'Kamping' by the Kuda Oya

Ever wished you could enjoy a real jungle ex perience in comfort? For your next holiday consider TASKS safari camp in the thick jungles off Tanamalwila.

Recently expanded, the camp now has accommodation for fifty people. There are two VVIP rooms- waltle and double- of course to keep up the rough appearance of the place. An added attraction-an elephant pavilion where visitors could keep vigil at night hoping to catch jumbos crossing the Kuda Oya below.

The safari camp is superbly located. Here, the Kuda Oya, for most part a sluggish, shallow stream, gushes through rocks foaming white and the clear pools provide excellent bathing.

The hot dry zone sun is shaded by large Kumbuk and Nuga trees, on which dancing monkeys make faces as you wade in the knee-deep water. A deer trots up, hesitantly from the jungles on the opposite bank, laps up the water, and darts back in just as quickly.

Accommodation is provided in the form of tents and camp beds. Basic, but comfortable. The tents are screened for insects. Toilets are canvas covered and showers are disguised in tree bark.

Meals are served in a large tent, pitched above the river and are traditionally Sri Lankan in flavour. Rice and curry, with many of the locally found vegetables and fish makes the popular lunch menu.

Afternoons in the camp are spent, either in idle relaxation or partaking of an exciting elephant adventure.

These safaris are the highlight of any holiday at TASKS. Experienced guides from the locality will accompany visitors as they bundle you into open safari jeeps and make way to a number of safari destinations, according to visitors' preference.

Guided Safaris are offered to Bundala and Uda Walawe, two national parks in close proximity to the camp.

Safaris are also conducted to Debaraara jungle patch, just 45 minutes drive from the camp towards Wellawaya. Here visitors can alight from the vehicle and track elephants on foot, which is not allowed inside a national park. Deer, leopard and wildboar are also aplenty in this dry zone forest area.

Back from the dusty, hot safari tour - perspiring probably from an intimate encounter with the four legged giants- nothing revives you more than a quick dip in the cool waters of the Oya, illuminated by sea lamps.

The camp has no electricity and relies on sea lamps and a camp fire to provide light. Night times have their special ambience. Barbecues under a starlit night sky, sharing jokes with other camp-mates and listening to the far-off jungle sounds.

The night safari is another speciality. For the more adventurous, TASKS offer night camping on a rock in a man made forest - Wanawagawa- watching out for elephants, sambhur and other night time creatures. A camp fire is lit, and hot food prepared by the trackers.

Dawn breaks and with it, the silence of the early hours is shattered by a thousand bird calls. Special bird watching expeditions are offered to Sepala wewa, a nearby water hole where hungry flocks gather to feed before the hot noonday sun forces them to take shelter. A guide is at hand to explain all about the birds and help identify the rarer species.

Prices for local tourists are at Rs. 1550 per person, per night on full board basis. Safaris are priced separately. Debaraara safari at Rs. 1750 for 1-4 people, Rs 350 for each extra, Uda Walawe and Bundala at Rs. 2250 (1-4 pax excluding entrance fee) Rs. 450 for each extra. Night Safari at Rs. 2500 (1-4 pax) Rs. 600 each extra. Bird watching at Rs.350 and Rs. 75 for each extra.

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