I have been planning a birdwatching trip to Sri Lanka and hoping to hammock camp in the forest (usually alone) to enjoy the nighttime ambience as well as catching the wildlife at sunrise and sunset when it is often most active. I have strategies for dealing with the smaller stuff (i.e. mosquitoes, hornets, snakes, scorpions, other bugs) which is a quality bug net that completely encloses the hammock. I wouldn't have thought that packs of monkeys or dogs would be interested in a sleeping human, though from experience they certainly can be a problem at times if they want your food or to protect their territory. At night, hanging the rucksack and securely tying all pockets closed should deter curious monkeys.
However, it has been brought to my attention that larger animals may be a problem in some areas. These could include: elephants, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, other? Various motivations such a territorial protection, hunger, fear or just being ill-tempered could lead to actual harm, and there are reports of deaths from at least elephants and leopards. This has somewhat cooled my desire to hang in the forest at night without more information.
Does anybody here have experience of camping in Sri Lanka, which areas are safer or more dangerous, and what the actuality is? I don't want to be put off by sensational headlines but neither do I want to take silly risks. I am planning to contact camping organisations there and will post any useful replies back onto this thread.
However, it has been brought to my attention that larger animals may be a problem in some areas. These could include: elephants, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, other? Various motivations such a territorial protection, hunger, fear or just being ill-tempered could lead to actual harm, and there are reports of deaths from at least elephants and leopards. This has somewhat cooled my desire to hang in the forest at night without more information.
Does anybody here have experience of camping in Sri Lanka, which areas are safer or more dangerous, and what the actuality is? I don't want to be put off by sensational headlines but neither do I want to take silly risks. I am planning to contact camping organisations there and will post any useful replies back onto this thread.
