Cape Weligama Signature Ocean Safari
Can you name all the whale species recorded in Sri Lanka's waters?
From December to April each year, Sri Lanka’s south coast features calmer waters and we venture out to sea in search of marine biodiversity — especially blue and sperm whales during their migration around the southern tip of the island.
Our Ocean Safari experience is guided by a Cape Weligama naturalist who will give informative commentary on the whales, their migration patterns and behavior. There is also a possibility of seeing other marine wildlife such as dolphins, turtles, types of fish and birdlife on the excursion.
For this experience, we use a high-powered, speedboat which helps us get to and from the migration route of the whales quickly, keeping the excursions shorter (around two to two and a half hours on average). The boat includes numerous vantage points for everyone to take in a sighting clearly. Each excursion is shared with no more than 10 other Cape Weligama guests and the experience is intimate and informative. The boat also features a restroom below the cabin.
When returning to shore, we drop anchor out at sea (sometimes in the picturesque Weligama Bay!) and serve a delicious breakfast on board. Seasonal fruit and fresh juices, home-baked delicacies from our pastry kitchen, as well as tea and coffee are on offer. Guests are welcome to have a quick swim in the azure waters of Weligama as well!
Cape Weligama will provide transport to its guests to and from the harbor where the boat is docked, and the rate includes the cost of permit fees and refreshments on board.
While our team and partner Borderlands will try their best to locate whales, we do not guarantee sightings of whales, and no refunds are given if no whales are seen.
Our Ocean Safari is run as ethically as possible, so we adhere strictly to observation guidelines such as how close we get to the whales and speeds at which we travel when we are near a whale or a pod of whales.
