Makini Bush Camp Blog

  Yala National Park, a wildlife paradise nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka, holds incredible treasures for nature enthusiasts. However, to make the most of your Yala experience, it's essential to avoid common pitfalls that may hinder your exploration. In this blog post, we delve into the top five mistakes visitors often make when venturing into Yala, providing insights and recommendations to ensure an unforgettable journey through this captivating wilderness. Having a Short Stay in Yala: Unveiling the True Gems One of the common mistakes is limiting your time in Yala. To fully immerse yourself in the park's wonders, it's recommended to spend at least two nights, or ideally three. Each block within Yala, such as Block 1 and Block 5, offers unique experiences and sightings. By allowing yourself ample time to relax, stretch your legs, and savor the weather, you create opportunities to uncover the park's hidden treasures and embrace its serene ambiance. Focusing Solely on

World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd to raise awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and the urgent need to protect our planet's flora and fauna. This year's theme is "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation," which highlights the critical role that collaboration and cooperation play in protecting wildlife and their habitats. In Sri Lanka, the conservation of wildlife and their habitats is essential to maintain the country's rich biodiversity, which includes many endemic species. However, habitat destruction, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts are major threats to Sri Lanka's wildlife, and urgent action is needed to address these issues. Strengthening partnerships between government agencies, conservation organizations, and local communities is crucial to the success of conservation efforts in Sri Lanka. By working together, we can share resources, knowledge, and expertise to develop effective strategies and solutions to p

Leopards are solitary animals, and their mating behavior is a fascinating aspect of their biology. These powerful and stealthy predators have several unique behaviors that they use to attract mates and reproduce. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at leopard mating behavior and learn more about how these animals reproduce in the wild. Male leopards reach sexual maturity at around three years of age, while females become sexually mature at around two years of age. Once a male leopard reaches sexual maturity, he will begin to roam in search of a mate. Male leopards will mark their territory with urine, scratch marks, and use vocalizations to attract females. Female leopards are receptive to mating for a short period each year and will signal their readiness to males through vocalizations and scent marking. When a female leopard is ready to mate, she will allow a male to approach and will usually mate over several (4-5) days. Leopard mating is a brief but intense process, and f

Leopards are one of the most majestic and mysterious animals in the world. They are known for their distinctive coats, which are covered in rosettes, and their powerful muscles, which allow them to roam across vast distances. Despite their beauty and strength, however, leopards are often misunderstood and misrepresented in popular culture. In this blog post, we will explore some of the behaviors of leopards in the wild and learn why these animals are so important to the ecosystem. One of the most striking features of leopards is their coat. The rosettes on a leopard's coat are used for camouflage, helping them blend in with their surroundings and sneak up on their prey. However, the color of a leopard's coat can vary widely depending on where they live. Leopards living in forests or jungles tend to have darker, more densely patterned coats, while those living in open grasslands or deserts may have lighter, more sparsely patterned coats. Leopards are solitary animals and are kno

Sri Lanka, an island off the South-Eastern coast of India is home to around 500 species of birds, with 240 breeding residents. The migrant season which takes place between September to March, sees this number swell up to about 500 species studded with rare migrants as well as some vagrants. Lately, the vagrant numbers seem to have increased, and never before seen rarities like the Chinese Pond Heron and the Greater Spotted Eagle were spotted. This may be due to adverse weather patterns that have pushed birds off their normal migration paths. Sri Lanka also has a high endemicity where birds are concerned. To date, there are 33 species listed as endemic, which augurs well for the enthusiastic birder who is keen to visit places and track down endemics. Most travel to Papua New Guinea, but Sri Lanka is just as rich in avian diversity and much easier to traverse in comparison. I would encourage you to read this article [1] written by Gehan De Silva Wijeratne, a naturalist and prominent per

The Makini philosophy revolves around the conservation and improvement of a balanced ecosystem, which includes all flora and fauna, in and around the camp. We have already commenced several conservation projects aimed at identifying habitats of different avian and mammalian species within the campsite. It is equally important to collect as much data as possible to measure the success of our conservation activities pre and post implementation. This includes observations and indicators documented under varying conditions and seasons. The first such initiative was a bird species and number count, done within a 4-hour period within the camp and surrounding areas. Bird Count Counting individual birds we see is a daunting task, but it can give valuable information on population density and causes that would grow or shrink the bird population. These changes may indicate shifts in climate change, habitat loss, pollution levels, migration timing, and more. Accuracy of the figures and taking the