27 Oct 2024
I can't recommend this enough - as an avid birdwatcher I was looking forward to seeing some Sri Lankan avifauna. Aruna was so knowledgeable, helpful, and also spoke fantastic English. You could tell he had such a passion for nature and deep knowledge that he wanted to share.
I didn't bring binoculars with me but I didn't feel like I needed them given the birds I saw were mostly in flight and the mangroves were very dense. I was expecting to see 5 or so different species, but in the end I counted 27 (and water monitors and monkeys too). The wetlands are vast and the boat was absolutely necessary for getting around some of the quieter parts. Even for non-birdwatchers this could be a lovely calm break in peaceful surroundings!