Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Category: Wildlife

TikaWeeks #21/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 25th May 2023

Sri Lanka is home to well over 400 species of exotic birds with names to match, like the White-throated Flowerpecker, Blue-faced Malkoha and Sri Lanka Paradise-flycatcher. Thirty three species are endemic while the vast majority are vagrants, migrants or residents. The joy of bird watching on the island is to see them wherever you travel, although some areas are better than others. You don’t need to be an avid ‘twitcher’ to enjoy the birdlife across the country as the little peckers seem to come to you!

Golden sand, swaying palms and the clear blue waters of a typical sun-drenched beach in Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #19/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 11th May 2023

When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka? Since the end of the civil war in 2009, there is no ‘best time’ to travel as the entire country is open so you may visit when it is best for you. However, different areas are better than others at particular times of the year depending on the prevailing monsoon season. The Maha monsoon affects the north and east of the island between October and February, while the Yala monsoon arrives in May and lasts until October in the southern and western regions.

Family group of Asian Elephants, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #12/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 23rd March 2023

Rewilding is a relatively new endeavour in Sri Lanka, although some schemes have been active for years. Jetwing Vil Uyana began an ambitious project back in 2005, converting abandoned paddy fields into a wetland mosaic fed by irrigation channels from the surrounding farmland, and planting thousands of indigenous trees. Today it is enjoying the fruits of an enlightened and welcome rewilding initiative.

TikaWeeks #14/2021: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 6th April 2021

Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of Responsible Travel, which pioneered the concept of responsible travel – better holidays, better for communities, better for nature. We joined in 2005 and it was the best decision we ever made in terms of our marketing strategy. Throughout this time RT.com has been incredibly supportive and we count many of the company as friends. We would like to thank all at RT.com for their passion and commitment to spearheading responsible travel throughout the globe.

TikaWeeks #07/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th February 2021

Earlier this week, the Government of Sri Lanka announced that the temporary restriction on travel originating from the UK to Sri Lanka has been lifted with immediate effect.This is certainly some good news amid the many downbeat remarks from our own government ministers about the possibility of reopening foreign travel in the immediate future. However, entry to Sri Lanka is still subject to an initial 14 days stay in ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels and regular PCR tests.

TikaWeeks #03-2/2021: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st January 2021

To date, the list of ‘Safe & Secure’ Certified Level 1 hotels in Sri Lanka runs to 55, of which 25 are offered by Tikalanka, and there are currently 17 approved tourist sites and attractions, mostly national parks and cultural sites. Let’s hope that the ongoing health audit continues apace in order to approve many more of our favourite accommodation and places to visit as ‘safe and secure’ in the near future. Visit Sri Lanka Tourism for up to date information on the things you need to know for safely travelling to Sri Lanka.

TikaWeeks #49/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd December 2020

With the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and the first vaccinations taking place in the coming weeks, there is finally an end in sight to the bizarre and unprecedented world that has defined 2020 – hurrah and huzzah! There is also tentative news that Sri Lanka will reopen its borders and welcome foreign visitors once again from the beginning of next year, hopefully from 01 January 2021. We will keep you posted with any developments.

TikaWeeks #27/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 3rd July 2020

Ridiculous as it may seem, the illustrious UK government today decided NOT to include either Sri Lanka or Maldives on its initial travel corridors list, which exempts travellers from self-isolating for 14 days on arrival in England from 10 July 2020. Both island nations have managed to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) effectively and efficiently, contrary to our own government's disastrous and amoral actions, so why penalise them for doing the job properly?

TikaWeeks #14-2/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 1st April 2020

The WHO has commended Sri Lanka in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the president appealed to world aid organisations to grant concessions to developing countries at risk from the global effects of COVID-19. It is likely that flight options will become more restricted in the coming days. The Government of Maldives has declared a Public Health Emergency and imposed a daily curfew from 02 April 2020 until further notice. New travel restrictions are severely limiting commercial flight schedules.

TikaWeeks #12-1/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 16th March 2020

Today (16 March 2020) has been declared a special Public, Bank and Mercantile holiday to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sri Lanka. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka is now 18 (17 active cases). All national parks as well as zoological and botanical gardens run by the Wildlife Department are closed for two weeks with immediate effect.

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