Skirting the highlands on the inland route from Colombo Airport to Uda Wale |
River crossing in Sri Lanka on the way to Ratnapura |
Tim Matsuoka, a friend from high school, at the Elephant Trail Hotel |
The gate to Uda Walewe National Park in southern Sri Lanka |
Uda Walewe National Park lies just to the south of the central Sri Lankan highlands |
Welcome to Udawalawa National Park, famous for its wild elephants |
Icon of South Asia, a peacock in a tree at sunrise |
Sunrise on the morning safari at Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Less glamorous, a peahen in a tree, Udawalawe |
A wild buffalo in the bush at Udawalawe |
Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis), Sri Lanka |
Multiple spellings for the park, Uda Walawa - Udwalawa - Udawalawe |
Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Sri Lanka |
Mostly bushland, occasional large trees punctuate Udawalawe National park |
A bird on the road through Udawalawe National Park |
Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater (Merops philippinus), Sri Lanka |
Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater (Merops philippinus), Udawalawe National Park |
First spotting of Udawalawe's famous inhabitants, the Asian Elephant |
Asian Elephant, Udawalawe National Park |
Local people graze cattle within the boundaries of Udawalawe National Park |
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) |
Large lake on the east side of Udawalawe National Park |
Our open side safari vehicle, Udawalawe National Park |
As the morning progresses, the peacocks descend from the trees |
Peacock, Udawalawe National park, Sri Lanka |
Technically, Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) |
Peacock, Udawalawe National park, Sri Lanka |
Orange-Breasted Green Pigeon (Treron bicinctus) |
Peacock on the top of a tree, Udawalawe National Park |
Peacock in a tree, Udawalawe National Park |
Peahen, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Little Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis) |
Our first carnivore, a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) |
Cock on a Rock |
Peacock, Udawalawe National Park |
A ray of sun momentarily breaks through the clouds lighting up one of the roads through Udawalawe National Park |
Road through Udawalawe National Park |
Morning jeep safari through Udawalawe National Park |
Trunk of a large tropical tree, Udawalawe National Park |
Ring-Necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Sri Lanka |
Ring-Necked Parakeet, Udawalawe National Park |
Ring-Necked Parakeet, Sri Lanka |
Ring-Necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Sri Lanka |
Back side of a displaying peacock, Udawalawe National Park |
There should be audio because the peacock is shaking this feathers making a unique sound |
Peacock on display, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Finally the peacock rotates towards us for a front-side view |
Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Sri Lanka |
Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Udawalawe National park |
Painted stork perched on a dead tree, Udawalawe National park |
SriLankaDec15 0161.jpg |
SriLankaDec15 0163.jpg |
White-Throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) |
Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor), Sri Lanka |
A pair of bee eaters on a twig, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka |
Lone bull elephant behind a bush, Udawalawe National Park |
Trying to find a clear view of the elephant |
Water buffalo in a water hole, Udawalawe National Park |
Ring-Necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) |
Peacock on display, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Peacock on display, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Sri Lankan axis deer (Axis axis ceylonensis) disappearing into the bush |
Diving kingfisher, Udawalawe National park |
Jerdon's baza (Aviceda jerdoni), Udawalawe, Sri Lanka |
Juvenile marsh (mugger) crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
Indian monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka |
United Jeep Service Association, Udawalawa National Park |
Jeep station just outside the main gate, Udawalawe National Park |
Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka |
Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka |
Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka |
Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka |
Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka |
The main road along the southern boundary of Udawalawe National Park |
Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), most common bat found on Sri Lanka |
The view south from the Elephant Trail Lodge, Udawalawe |
Rain clouds building, Udawalawe |
A monitor lizard crosses the road in the rain |
Indian monitor (Varanus bengalensis), Udawalawe, Sri Lanka |
Wreck on the road from Udawalwe to Thanamalwila |
Really, how to you tip a truck on a straight flat road? |
Junction of Sri Lanka roads B427 to Thanamalwila and B528 to Welioya |