Travel Agent Kuils River

Many would ask why in the world would I chose to travel to Sri Lanka. I must be honest that it is not a destination that I would have chosen for myself, but my sister in law lives there and she invited me to go and visit.

It is a destination best suited for those looking for a cultural experience. It is a Buddhist nation, so you will very often see cows roaming freely in the streets and they of course have right of way! You will find Buddhist temples on many street corners in Sri Lanka. It is also a popular destination among those interested in ancient architectural styles.

It is a country that is very famous for its tea plantations and it is where Ceylon Tea originated from. You can even include a guided tour through a tea factory, where you will see how the tea is harvested, dried and packaged.

Sri Lanka is about the size of the Western Cape in South Africa, with a population of about 30 million people. It is extremely over populated.

It is a good value for money destination and it is still a destination that South African’s can well afford. I would suggest perhaps combining it with a trip to India, as the flights are short and cheap between the two countries. You would fly there either on Emirates Airlines via Dubai or on Qatar Airways via Doha. I find that the Emirates Airlines option works better as Emirates tends to have better connection times and the total flying time is about 14 hours.

There aren’t too many beach activities, so if you are looking for a beach destination, you would not find too much of that. You are able to go elephant back riding. Some resorts offer water sports like jet skiing. I quite enjoyed a relaxing boat ride through the mangroves. It felt really surreal, and it kept me wondering when the anaconda or crocodiles were going to make an appearance! Yes there are crocodiles in the water. Many locals live on the banks of the river, so it is always a good idea to have some sweets with you for the children that stand and wave on the river banks.

It is extremely hot and humid, so the best time to go is during our winter time. The time that I travelled, I later discovered was their hottest time of the year!

The resorts' star ratings in Sri Lanka are on par with many of the best resorts that I have experienced. Most of them offer full board or half board options and it is well worth it. The food is very well prepared and while it is mostly spicy foods that they serve, there is a wide variety to suit all palates.

No visas are needed for South African’s and there is a malaria warning for those travelling deep into the jungle. I must admit I didn't take anything for malaria, but I would suggest that you pack more than enough insect repellent. The size of their mosquitoes is nothing like we have ever seen here in SA.

Sri Lanka is filled with very friendly and helpful people, good food and a wide variety of local restaurants to choose from. It is definitely a very pleasant holiday!