Wow! Kids up at 4am this morning to go to Udawalawe National Park. They were AMAZING yet again! bright as buttons, super helpful and confident.

The 3 of us caught some sleep on the 2 and a half hour drive there. I served as the bookend in the middle of the row of 3 so I got very little shut eye as my head bobbed around without a headrest and I desperately tried to hold onto the contents of my colon after tossing and turning all the previous night with some bug. I’ll let you fill in the blanks as to how that panned out for the rest of the day!.

Anyway, we arrived at Udawalawa at 7.30am, grabbed breakfast (not me) and met up with our guide and jeep driver. We joined an Indian couple who were also staying at Sleepyhead and we took the front 4 seats. Sat in tiered rows of 2, it was easy for us all to see all the animals we came across. Our guide, Kumara looked so young, I initially thought he was just a car park attendant or a runner for the park. Proved me wrong didn’t he! Really enthusiastic, knowledgeable and considerate of both the children interests and adults desires to record everything we saw.

We were allowed plenty of time with each animal/ group that we encountered and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. From birds, to buffalo, Jackals, mongoose and crocodile, it was all fascinating. However, you just couldn’t beat the experience of sitting a foot away from a huge male elephant or a mother and baby combo! The kids were awake throughout and loved every minute of it.

Way too many pictures and minutes of video footage later and we were safely deposited back with our driver for the day to continue up to the mountains and Ella, via Ravana Falls. Great stop off this, it’s on the main road so no diversion.

Before we knew it, Ella appeared, only 6km up the road. Initially we were all looking dubious as the driver carefully wound up and down a remote track past Inn after Inn, Hotel after Hotel. He eventually decided he could/ should go no further, just as a tuktuk driver came alongside who worked at Rockside Inn, our next ‘home’. He quickly bundled all our bags in the tuktuk with the 2 kids atop, depositing everything safely up at the hotel just up the next steep track.

Now then! How do you begin to justify constantly upping the ante on best experiences, accommodation, sights, food etc etc etc? Henna’s ‘greatest hits’ changes daily as each day just keeps hitting us with new experiences. Which brings us to Rockside! This place is amazing! Perched in the mountains, looking directly at Ella Rock, it offered us a fantastic room with a Super King and bunk beds, massive bathroom and a balcony with the perfect view. Breakfast was great quality and plentiful enough to fuel us for a day of hiking up Little Adam’s Peak. Turns out there’s a great little shortcut pathway straight into town, which is busy at this time of year and has really gone all out on catering to tourists. Has a real backpacker feel to it whilst also including the olds.

After stocking up on supplies of varying roti, we headed out on a trek that took in Little Adams Peak, 98 resort, through the tea plantation and down to 9 arch bridge. From there you walk the track and tunnel to circle around to Ella Railway station, around 8- 10 miles. Yes, you do have to step off the track to avoid the second of only 2 or 3 daily trains but they are going slow and you hear them coming long before you see them. A great starting walk taking in all sorts of sites thanks to our host’s suggested route. As we sat on a bridge waiting for a train to pass, reminding the children not to lean back due to the extreme drop, I conveniently toppled my hat over the edge! I did attempt to clamber dawn through the thicket to reach it but midway, stood amidst all sorts of tangled growth, I thought about the myriad of bugs that may wish to hitch a ride in my skin, so I gave it up as a bad idea! Never mind – New Hat time! Back with a take out for showers, tea and a movie, before checking out all the previous 2 days photos and videos, then bed. Ella Rock tomorrow! A much bigger challenge apparently, though we’re all convinced we’re up to it.

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