Magnificent mammals in the Island Paradise
Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the entire world for Blue & Sperm whale watching. World renownd marine biologists visit the country very often to conduct studies of this mammoth creatures in their natural habbitat. Besides the whales, one could also see spinner dolphins as well. They’re very playful & they put up a real good show for the on lookers. Rarely you might find pilot whales, Humpbacks, Killer Whales patrolling around the shores of Sri Lanka.
During the months from November to April every year, the sightings are frequent in Mirissa & Kalpitiya regions. Kalpitiya is very popular for Dolphin watching & it’s a bit hard to spot whales here due to the lack of enthusiasm of the fishermen to take their boats into the deep waters where the Blue & Sperm Whales linger. However Kalpitiya is the only area in Sri Lanka where you could witness Pink dolphins. There’re only about 6 – 8 pink dolphins left in the entire country. They’re a dying species who would be wiped out in several years from the Ocean around Sri Lanka.
In Kalpitiya the accommodation options are a bit limited to several Alankuda properties while in Mirissa & its suburbs, it’s completely the opposite. The hotel options are limitless. From super luxury hotels to couch surfing is available here.
While in Kalpitiya one could visit Wilpattu National Park & the ancient city of Anuradhapura as well.
While in Mirissa, tourists could visit the Galle fort, Kanneliya Rainforest & Yala National Park.
During the months from May to October every year, the Whales start to roam the waters of Trincomalee. However the recorded sightings are not that frequent. In Trincomalee there’re other very good attractions like the Koneshwaram Temple, Thiriyaya Watadage, Pigeon Island, Hot water wells, etc. Jungle Beach & Chaaya Blu are the best hotels in the region.
There’re other areas in the country like Batticaloa, Kirinda, etc, where Whales & Dolphins have been spotted by fishermen, but they’re not frequent enough to grasp the attention of the tourists.
Whale watching is a very good & beautiful thing, but one must ask the question, whether it’s an obstacle for the animals.. Make sure to be a responsible tourist who loves & cares about the nature & then we can preserve these beautiful mammals for many more generations to come.
By Sanka Devapriya
(Sri Lanka Tailormade)
