Reptiles & Amphibians

Had a wonderful, great tour with many highlights each day. Thanks for working overtime to help us see such great wildlife, reptiles, snakes, mammals and birds. Also appreciate your knowledge about Sri Lanka in general and history. Thanks so much. Hope to see you in the future

Thank you so much, I appreciate all of your hard work helping us find great snakes...

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and helping us find some fantastic wildlife. I really enjoyed Sri Lanka.

Thank you so much, I appreciate all of your hard work helping us find great snakes. I really loved seeing your country and I cant wait to come back.

Our custom-designed 3-week exploration of the natural world of Sri Lanka was expertly designed by Classic Wild and Rajiv. Our group of 6 photographers enjoyed our time spent in the National Parks and preserves searching for and photographing so many species found in Sri Lanka from butterflies to leopards. Rajiv designed our tour to meet the diverse interests of our group and to introduce us to a variety of habitats and species found in Sri Lanka. Thank you to Rajiv and his team for all of the efforts that went into planning our adventure!

Island Fever

Cannot thank Rajiv and Classic Wild enough for the two trips (and more planned) executed for my small groups. Great places to stay, excellent wildlife opportunities and no detail not taken care of from start to finish. This is the only way to experience the wilds of Sri Lanka…in comfort!

I went on the last weekend Yala tour with Rajiv Welikala and had a great trip, great organization, very comfortable and pleasing accommodation with good food. He is a true wild life enthusiast and it was lovely listening to his experiences in the jungle . I have been spreading the word to family and friends about the trip and I look forward to organizing another one to Yala with Rajiv and I plan to take a full contingent of my friends along as well.

I am writing this review to thank 'Rajiv Welikala for organizing the most memorable tour to Habarana ( Minneriya & Kaudulla National Parks) This was my first trip with Classic Wild and it was fully worth and very highly recommend. The naturalist guide 'Supurna Hettiarachchi (Hetti) was professional, polite and really patient. He had a very good eye for spotting birds, if not for Hetti, I would not have spotted many different varieties of birds. Overall I am highly satisfied with the entire journey and it was an adventure to remember. I am looking forward to joining Classic Wild for many other wildlife tours.

Good luck & God Bless you all !!

Had a wonderful 3 night excursion to Sinharaja arranged by Rajiv and his team at Classic Wild.

All arrangements with regards to transport, accommodation, food and guides were well taken care of and as promised. The birding guide Hetti was exceptional as were the local driver/ guides Tilak and Dhanuskha who went all out to seek and show us a pair of Frogmouths and a pair of Serendib Scops Owls amongst the many other endemic birds we were able to see. We had a fun trip and would definitely go back to Sinharaja with them.

We did a safari tour of Yala National Park with Rajiv Welikala and thoroughly enjoyed it. Rajiv was very attentive and ensured we enjoyed our stay. He and the other tour guides took extra effort to show us and the rest of our tour group the rarer animals in the park and as a result we did. The drivers were also extremely skilled and went out of their way to get us a rare sighting as well. All in all the trip was very enjoyable and we will not forget this amazing experience!

I've been to Yala National Park countless times and never truly experienced or appreciated the park until my recent trip with Rajiv Welikala and Classic Wild. Rajiv's enthusiasm for wildlife and photography makes him an expert guide and host, and I learned something new about our island's rich natural heritage with every sighting. I came out of the tour with a greater appreciation for wildlife, better photography skills under Rajiv's mentoring, great sightings and a wider circle of fellow animal enthusiasts and travelers. The trip to Yala was an absolute treat and Classic Wild is to be praised for its exceptional organization. Travel was smooth and comfortable and our stay at Yala was fantastic with truly great food, cosy rooms and brilliant service. I cannot recommend the trip highly enough for budding photographers or nature enthusiasts like myself. It isn't every day you get the opportunity to travel with a legendary wildlife photographer and enthusiast like Rajiv and learn so much.

Took part on a birding tour to Sinharaja with Classic Wild, it was a very well organized tour, our birding guide Hetti was amazing with his knowledge on bird calls and local knowledge on the whereabouts of each endemic bird species which made bird watching all the more easier even though the damp weather. A big thanks to Rajiv and Classic Wild for organizing the tour

Natural Selection Tours

Took part on a birding tour to Sinharaja with Classic Wild, it was a very well organized tour, our birding guide Hetti was amazing with his knowledge on bird calls and local knowledge on the whereabouts of each endemic bird species which made bird watching all the more easier even though the damp weather. A big thanks to Rajiv and Classic Wild for organizing the tour

The Sri Lankan Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus) is the islands most iconic snake species, this beautiful endemic is a moderately venomous snake with a beautiful coloration and appearance. Usually an arboreal and nocturnal species they descend occasional to the ground in search of food. This pit viper is relatively sluggish and is usually encountered in low shrubs during the morning hours. They are widely distributed in all climatic zones of the island except the high hills which have an altitude of above 1000 meters above sea level, and very arid zones. They are mostly common in the wet zone rainforests and grasslands and also in plantations. Being from the viper family they produce live young usually in the months of June-July where the brood size ranges from 5 to 30 animals. They use their coloration to camouflage and usually makes every effort to escape or avoid confrontation. The venom is potent but rarely causes fatalities in people.

Kirtisinghe’s Rock Frog or Marbled Streamlined Frog (Nannophrys marmorata) is one of Sri Lanka’s rarest and most endangered endemic frogs. Found no-where else in the world except the Knuckles Mountain Range and heights between 200-1200 meters above sea level. A semi aquatic species they are usually found besides fast flowing waters of mountain streams usually in forest patches. They can also be seen under boulders and rock crevices in these areas and also on wet rocks. The tadpoles of this species can also be seen on rocks usually in the splash zones of these water torrents. They are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The main threats to their limited remaining is livestock grazing, agro chemicals and over visitation.

Ranwellas Spined Tree Frog (Polypedates ranwellai) a member of the Rhacophoridae, this endemic species was discovered in 2012 by reknowned Sri Lankan herpetologist Mendis Wickramasinghe and known only to a small forest patch in Gillimale in the Ratnapura province.

The name was given in honor of Sanjeewa Ranwella for his contributions to saving and preserving the Gillimale Forest Reserve.

Measuring 41-49mm in length in males and 65 mm in females the unique feature of this frog is the presence of 4 dorsal spines. The Ranwellas Spined Tree Frog are usually seen near forest edges which contain an open canopy. These frogs are observed on the forest floor occasionally, but they usually perch on branches of trees and shrubs 1–10 meters above the ground level.

The infamous Russels Viper is the snake which has the most fearsome reputation in Sri Lanka. They are a highly venomous species and one of the most dangerous old world vipers in Asia and is responsible for many snake bite related human deaths in the continent. Growing to a maximum length of 1.6 meters this slender built viper is easily identified with its flattened head which is covered by fragmented scales and a deep yellow coloration which runs across the body with dark brown spots. Being mostly nocturnal in its behavior they are found in many habitats from grassy fields, scrub jungle, plantations, and even often in home gardens where they feed on rodents, small mammals, birds and frogs. When alarmed they are very aggressive and they usually form a S loop, raise the first third of their body and produce a loud hiss. When striking from this pose they generate enough force to sometimes lift the snake off the ground. The bit can be a quick snap or even a long bite as they are sometimes known to hang on for many seconds.

The Spectacled Cobra, also known as the Indian Cobra is the most iconic snake in the Asian subcontinent. With its typical hooded display and the signature spectacle pattern on the back of the hood, this snake is revered by Buddhists and Hindu’s alike.

Found across Sri Lanka, they are quite common and often found in many disturbed habitats as well as dense scrub forests.
Being oviparous they lay eggs usually between the months of April and July. They usually lay between 10-30 eggs at a time, usually in rat holes or termite mounds.

Their venom is a powerful neurotoxin which affects the nervous system.
They are used by traditional snake charmers in Sri Lanka and India where their dramatic threat posture makes for a unique spectacle, but a cruel practice as the snakes or usually de fanged.

The Sri Lanka Krait or Ceylon Krait is a highly venomous species endemic to Sri Lanka. Known locally as the Mudu Karawalaya, they are a small and slender snake species with an average length of 75 cm. Their black coloration is prevalent across the body with thin white transverse bands. They have an exceptionally long set of lungs which expand and inflate when alarmed or angry.

They are fairly common in the central hills of the island from regions such as Kandy and the Uva province. They usually are found in leaf litter but do venture into human habitation and sometimes found in old masonry and crevices.

A nocturnal and timid species the Sri Lanka Krait is usually slow and sluggish by day. Their behavior changes usually at night when they can bite if provoked but are quite docile during the day.

Their venom is highly potent and attacks the central nervous system.

One of the most primeval and intriguing animal species found in Sri Lanka is the crocodile. These predators date back millions of years to the age of the dinosaurs. There are two primary species found on the island. The smaller and more placid of the two is the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus Palustris). They are an average sized crocodilian with sizes ranging from 8-13 feet. One of the key features to identify this crocodile is the wide snout and grey coloration. They are found mainly in the dry zone regions of the island in water bodies from inland natural and manmade lakes as well as rivers and tributaries. Feeding mainly on fish, this species as all crocodilians will prey on larger mammals such as Spotted Deer if the opportunity presents itself. Generally this species is less aggressive than most other species of crocodiles, but is yet a formidable ambush predator which waits for prey to come close. This species is also more gregarious than other species and are often seen basking together in large numbers, especially in the dry seasons when water is limited. Females lay eggs in holes dug in the sand, and during the height of the dry season, these reptiles burrow themselves deep underground in tunnels on the banks of the lakes and rivers where they reside.

An interesting fact about this species is the documentation of them having sticks and branches which are balanced on their heads which it seems is a means of luring birds to find nesting material. This will be one of the only records of reptiles using tools. The best places to see mugger crocodiles in Yala National Park, where one can observe over 20-30 individuals at times during the dry season where most of these animals group together in the last remaining waterholes and manmade lakes such as Koma Wewa, Dharshana Wewa, Heen Wewa and Diganwala. If one waits long enough in a water hole it would be possible to witness these predators preying on an unsuspecting Spotted Deer or Grey Langur coming to the waters edge to quench its thirst. Further this species is known to travel long distances on land, and sightings of them feeding on leopard kills and carcasses far away from land are quite common in Yala. National Parks such as Wilpattu and Bundala are also good locations to see this species of crocodile.

The Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosis) is the largest species of reptile on earth. This species has a fearsome reputation as being the most aggressive species of crocodilian. Ranging from 12-20 feet this gigantic reptile is the undisputed king of the river. But as its name suggest they are sometimes seen in the ocean as well, as they travel from river to river using the ocean to move between them. Their bodies are adapted to withstand the high levels of salt, and are even known to swim long distances over 100 km between islands in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

This species can easily be identified by the black and yellow coloration as well as its large size. They are mainly found in brackish waters, lagoons, estuaries and mangroves in the West, South and Eastern coasts. On rare occasions they are found inland but more often than not this species is found closer to the coast. It is capable of prevailing over almost any animal that enters its territory, including other apex predators such as sharks, varieties of freshwater and marine fish including pelagic species, invertebrates, such as crustaceans, various reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans With the highest number of deaths of humans due to this species it is often considered a serious threat to people. This species can even be found near Colombo with small populations found in the suburbs such as Ja Ela, Wattala, Attidiya and Ratmalana. The Muthurajawela Wetlands in the outskirts of Colombo is one of the places close to the city where these species can occasionally be seen, where boat-rides are organized to experience the wildlife in these waters. The Madu Ganga and Bentota River in the south-west coast are also rivers where this species can be seen during boat safaris. The highest numbers of Saltwater Crocodiles can be seen in the Nilawala River in Matara. A boat safari on these waters give a visitor a unique experience to witness one of the most dominant predators on the planet from the relative safety of the boat. Hatchlings can sometimes be seen in the water close to mangroves where they seek refuge from birds, fish and larger crocodiles. But the excitement of coming across a giant 16 foot dominant male crocodile at eye level, swimming along the rover with its back and tail postured up to showcase its dominance, can be considered one of the most thrilling and awe inspiring wildlife experiences Sri Lanka has to offer.

The island boasts of 15 endemic agamid lizard species. These rare denizens are found only on this island and nowhere else on each. Each species are found in varying habitats from urban landscapes, lowland rainforests, highland misty montane forests and dry zone scrub forests. A keen eye and an in-depth knowledge of the lizard’s habitats and behavior is key in spotting such rare beauties.

• Painted Lip Lizard
• Maculate Lizard
• Crestless Lizard
• Black Lipped Lizard
• Rough Horned Lizard
• Erdelen’s Horned Lizard
• Karu’s Horned Lizard
• Rhinoceros-Horned-Lizard
• Leaf-Nosed Lizard
• Pygmy Lizard
• Dumbara Pygmy Lizard
• Hump-nosed Lizard
• Brown Patched Kangaroo Lizard (Wiegmann’s Agama)
• Black Spotted / Patched Kangaroo Lizard