Hill Country

Mist-shrouded mountains, rolling tea plantations, cascading waterfalls and quaint hilltop villages - these are some of the aspects of the enchanting hill country, which rises to over 2,500m in the island's central heartland. A 125km distance by car or rail from Colombo , this region offers you the chance to escape to a world that scarcely seems possible in the tropics. With surreal landscapes, cool climes and a rich heritage, the hill country is a haven for nature lovers, hikers, adventure-seekers and those simply in search of peace and tranquility.

Whether you want to go rock climbing, fish for trout, play golf in stunning natural surroundings, climb a sacred mountain or trek through the rugged wilderness, the beguiling hill country has it all and will reinvigorate the body and refresh the soul.

Waterfalls
Waterfalls are one of the most fascinating of natural phenomena. The mesmerizing sight of free-falling water, the thunderous roar as it hits the rocks below, and the curiousity of what lies behind the aqueous curtain, all contribute to this fascination.

In comparison to its size, Sri Lanka has a surprising abundance of many things, including waterfalls . about 100, but there may be some undiscovered. Many of these waterfalls are of impressive height, the tallest being Bambarakanda, which is 263m. Even if they aren't, they are usually distinctive for some reason or another.

Parks & Gardens
Indeed, the country is listed by Conservation International as one of the world's 34 official "Biodiversity Hotspots".In addition, The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest, is the seventh UNESCO World Heritage Site.Sri Lanka�s high proportion of endemic species is remarkable. Take land crabs: all 51 species are endemic.

Influenced by Buddhist respect for all living beings, Sri Lanka has a well-entrenched conservation ethic. Indeed, Udawattakelle Sanctuary in Kandy is probably the world's oldest wilderness protected area.There are 12 National Parks and 52 Sanctuaries, which together account for13% of Sri Lanka's land area.

A national park safari offers the chance to see some of Sri Lanka's 92 mammals (16 endemic) - elephant, leopard, sloth bear, sambhur, spotted deer, mouse- and barking-deer, porcupine, ant-eater, civet cat, giant squirrel, and monkeys such as the macaque, purple-faced leaf monkey and grey langur.

Whale Watching
Above the waterline whales breach the surface, offering tantalizing glimpses or longer, lingering views. To stare into the eye of one of these mysterious, huge animals is to look back to the beginning of time. Blue whales, the largest animal on the planet, are seen off south coast Mirissa from November to May, as are Humpback and Sperm whales, while on the north-west coast, off Kalpitiya peninsula, dolphins by the score cut through the brilliant blue sea, leaping, spinning, frolicking . . .

Bird Watching
Sri Lanka.s birdlife is astonishing: ornithologists and birdwatchers flock here to take in such dazzling encounters as a flamboyant peacock strutting like a courtier, trying to impress the hens with his shimmering tail feathers, and a White-bellied Sea Eagle swooping from his perch on a half-submerged tree, diving low over an inland tank to pluck a fish from the water. And not forgetting a Sri Lankan Paradise Flycatcher flitting from perch to perch its amazingly long tail feathers bobbing behind it like a chestnut ribbon.

Hornbills are seen nesting in hollowed tree trunks, completely sealed in except for a small hole sufficient only for their partners to insert food, while noisy flocks of parakeets speckle the blue sky green. In Sinharaja Forest Reserve and other wet zone forests, mixed feeding flocks feature prominently, with many species travelling together through the forest plucking insects from the air, pulling grubs from tree-trunks and sipping nectar from flowers.

Even when confined to the city, birdwatching is an option. Sunbirds dart low through garden groves while stocky-beaked Barbets flash pale green in the higher branches. Koels and Coucals seem to compete with one another for top volume, their raucous morning calls rousing many from slumber. Crows, so common as to be often overlooked, are always worth watching as they bicker and badger one another over food scraps and nesting materials.

Elephants

September, towards the end of the dry season, most water sources have disappeared. The Minneriya tank, however, retains water throughout the parched months, so there are elephant gatherings here every year at this time, the number of these gentle, charismatic giants sometimes exceeding 300. To see so many together - playing, eating, swimming, looking for mates - is nothing but breathtaking.

Elephants may be the most celebrated of Sri Lanka.s diverse wildlife, but they represent just one actor on a crowded ecological stage. For instance, this is one of the best places in the world to see the elusive leopard, and one of the only places where this big cat is top predator . the king of the Sri Lankan jungle. With striking markings, a sleek, powerful body, and graceful movements, the leopard is thrilling to observe . try Yala National Park in the south-east coastal arid zone.