Minneriya Gathering – Annual Feast of Trumpeting Royals

“They want nothing – they only want to keep what they have
They understand that they must lead the tribe and gather
They wouldn’t rather have it any other way”

– Benjamin Michael Clark –

A Closer encounter of wild animals roaming free in their natural habitat than watching them in captivity is the best way to see how Mother Nature makes her members alive and you will get to see how fascinatingly animal species differ from each other. Therefore Travel design members tend to suggest you Sri Lanka holiday destinations where the best wild life episodes can be witnessed.

No one will ever deny the fact that there’s somewhat similarity in a soul of a human and an animal if they gaze deeper in to nature with a little more attentiveness. Elephants with their soulful eyes and calming moves, are much similar in their behavior to humans, and sometimes when mesmerized with their actions they compel you to feel that they belong to mundane world than wild. For the upcoming months till October, reach Sri Lanka and you will be fortunate to espy herds and herds of gentle giants gazing and lazing at Minneriya National Park nestled in the North Central province which is fabled for elephant safaris in Sri Lanka. The park encompasses the Minneriya Lake built 1700 years ago during the era of the great King Mahasen and it never dries, even when the drought affects the rural heartlands of the island.

Concentration of elephants around Minneriya Lake is named “The Gathering” because the occasion is not only a single herd moving out in the wild but herds of elephants residing all around the province congregating in the lightly forested areas close to reservoir banks. Gathering occurs in the dry season starting from June and peaks till early October, the month in which the monsoonal rain drops kiss the parched meadows. Drought calls these gigantic animals out of the woods to Minneriya Lake which is a heaven for elephant herds foraging for greeneries and so they live by the tank sipping its sweet waters till the seasonal rain comes. Approximately 300 elephants gather near the tank beds throughout the tough months and its enchanting how they gambol in the mud, gaze the new grown grass, splash water and mate with companions regardless of visitors gaping at them.

When the soothing sun rays of late afternoon touches the azure waters of the lake, dark silhouettes emerge out of the forest one by one waltzing their way to lake shores. Every small troop is led by a matriarch with calves in the tow well protected and each cluster resembles a group of pilgrims on move. Russet and grey skinned colossal male elephants prefers to roam in seclusion and sate their hunger with shoots of new grown grass. On the other hands females are dutiful with adorable calves playfully meandering here and there while some who are more curious than others trying to reach visitors. Within a second, motherhood of females come out to live as they lug the baby away with trunks after giving a loud trumpet trying to warn both the calf and humans. Juveniles love to play in the muddiest spots pulling each other with trunks and splashing water which is truly phenomenal to witness. With your safari jeep parked close to herds, you can espy every juncture of the gentle giants before the sun set.

Minneriya Gathering is a one good reason to take a Sri Lanka Wild life tour, specially when accompanied with Travel design by CDC. We will ensure that you will get to observe the iconic wild animals in the island roaming in their natural abode and don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the cherished moments and make million memories.

July 07, 2017
Editorial Team – Travel Design by CDC

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