Day Seven - Nuwara Eliya to Uda Walawe National Park

Well, last night we did get into the formal dining room. My sandals were acceptable and Howard looked the part in his borrowed jacket and tie. 

(Doing his best Prince Charles impression). A real time warp hotel with Howard staying with the invisible woman. Only men are heard!

It was a really cold night - but my fault I was cold. I turned down room service hot water bottles when they were offered. 

Met Mahesh at 8am. Temperature 15 degrees at our hotel, 2000m above sea level. An hour and a half later it was 35 degrees. We were meant to be going to Yala Wildlife park but it was closed for 2 months due to refurbishment. Instead we went down to the south to Uda Walawe National Park. First stop was to see the baby elephants getting their daily milk - very cute!

Then onto safari jeep for a three hour (at least) trip round the national park. Lots of jostling and bumping in the jeep without seeing much. The park is very dry and the lakes almost non existent. Then we came across :

Just as we were heading out the park we saw a big herd of buffalo being marched through the park and at the side of the road 3 male elephants. Mahesh was a bit worried in case they might charge the jeep so instructed the driver to back off a bit. We sat and watched them for ages. 

Amazing animals but very dangerous. Mahesh told us stories of tourists getting killed by a big male elephant while posing for a selfie. Eek! 

Drove another 100 km in the middle of road chaos, turned off onto a side road and into another lovely hotel. Nice room etc. Went for a drink and a snake slithered past us. Had a shower and, as I'm getting out, realised I was sharing it with an enormous cockroach. Not sure who was more traumatised!!

I ❤️ this country!