It was a new experience in camping. Glamour camping. Glamping. And we were the only guests...the experience was just for us on this perfect night under the Sri Lankan sky. The campsite at Big Game camp in Katamaguwa we had booked a night at was like a little luxury hideaway resort in the forest.
Esta es sin duda alguna la mejor forma de comenzar la experiencia en safaris pues una carpa de lujo con baño incluído nos salvo de salir a media noche afuera de esta alrededor de los posibles animales inesperados.. Una forma lujosa de acampar!
We walked into the camp site in the late morning after coming up from Mirissa. It was spacious, a pond in the middle where kingfisher were looking for lunch, a dining area behind that, and little paths leading off to tents which made it all very private. Our tent was big, with a living room area with chairs and a sofa, and inside the tent, a double bed and a bathroom with hot shower and toiletries. There was also a resident frog hopping around.
I arranged an afternoon safari, and paid for a ranger to explain things to us – Keith is a lovely young chap, very educated and passionate about his work, who is going on to do his PDD in South Africa soon. It was well worth getting him to come along with us. It was hot, dusty, the tracks full of deep dried track marks and holes, making us wish we hadn’t eaten just before. Still, we saw all sorts on the hot and bumpy trip- some grumpy-looking buffalo, crocodile, warthogs, elephants, and, right at the end, a leopard at a watering hole – a beautiful sight, and we lingered there for some time. There isn’t an abundance of wildlife, which makes it all the more exciting when you do see something, and a ranger here has to work hard to find things. Still, sightings of impala around the waterhole, herons standing on the heads of buffalos, elephants walking up the lake banks past crocodiles basking open-mouthed, and the ever-present but seldom seen leopards made for a very special afternoon.
Coming back from this incredible safari, which included the lucky sighting of the elusive leopard at a watering hole, we were welcomed with the scene of a ring of candles around a single dining table, another smaller table full of wine and spirits, smartly dressed waiters….and we were all alone here in middle of Yala National Park, under a million stars.
