SL - Day 3 and 4 - Train to Ella and Udawalawe Safari

We were at the train station by 9 for our 9:30 train which in the end arrived 30 minute late and left an hour later. We had seen a train come through the station and thought that really isn't too bad all classes looked alright. However when our train came through the station we all all like OMG! Our observation first class car was at the back and facing backwards. When we thought observation we thought with a skylight...no it had a back "bay" window  and 24 seat, 6 rows of the popular brown valor seats. All is full with 13 seats taken by a group of loud Asian people, 3 of them screaming children ages 4- 6. 

Sandy, Kate and the driver were waiting for us as we alighted from the train in the down pour of rain. We went to our hotel Heaven's Edge, The best part about our hotel is the beautiful panoramic view of the mountains and Ella Gap. Green rolling mountains.

Ella Gap

The gals picked us up at 9 and we were on our way to Udawalawe National Park for our 24 hours camping and safari adventure. We arrived at the designated meeting point about an hour early but they were there to meet us so we had a little more rest time before our Sri Lankan lunch under the tent. Eco-Team Big Camp Big Game Safaris is a carbon free camp as all the tents are mobile, only the kitchen is a permanent building.  At 2:30 we climbed into our safari jeep of 6 seats and headed the park. Sandy loves her birds and we tons. We kept seeing so many peacocks that by the end we did not need to stop anymore to take photos. The peacock is a sacred bird in Sri Lanka. 


Then we saw it an elephant, well 2 eating a way. But actually there was a baby too!  So we sat quietly and waited for the elephants to come out of the brush so they were more visible. As we waited we were pleasantly surprised to find another even younger baby elephant. So two mommies and two babies. One of the mom elephants got so close our jeep we could have touched it. It was amazing. And since Jenny had never been on a safari before she was just like a little kid, giddy with excitement. 
The babies then started sucking up the water from the puddles in the road and squirted itself with the water. Then it bent down I to it trying to get its belly wet, it was so cute! Then the other older baby came over and the two of them started playing around pushing each other into the mud...fortunately I caught it all on video!!!!


We also saw water buffalo, peacocks and peahens, some jackals, turtles and lots of birds, hawks, kingfishers, storks, wobbles. It was a a great afternoon despite the rain. Oh and then about 2 hours into the 3 hour tour we stopped and were able to get out of the vehicle and they served tea and snacks!  Excellent!

Baby Elephants playing

Baby Elephants enjoying the mud and puddles - watch video cutest thing ever

Upon returning back to camp the tiki torches were lit and they had prepared some tea and cookies for us. They had a little table set up for us by a campfire which they were proud of being able to light for us as it had been raining all evening. So we had our bottle of wine there and reflected on our trip thus far with using a flower (best part), bud (looking forward to) and thorn (worst part). 

Then we had dinner under the tarp they accommodated all our meal requirements and I got BBQ pork and chicken, veggies and some pasta. Oh first onion soup.  We had a great dinner then hit the hay about 9:30 as we had a 5 o'clock wake up call. 

The tents were glamping (Glamorous Camping) Bathrooms in the "luxury" tents, real toilets, shower and sink. The twin cots pushed together with the mosquito nets around worked fine for the night.  With all the fresh air I slept quite well!

Jenny and I .. glamping