Book a safari, and meet your personal driver-guide at Hambantota Port. Head inside (own expense), board your private 4x4, and explore the dirt trails around the reserve, Sri Lanka’a biggest wildlife sanctuary.

As you explore, learn about the reserve’s geography and species from your guide, and scan the forests, grasslands, lakes, and brush. Keep your camera ready for sightings of leopards, usually spotted near the lakes, and sloth bears; and watch for elephants, deer, jackals, wild pig, and water buffalo.

Look, too, for wetland birds like Storks, spoonbills, and egrets, including migratory species (November-March), and perhaps spot reptiles like mugger crocodiles, monitor lizards, snakes, and the rare Indian star tortoise. Other species include pond and soft-shelled turtles, and varieties of butterfly like the Blue Mormon and Crimson Rose.

End of the adventure we'll drop you back to Hambantota port.