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Experiential Journeys Australia proudly supports the upcoming second phase of this critical conservation project.
Sri Lanka has endured one of the most turbulent decades in its modern history. From the Easter Sunday attacks to the global pandemic and the subsequent economic meltdown, the nation has faced crisis after crisis. Yet, even through these challenges, something powerful has remained: responsible tourism continues to uplift communities, restore ecosystems, and protect endangered wildlife.
At Experiential Journeys Australia, sustainability is not a marketing phrase — it is the foundation of how we operate across Sri Lanka and India. One of the clearest examples of this commitment is the Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) mitigation project in Gonaganara Village, bordering Yala National Park, developed by our long-term Sri Lankan partners, Eco Team, with funding support from All for Nature (Netherlands).
This project is a living example of how tourism-supported conservation can save both humans and elephants.
Sri Lanka loses approximately 300 elephants and nearly 100 people each year due to HEC. In 2024 alone:
Between 2015 and 2024, the total stands at:
And despite heavy investment in electric fences, firecrackers, and compensation, the situation continued to worsen — clearly, a new approach was needed.
Eco Team — the operators behind Mahoora Tented Safari Camps, Big Game Tented Safari Camps, and Funky Leopard Safari Lodge — has long believed that conservation must start with people.
Through collaboration with All for Nature, and guidance from Sri Lanka’s leading elephant experts, Dr. Devaka Weerakoon and Dr. Prudhviraj Fernando, a long-term, habitat-focused plan was launched in Gonaganara Village, a community heavily impacted due to its proximity to elephant habitats & corridors near Yala National Park.
Travellers who join our Sri Lanka Wildlife Tours often witness both the beauty and fragility of these landscapes — making sustainable solutions like this even more essential.
This village of nearly 400 families once faced:
Gonaganara’s position on the edge of vital elephant habitats — and directly along their age-old movement corridors — made it a severe conflict hotspot. As operators who benefit from Yala National Park’s wildlife tourism, we recognise our responsibility to support the communities and ecosystems that sustain these experiences.
Instead of relying solely on barriers or deterrents, the project used ecosystem restoration to reduce conflict.
Originally built under King Walagamba, this tank once provided seasonal water for wildlife and agriculture but had deteriorated.
It has now been:
This revitalised ecosystem provides elephants with water and grasslands outside the village boundaries.
A historic canal — clogged for decades — was cleared to bring rainwater into the tank.
This ensures a consistent water supply, enhancing feeding grounds for elephants and reducing their movement toward fields.
The bunt now:
This nature-positive intervention helps secure the long-term future of wildlife watching in Sri Lanka, including safaris to Yala.
The project didn’t just protect elephants — it revitalised a community.
This is sustainable tourism in action — not charity, but partnership.
Following two years of success, the village now requires:
Experiential Journeys Australia is proud to support the funding of Phase 2 once implementation begins, continuing our commitment to conservation-led tourism in Sri Lanka.
This project demonstrates a powerful truth:
From supporting elephant habitats to creating safer, more resilient communities, this project reflects the future of responsible travel — one that Experiential Journeys Australia is dedicated to championing.
Being an awesome place to see the incredible wildlife, Sri Lanka is considered the best safari destination outside Africa. It is an animal lovers’ paradise to witness different kinds of wild critters.
