Safari in Minnery National Park
The territory of the Minnery Park was announced by the reserve in 1938, although it was National Park for about 20 years ago. The park around the reservoir of the Minnery, which has historical importance (he was built by the Mahasen king in the third century of our era). In the dry season on the juicy meadows of the park (more precisely, on the exposed bottom of the reservoir, in which the grass grows with pleasure) the elephants living in the forests of the Matale region, Polonnarvava and Trincomalee (in total meadows wanders to 400 elephants, although according to some data, all 700). Here and tourists visit Minnereya mainly due to elephants, especially in the dry season. When will you see this? And the park is one of the 70 key ornithological territories of Sri Lanka, that is, endemic birds there is a huge number.And not only birds, but, for example, two rare types of monkeys - this is a Red Gulman and Ceylon Macak (respectively, there are such only on this island). In the park, several types of landscapes are mountain forests, shrubs, meadows, rocky outcrops and water-marshy. The park is beautiful and well-kept, albeit without good asphalted roads (nothing terrible). During the safari in the park you can admire not only by elephants, but also with peacocks and buffaloes. In the low season and at the beginning of the dry season there are few tourists - up to 15 jeeps at the same time, but you can imagine what is happening in a high season! The Lonely Planet Edition placed these processions of elephants on the Park meadows on the sixth place in the list of world spectacles.
Safari in Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla's National Park received its status relatively recently, in 2002, but the place is a long time for a long time is insanely popular among tourists. Park's reservoirs also attract numerous animals - Srilaskiy Zambara (like deer), Srilaskiy spotted deer, boars, leopards and gubachi (such bears) - which can be seen at certain points on the water. But still crocodiles, birds, butterflies ... and elephants are definitely. Many elephants! As noted above, in the period of drought, elephants from the surroundings are collected in the Minneria Park. In September, elephants are extended already in Kaudulla Park in search of more water and food.Moreover, they are not afraid of jeeps, rushing in the meadows, they seemed to be accustomed to an excitement (the main thing is not to inform mom-sling and not to ride close to the kids-elephant - and this is exactly how many drivers come).
The only thing - people seem to do not know how to lead themselves to such conditions: 60 jeeps travel around like crazy to get to the elephants. Roads in the park, of course, there are no, so that cars chase straight on the grass (which elephants, between those, came here there is). It seems that drivers have no rights at all and at least some ideas about the protection of animals and the environment.
Spa salons
If you stop, for example, at the Cinnamon Lodge Habarana 5 * Hotel and other hotels are more recently, the spa salons are most likely there will be (in the first there are for sure). But you can also look at "Habarana Ayurvedic SPA" (97 Anuradhapura Road). The spa is quite beautiful. He is not some kind of luxurious (there may be interruptions with electricity; instead of air conditioner fan; no pleasant music playing, as you are used to, I suppose; maybe not so perfectly clean, and the salon workers are in English), but He does not advertise as such. Although tourists often bring tourists from other hotels, that is, it is not some kind of "hidden pearl of habarans". The staff are quite good-natured and professional - know what (although some tourists who passed the course of massage seems to not know - apparently, as lucky). Approximately 35 dollars (not the lowest, but not the highest price in the city) you can get the oil massage of the head and neck + then the full body massage (there is naturally different options). Not bad!
Safari in Eco Park Hurula
The Hurula Reserve was declared a biosphere reserve in January 1977. Forest arrays growing 150 meters above sea level, in a arid zone, is important seats habitat of Srilasky elephants, and there are still stars of the turtles (up to 30 centimeters in length), Ceylon jungle chicken (similar to Phezov), Ceylon leopards (which live Exclusively on the island of Sri Lanka - they are a little less than Indian, and even this is the main predator of the island) and the fidest-red cats that are under threat of extinction, because there are still more than 10 thousand species in the world. Also, the reserve is a region of dry decide evergreen forests (among which the so-called ebony tree and satin tree prevail).Actually, there are many other protected areas near Hurula, and, as in Minnery, and Kadulle, you can also go on safaris on jeeps. I am very easy to get from Khabarana on the main highway. The entrance to the reserve is a bit cheaper than in more popular and crowded parks Minnery and Kaudulla, which is very nice. Most excursions are approximately $ 35 per person (the tour includes a jeep trip, entrance tickets, etc.). Jeeps in this park can be rented right next to Chaya Village / Cinnamon Lodge, but you can ask to organize such a tour and in other hotels (prices, however, can vary a bit). In the rainy season, the water level in the reservoirs of these two parks increases greatly, so most wild elephants move to this forest block. In short, visit this park is only in the period from February to May, the maximum in July. Here you can see elephants, wandering, as a rule, in small herds (but sometimes you can simultaneously admire 50 elephants, including elephant, which sometimes fit very close to the machines), while in Minnery of the elephant group more. The road running through the park is very bumpy - as elsewhere.
Tuskers Restaurant & Bar
Well, the nightlife of the town lies in the entertainment offered by the hotel - but also they, of course, are not an Egyptian-Turkish level. If you just want to drink a cold Lion Lager and stay after a "excursion day", then it is better not to find the place. Moreover, no prior booking is required. Everything is very simple: beer, Fish and chips, billiard table, cute view of the pool. Bar runs 6 am to midnight.