THE UDAWALAWA NATIONAL PARK IN SRI LANKA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS ELEPHANTS AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS SUCH AS BUFFALO, WILD BOAR AND DEER, THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE BIRD POPULATION TOO. WE SET OUT ON OUR FAMILY EXCURSION IN JANUARY 2009, ON THE 16TH OF JANUARY WE REACHED OUR HOLIDAY BUNGALOW "De OLIFANT" AT ABOUT SIX IN THE EVENING. THE NATIONAL PARK HAD THE MAIN ROAD AS ONE BOUNDARY AND THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FENCE ERECTED TO KEEP THE ANIMALS AWAY. TO OUR SHEER AMAZEMENT THERE WERE ELEPHANTS STANDING JUST BEYOND THE ELECTRIC FENCE WATCHING THE TRAFFIC PASS BY. SOME TRAVELLERS STOPPED AT THE BOUTIQUES SELLING FRUITS TO BUY SUGAR CANE IN ORDER TO FEED THE ELEPHANTS, WHICH THEY GLADLY ACCEPTED FROM BEYOND THE FENCE, BUT THIS WAS PROHIBITED ACCORDING TO THE NOTIFICATIONS POSTED ON THE FENCE.
"De OLIFANT" WAS A PLEASANT ABODE WITH THREE DOUBLE ROOMS WITH ATTACHED BATHS AND A DORMITORY TO ACCOMMODATE TWELVE. THE CARETAKER DID THE COOKING WITH HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER,THEY LOOKED AFTER EVERYTHING IN A VERY PLEASING MANNER AND WE FELT AT HOME AND CONTENTED.THERE IS A HUGE RESERVOIR A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY WHICH PROVIDES WATER TO THE VAST EXPANSE OF PADDY FIELDS IN THE AREA AND AGRICULTURE IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE POPULATION IN THE UDAWALAWE AREA.
THE BRIEF ENCOUNTER - WITH A WILD ELEPHANT - TOOK PLACE ON THE SAFARI IN THE UDAWALWE NATIONAL PARK THE FOLLOWING DAY. A FEW KILOMETERS INTO THE PARK THERE STOOD,RIGHT ON THE TRACK, A LONE ELEPHANT IN MUSTH WITH ITS TEMPLES DRIPPING. THE TRACKER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE JEEP BECKONED US TO KEEP STILL.THE VERY NEXT MOMENT THE BRUTE STRODE GENTLY TOWARDS THE JEEP AND EVERYONE WAS AGHAST, LOW MOANING SOUNDS WERE HEARD FROM THE LADIES, BUT THE YOUNGEST IN THE CROWD, GEELAKA KEPT ON CHATTERING.
THE TRACKER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOUTED WITH ARMS RAISED IN A FEEBLE ATTEMPT AT SCARING AWAY THE COLOSSAL BEAST BUT THE ANIMAL KEPT COMING,THIS PROMPTED THE TRACKER TO GET IN THE JEEP IN HASTE, THE BLACK HEAP OF FLESH AND MUSCLE STRODE GENTLY AND GRACEFULLY TOWARDS THE JEEP AND PASSED ON THE LEFT SIDE ,JUST A FOOT AWAY AND GOT ON TO THE TRACK PICKING UP GRASS ON ITS WAY. THOSE WHO KEPT THEIR EYES CLOSED OPENED THEM WITH DELIGHT AND THE CHATTERING BEGAN. ACHINDA HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO FILM THE HAIR RAISING INCIDENT ON HIS MOBILE PHONE.GOOSE BUMPS VANISHED AND THE SWEAT WAS WIPED OFF. WE RETURNED TO "De OLIFANT" AN ENTHRALLED AND SATISFIED LOT. (WATCH VIDEO)
