Whales And Leopards of Sri Lanka: Special Photographic Holiday

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 25 reviews.

Timothy Waudby

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written December 2011
An exhausting but packed week of lots of wildlife watching. Sri Lanka is a must if you haven't been before.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
As with most wildlife trips things don't always work out the way you expect them too but there are usually some unexpected gems. Sadly I didn't get the Leopard photos I went for but the last game drive delivered up some fantastic opportunities to photograph the sloth bear, a much more rare prize than your bog standard leopard.
The spinner dolphins we encountered on the whale watching trips will be a lasting memory. We saw them following a tuna boat and to see a dolphin go for a 'kill' was immense!
What did you think of your group leader?
Rohan and Nilantha were great. Couldn't fault them. You may see Nilantha pop up in articles about Yala NP, he knows his stuff.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You must take a bit of ownership of your game drives. Speak up if you want them to stop, they are more than happy to as they want you to have a good time because they want your tips! Take a long lens, sometimes you might get a leopard by the road but you get a lot in the distance up trees where they normally hang out. I had a 400mm and was glad I had it. Don't expect to get a good shot of a leopard, I didn't, but there are other treats if you put the time in. You might be unlucky until your last drive so don't get disheartened if your first drives arn't fruitfull, stick with them, despite how tempted you will be to stay in bed rather than make the 5am drive, you'll be glad you did. The quality of the game drives within the group differed a lot and this was unfortunate. One group was taken down to the beach for the sunrise and the others missed out, this was a bit annoying as being a photographer it would have given me some good images instead of the leopards who wern't showing themselves at the time.
We had better luck with the whale watching, despite missing one of the boat trips due to rough sea. We saw around 10 blue whales each trip, amongst other whales and dolphins. The boat is perfect for the job. Again you need a long lens despite what you might be told. The boats don't get too close to the whales so as not to frighten them off, blue whales are supprisingly skittish, other whales will come over and say hello. You should also make sure you have a good circular polarizing filter too, mine was very useful. You will need your sunhat, shades and sun cream for the whale watching, it gets very hot out there.
Be prepared for not getting much sleep, the journey there is gruelling (7 hour drive right after a 12 hour flight) I didn't really get chance to recover all week and returned home utterly exhausted but you will have had an awsome week if you manage to stay awake.
The itinerary is very full you will feel like you have done a lot in just a week but it's pretty brutal with 5am starts every morning.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you only have a week to spend and want some good wildlife experiences then this is a good one. Keep in mind it may not go to plan and resolve to come back another day if it doesn't. Sri Lanka is amazing, the people, food and culture deserve their reputation as an excellent people/place to visit.
Take a light waterproof! It can rain something epic and quite randomly and the jeeps aren't that weather proof!
Vanessa Moss

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written April 2011
Whales and Leopards was exactly that I cannot believe how lucky we were, and some were more lucky with the Leopard spotting than me. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and everyone I met was happy to do what they could to make the stay an enjoyable one. At least 6 Blue Whales over 20 Sperm Whales, 3 types of dolphin and 6 Leopards the highlights of the trip. Just 2 things to note - Going whale watching on an empty stomach can make any sea sickness worse and when reading transfer times between resorts you need to double it. We moan about our roads and these are not the worst the planet has to offer, but lets just say there are no straight bits.But these are minor matters to have on what is a fabulous experience.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Just realising how lucky we were to be having the experience in the first place.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our main leader appeared a little shy at first, but he came out of his shell and our naturalist guide smiled all the time, I think he was still smiling when caught napping on the bus : )
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As above going whale watching on an empty stomach can make any sea sickness worse so buy some cream crackers if you can something plain and dry for breakfast is the key.
And when reading transfer times between resorts you need to double it. We moan about our roads and these are not the worst the planet has to offer, but lets just say there are no straight bits.
Also when it comes to changing money £10 a day is more than enough for drinks, snacks, lunches and tips.
Put 4000R away to tip bag carriers, drivers etc and then it's up to you what to tip with the trip leader and naturalist.
If you are a shopper you may need to complete your retail therapy once you get back home.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
To anyone considering this trip.
Just enjoy the experience.
Remember how lucky you are to be there no matter how long you've saved.
As much as there may be some wacky racing on the game drives, seeing wildlife is sometimes about patience and luck.....
Roger Collins

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2011
Whale watching excellent, leopard spotting disappointing   two excellent whale watching trips with a third saved by some dolphins in the last few minutes before returning to shore.    On the 6 game drives spotted four leopards only two were able to be photographed and then only by a very powerful lenses.   The sloth bear was a bonus
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Blue watches, and sperm whales and the striped dolphins
a leopard asleep in a tree and on top of a stone, the sloth bearl
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leaders were good,
the crew on the boat were excellent in spotting sights at sea
in yalle Rohan was excellent
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a wide selection of electrical plugs to recharge equipment, small round three pin,   three pin square and then finally three pins in a row featured in the respectve hotels
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Provision of bottled water excellent, on bus boat and jeeps
this is a tour where the group is cocooned and there is very little opportunity to experienced real Sri Lanka
On line check in appeared not to be univerally available for all in the group
David Gilroy

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written February 2011
A brilliantly planned trip for anyone with the slightest interest in wildlife. Getting such fantastic, prolonged views of Blue Whales was life-enhancing, and the Leopards were very exciting. We even saw a kill!
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
A Blue Whale surfacing right next to our stationary boat and drifting with us on a flat calm sea before bringing up its massive tail and diving.
A Leopard dropping down from its tree, bounding after a Golden Jackal and pouncing on it right in front of our jeep.
What did you think of your group leader?
He was a lovely man who looked after us very well. His communications skills were not that good, but everything worked like clockwork.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you've got any, take binoculars - and a big memory card for your camera!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The boat that took us out to see the whales had a brilliant crew. And the safari drivers at Yala were top class and very knowledgeable about wildlife - better than most of the so-called naturalist-guides we encountered.
Christopher Buckley

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written January 2011
A great trip that seems to have addressed the major issues highlighted in last year's review.Sri Lanka is obviously working hard to put its problems behind it and make tourists welcome. Good weather (the unexpected rains finished just before we arrived), superb wildlife and a great reception.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Having a Blue Whale swimming 20 feet from our boat.
What did you think of your group leader?
This is my 5th time on one of Paul Goldstein's photography holidays and, whilst he is something of an acquired taste, he has an absolute passion for wildlife and photography and hasn't yet failed to deliver.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be aware that there is a real possibility you may not see whales or leopards. We saw both (and great sightings at that) but bear it in mind.
That said, Jala has a lot of wildlife besides leopards that is well worth seeing and on our final whale watching trip we finished with 45 minutes in the middle of several hundred feeding, leaping, dolphins...
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was on the first of this year's trips (Photography oriented) and many of the issues from last year seem to have been ironed out.
Some things are obviously still something of a work in progress though e.g. the first hotel was changed shortly before departure (and a very nice one we ended up in - great rooms, backing on to the beach and only 10 minutes or so from the harbour for setting off for whale watching) and the guides in Jala are still coming to terms with a rather more considered approach to game drives than they are used to (the "normal" approach is to charge round the area at speed, stopping briefly at well known leopard haunts before charging off again. The Exodus approach is rather calmer, more considered and offers much better opportunities to take in the environment as a whole).
Ultimately though, we saw Blue whales on every outing (though over 15 in a single morning was rather more than I expected), leopards (sightings varied from 1 to 8 across the group - leopards are somewhat elusive. But we all had at least 1 very good sighting) as well as very good general wildlife photography opportunities.
Christopher Creek

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written January 2011
I took this trip to learn more about my camera and try to take some decent photographs and not just holiday snaps. The trip more than met my expectations and had some truly magical moments.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Having a Blue Whale surface a few metres away from our boat brought to mind that famous line of Chief Brodie from the movie Jaws. " We're going to need a bigger boat "
What did you think of your group leader?
Paul is quite a charachter and is obviously passionate about what he does.Both he and Nala made the trip run as smoothly as possible.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
For those flying from the UK. I would suggest arriving a couple of days earlier as it's a long flight and on the go as soon as you arrive at the airport. A couple of days added on at the end to chill out would be a good idea too.
Oliver Lazarus

WHALES AND LEOPARDS OF SRI LANKA

Written January 2011
Exceeded expectations on all fronts. More importantly though, anyone who has read the first review from the 2010 should note that Exodus staff have clearly worked to resolve the various issues raised. Logistics were very smooth throughout, groups rotated to make sure everyone got their turn with each of the naturists and with Paul (we were on one of the special photography departures) and photographers were well looked after
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The trip was full of them! Leopard perched atop granite rock at dusk a strong contender, or possibly playing hide and seek with the world's largest animal...
What did you think of your group leader?
The guides/naturists and drivers worked so hard to ensure the trip was a success, and Paul is a real inspiration to any budding wildlife photographer, whatever their level of experience (or lack of)! The excellent leadership is a big part of what sets this aside from your average safari
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Wildlife viewing in Sri Lanka is a little bit unique - Yala in particular can get quite congested with day trippers in the afternoons. A bit of patience goes a long way! The early starts tend to pay off in this regard - even if they are a bit painful - getting on the road/water ahead of the crowds improves the chances of getting time with the animals to yourself
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We clearly had a lot of luck with some extraordinary sightings, particularly at sea - nature can be very fickle, and we could easily have fared less well - however, the number of drives and boat excursions on this itinerary definitely helps, and there is every chance of some very special sightings. Can't recommend highly enough!