Ridiyagama safari park a novel experience

Year and Month	June, 2016
Number of Days	One
Crew	26 – Office crowd – Mostly youngsters
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	26 seater bus
Activities	Sea bathing, enjoying a mini safari, photography
Weather	Sunny in day time and rainy in late evening
Route	Warana -> Yakkala -> Kadawatha -> Highway -> Matara -> Tangalle -> Nonagama -> Padanangala -> Ridiyagama -> Back on the same route
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Safari Park is open from 8.30 AM to 5.00 PM. Morning or evening is the best time to visit as hot sun tends to shy away the animals. Tour is one hour by buses provided by the Department with a guide. Rate is Rs.300 per person.
Author	Christy
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Ridiyagama Safari Park was declared open in March 2016. Construction of the project started in 2008 and first phase was completed at a cost of Rs.2,600 Million and opened for public on 28.03.2016.

The Park comes under Department of National Zoological Gardens.

The total extent of park is 500 acres.

The first phase in extent of 200 acres which is opened for public consists of

16 acre service area

35 acre lion enclosure

54 acre elephant enclosure

80 acres of herbivorous animals

According to the Department information, the second phase of the park will include

# Bengal Tiger Zone

# Leopard Zone (Hopefully not from Horton Plains)

# Sloth Bear Zone

# Asian Herbivore zone

# African Herbivore zone

# Australian Zone

# Cheetah Zone

# Small Animal Kingdom

# Reptilliam

# Butterfly Garden

# Animal Breeding & Conservation Center

# Camping site and Circuit Bungalows (Good News)

# Leisure Area o Kids

We left Warana by 7.00 in the morning and reached Tangalle Navy Base for a safe sea bath and lunch.

GOOD PLACE FOR A SAFE SEA BATH

After the sea bath and lunch, the group moved to Hummana to see the famous blow hole in action.

UNIQUE LANDSCAPE

AWAITING THE GIANT TO AWAKE

.	MIGHTY BLOW

CALM AS NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!

After this wetting episode, the group proceeded to Rediyagama Safari Park at correct time around 3.00 pm. We were lucky enough to get two busses exclusively for our group and very knowledgeable guides.

We spend a memorable two hours in the park.