Blue whale watching holidays in Sri Lanka

You can see up to ten different species off the Sri Lankan coast, including fin, Bryde’s, minke, humpback, sperm, and of course a plethora of dolphins, between late November and mid April. However, to spot the marine meister, schmoozing its way through the waves, mighty blue whales are most likely to be seen between February and mid March. A brief window, but you won’t miss it if you blink, that’s for sure. The reason why this is the best time to see blue whales in Sri Lanka is thanks to the tiny critter called krill – small crustaceans named by Norwegians and meaning, literally "small fry of fish", and on which blue whales thrive as they migrate around the world’s oceans. There is nothing small fry about their predators though, even though this is pretty much all they eat.

If you are combining your whale watching trip with a wildlife safari to Yala National Park, February, March and April are perfect months to visit. Because even though the coastal waters are full the water tables in the national park are low, and so animals come out to exposed lakes to drink – giving us a wonderful show while they are at it. December and January are peak tourism season in Sri Lanka, when the October – November monsoon has passed, so if you want to avoid the crowds on board the boats, head there February and March, which is when the blue whales join the party anyway.

Whale watching is still a growing sector in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, with most people visiting either for the Cultural Triangle or other wildlife watching and, in particular elephants which are the country’s national animal. Consequently, there are many organisations cashing in on cetaceans now, and so we recommend that you take care when booking and only go whale watching with responsible tourism operators. It is important for you and the whales that your whale watching experience is a responsible one. See, for example, if the trip is accredited by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) and if the company has a responsible tourism policy. At the moment there is almost no government regulation in place with regards to whale watching, so the more people who ask for responsible whale watching policies, the better.

Few people come whale watching in Sri Lanka and miss out on the wildlife wonders that await on land. Yala National Park is one of the most popular land additions to a whale watching holiday in Sri Lanka due to its southern location. One of the finest wildlife reserves in Asia with elephants, sloth bear, wild buffalo, and sambar deer. And leopard, of course, with one of the most concentrated populations in the world. Which is still only 35. So bring your binoculars and support all conservation initiatives as much as you can. Leopards need it. The dry season stretches from late May through June, July, August and September – but be aware that temperatures at this time can reach the high 30s.

Further north, Minneriya National Park’s savannah and jungle is also home to prolific elephant populations, which are sacred animals in Sri Lanka. Although you wouldn’t think so, sometimes, when you see how they are treated for tourism by some irresponsible organisations, such as at the notoriously cruel Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage.

Wilpattu National Park, much further north, is Sri Lanka’s largest national park, a land of 60 natural waterholes among sandy wetlands. And habitat for elephants, water buffalo, crocodiles and superb birdlife, including storks.