Nursing severe hangovers we managed to get up, shower, have a quick breakfast and check out by an impressive 7am! If there was anything that was going to get us out of bed it was the promise of baby elephants!
We met our driver/guide and hit the road from Colombo to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage (approx 90kms drive away).
When we arrived several cheeky baby elephants were waiting patiently to be fed their morning bottles of milk. They made quick work of the large bottles, eagerly slurping them down in just a few seconds.
Apparently Pinnawala was first started as a sanctuary to care for orphaned or injured baby elephants. Although it seems to have developed into a circus/tourist attraction. The baby elephants were chained for their morning bottle feed which, while probably practical considering the number of tourists watching, it still wasn’t nice to see. Most of the larger elephants were unchained and seemed free to roam during the day, albeit watched closely by lots of men holding big sticks with sharp metal points on them. Our driver also explained that there is now a breeding program and many elephants are either sold or given away to Hindu/Buddhist temples – several of these will probably live a lonely life chained up in the corner of a temple.
While we were standing a good distance away watching the larger elephants, a mahout (with his large stick) called us over to take a photo with one of the elephants, it was a little awkward and I didn’t understand what was going on, then it became apparent when he asked for 5000 Rupees (around US$35-40!!!). No we did not pay.
It was soon bathing time so the hordes of tourists cross the road and walk town a path lined with shops to the gorge. The herd of elephants soon arrived and were ushered into the water by the men with sticks. We saw one mahout poke an elephant in his foot which was distressing. People say their skin is tough so it is only like a nudge but it wasn’t nice to see. The elephants then stand around for a while. A few sprayed water over themselves with their trunks.
Even though we were in the shade it was blisteringly hot, so we decided we’d seen enough and got back on the road.
We checked into our lovely hotel – the Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana – and found the area plagued with monkeys!
These fellas were curious to see inside our room…
After a swim in the pool to cool down, a jeep arrived to collect us and take us to Minneriya National Park.
We paid the entrance fee and headed inside the park. After about 10 minutes driving along a dirt track the jungle cleared and we spotted our first wild elephant.
A young male thrashing some grass with his trunk. Immediately you could tell this elephant was happier than those we saw at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.
The jeep continued over a shallow creek and into a larger clearing revealing maybe fifty or so elephants, of all sizes, heading to the lake.
It was very special to watch.
Elephants weren’t the only thing we saw that afternoon. There was also a few crocodiles, plenty of birds, and this guy…
Undoubtedly the highlight of the day was spying this fellow…
The largest male we saw. He emerged from the jungle, strutted over to the lake and proceeded to give himself a long bath. Afterwards he started approaching the jeeps that had gathered around to gawk. As we drove away he took a particular interest in our jeep and followed us at quite a pace.
He got very close but luckily lost interest and changed direction. Phew!
Cinnamon Lodge Hotel, Ambepussa-Kurunegala-Trincomalee Hwy, Habarana, Sri Lanka
http://www.cinnamonhotels.com/CinnamonLodgeHabarana.htm
jamoandjen 