All things wild...

The 'Peacock Blue' -  one of my favourite colours!

Being out on the road, trekking, finding off beat paths and training our Guides haven't left us with much time to keep the blog up todate. We've also been busy setting up some videos of our travels which can be viewed on the +Ayu in the Wild Safaris, Sri Lanka YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRNg5tiCz1uzHg5yyrWhRSQ/about
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THE GATHERING
The season for 'the Gathering' is now well underway and we've done a clip to celebrate the migration of these wonderful mammals from across the drought stricken North Central Province, to the beautiful Minneriya Tank.  Take a look at the clip to see the wonderful experiential safari offered by +Ayu in the Wild Safaris, Sri Lanka where you learn about the behaviour of these mammals, their migratory routes and even trek along hidden elephant corridors.

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT Ayu in the Wild
Thank you to +Safarious for selecting us as 'One of the Members Worth Checking Out' https://www.safarious.com/en.  Sometimes, you wonder why you spend so much time writing updates, finding that one perfect title and image...I guess, its worth it when you're appreciated and recognized - thank you Safarious!

Green Bea-eater - Yala

Life as a Jungle-farmer

The real Sri Lanka through the eyes of the locals.

Ask anyone who has been on safari with us and they wouldn't deny that community interactions are part of the best memories they have of their safari with Ayu in the Wild.  http://ayuinthewild.com/p7.php

A jungle-farmer's life is tough! Waking up before dawn to collect water, set out to work on the field before the sun becomes unbearably hot and as the day ends, gather firewood before heading home.

Most often, 'Paddy-farmers' (who grow rice)  close to wild Elephant corridors need to stay awake on all-night vigils. Sitting in a tiny watch hut, vulnerable, in the middle of his field or maybe high up on a tree with just a faint light for company. Despite electric fences that are meant to be a deterrent, Elephants still break through, keeping logs on the fence and stepping over! At night, intermittently, each farmer yells out to the other in the next field - a simple tracking mechanism to ensure no one has fallen asleep or come to any harm.

On safari a few weeks ago, we spent some incredible moments with a jungle-farmer and his family experiencing how to cook-like-the-locals-in-the-wild.

We picked vegetables off his plot and helped cook five curries on an open fire of three bricks. Ever tasted prawns grilled on a banana leaf over a wood-fired bbq of sorts? 

After a long safari ride we visited them again as night approached - just to chat about their day and ours. They had even lit a campfire! The jungle-farmers' life is one of incredibly hard work. Yet, they can be the most hospitable people you will ever meet. Talk to them and they never fail to smile!

As the night became cooler from the breeze wafting through the vast lake in front of their tiny clay, wattle and daub hut, our day out on safari came to a perfect end.

If you would like to travel on an experiential wildlife safari contact us on info@ayuinthewild.com

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