The Junior School Nature Club of Trinity College had their nature excursion to Kitulgala during 11th – 12th August 2023. This time, a chosen group of 10 very enthusiastic young ‘birders’ and naturalists indulged in their passion for nature.
One of the enthusiastic members, Master Yumeth Gunathilake mentioned, “Getting selected for the group of nature lovers to visit Kithulgala was one of the best things that happened to me. Spending a night away from my parents for the first time made me excited and adventurous.”
With great zeal and excitement, the students and teachers gathered at the Junior School around 5:00 a.m. A mixture of nervousness and joy filled everyone’s heart as we bid goodbye to our parents to leave for Kitulgala for two days. We were accompanied by Mrs. Indu Gunawardena, Miss. Devari Alwis, Mr. Ananda Marasinghe, and Dr. Harsha Ariyaratne. We were driven to Kitulgala by Mr. Lalith in our College van.
Kitulgala is a beautiful location situated in the Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka. Travellers visit Kitulgala for water rafting, bird watching, and to get away from the busy lifestyle they live in the city. We stayed at the Rafter’s Retreat, a unique place of lodging. The warm welcome we received from Mr. Channa Perera and his staff took away the weariness of the journey. The historical appearance of the old bungalow, the wooden restaurant, and the cabanas facing the Kelani River with nature-themed bathrooms were a welcoming sight.
Our schedule was planned out with three nature walks and group discussions. The first nature walk was to the Makandawa Rain Forest. It is the oldest forest reserve in Sri Lanka and is 1155 hectares in size. Makandawa Rain Forest Reserve provides a home to many rare and endemic species of fauna and flora.
We utilized a ferry to cross the Kelani River to enter this beautiful rainforest. This was a new experience, and we loved it very much. We tried to maintain silence in order to experience a healthy birding session, as well as a way of respecting the privacy of the forest. Mr. Shanaka, an experienced guide, accompanied us through the forest trails. We saw many exotic and rare creatures, such as the Humped-nosed Lizard, Kangaroo Lizard, Green-pit Viper, Layard’s Parakeets, a Spot-winged Thrush, Black Bulbuls, Yellow-fronted Barbets, and Grey Hornbills. As it was lunch time, we went back to The Rafter’s Retreat for lunch and a short ease.
Towards the pleasantness of the evening, we went to a place that was a haven for beautiful birds, butterflies, animals, and trees. We were lucky to spot a Black Flat (butterfly), Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Orange-billed Babblers, Munias and many more birds. After a long walk, we came back to freshen up and have an early dinner. This was followed by an interesting discussion with Dr. Harsha Ariyaratne about the day’s sightings. He enlightened all of us with his knowledge and passion about birds and the animals we saw. Many of us were inspired to follow him one day.
As we called it a day, all of us got into bed and slept to the soothing lullaby of the Kelani River as its water flowed just outside our cabanas.
The following day, we woke up early to visit the Ampana Nature Reserve, which is about 46 hectares in size. We had a tasty picnic breakfast on the slopes of the Nature Reserve. Here, we were lucky to spot many rare birds which we had not seen before: the White-Throated Flowerpecker, White-faced Starling, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Sri Lanka Mynah and the Crimson-backed Woodpecker to name a few. Back at the Rafter’s Retreat, after a quick discussion about the morning’s events, everyone welcomed the delicious lunch which was served.
This nature excursion allowed us to spot 55 different species of birds, including 15 endemics, as well as beautiful butterflies and reptiles. It was an amazing experience filled with learning and fun, an adventure we will never forget. The thick, tall trees wrapped by creepers, foot paths leading into forests, streams, fresh air, and the healing quietness of the forest made us feel mesmerized.
As all good things come to an end, it was time to pack our memories and bid farewell to Kitulgala: a haven for many. The unforgettable experiences among the beautiful green woods, clear blue skies, and crystal waters left us with memories to last a lifetime
We echo the sentiments expressed by Master Luthira Wijerathne, “This was my first trip without my family, but I enjoyed it with my friends and teachers. I learned a lot about nature, birds, and animals.”
Authors:
Vathila Andarawewa 5D
Minuga Dayananda 5F
Kavitha Ekanayake 5A
Yumeth Gunatilake 5A
Shevin Mederigama 5A
Kavithra Rajapaksha 5A
Isum Rathnasekara 5B
Chandula Senasinghe 5E
Thejan Thilakaratne 5C
Luthira Wijerathne 5D
