We saw a young male elephant pretty close to the road, and our driver/guide warned us that he might charge the jeep because he is in a period of high reproductive hormones, heightened aggression, and increased sexual behavior. Well, he did just that! He ran up the small bank and towards the jeep, but our driver knew just what to do. He sped up and then stopped abruptly, and the elephant stopped and went on his way. A few minutes later, we saw the female elephant that he was likely looking for. What an amazing opportunity to experience wildlife in their natural habitat, doing what they do. I think this is an experience that will stay with all of us!

We spent four days outside, mostly barefoot, and the kids had the space and freedom to roam and do their own thing which was a nice change of pace for all of us. From there we drove to Kandy, where we are spending four days exploring the area.