Sri Lanka Wildlife Media Tour with Steve Phillipps of Springwatch

Discover the extraordinary biodiversity of Sri Lanka on this immersive 9-day wildlife journey, combining wetlands, marine safaris, national parks, and cultural highlights across the island’s most spectacular natural landscapes.

Your adventure begins with a warm Sri Lankan welcome upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport before transferring to Negombo for a relaxing first night at Arie Lagoon.

Travel north with a birding stop at Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary, a Ramsar-listed haven of freshwater lakes and mangroves supporting over 150 bird species. Continue to Kalpitiya for an unforgettable marine safari, where Spinner Dolphins, Sperm Whales, and Blue Whales are frequently sighted in season.

Venture inland to Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park, known for its scenic villus (natural lakes) and excellent leopard and sloth bear sightings. Enjoy a full-day safari, a half-day safari, and a special night drive in the buffer zone in search of elusive small wild cats including Jungle Cat, Fishing Cat, and Rusty-spotted Cat.

Continue to Dambulla with the option to climb the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dramatically rising 200 meters above the plains. A guided nocturnal walk offers the rare opportunity to observe the Grey Slender Loris in its natural habitat.

A Unique Learning Experience

This journey also offers a special opportunity to learn wildlife filming and photography with Steve Phillipps. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, photographer, or passionate nature enthusiast, you can gain valuable hands-on guidance in the field — from camera techniques and storytelling to understanding animal behavior and ethical wildlife practices — all at a relaxed and enjoyable pace.

Prefer to simply soak in the experience? You are equally welcome to enjoy the safaris purely for the thrill of wildlife encounters and the beauty of Sri Lanka’s diverse ecosystems.

Concluding back in Negombo before departure, this expertly guided expedition blends birding, big game safaris, marine wildlife encounters, conservation insight, and creative learning — offering a rich and rewarding exploration of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.

Steve Phillipps

For over 25 years, Steve Phillipps has been at the forefront of wildlife filmmaking, crafting powerful, immersive imagery for the world’s most respected broadcasters, including the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery. His work spans six continents, from the frozen Arctic tundra to dense tropical rainforests and vast African savannahs, capturing some of the planet’s rarest and most dramatic wildlife behavior.

Renowned for his patience, fieldcraft, and technical mastery, Steve specializes in filming complex animal sequences in remote and demanding environments. Whether working from concealed hides for weeks at a time, operating long-lens systems in extreme climates, or deploying cutting-edge remote and motion-triggered cameras, he combines innovation with deep ecological understanding to achieve intimate, cinematic results.

Steve is one of the core wildlife camera operators on the much-loved BBC series Springwatch, where live broadcasting demands not only creative vision but precision under pressure. His ability to anticipate animal behavior in real time and adapt to unpredictable conditions has made him an integral part of the production team.

Most recently, he worked on the landmark natural history series The Americas for NBC and the BBC — an ambitious, large-scale exploration of North and South America’s diverse ecosystems. The series showcases Steve’s signature approach: immersive storytelling, breathtaking composition, and a deep respect for the subjects he films.

Throughout his career, Steve has documented everything from apex predators and elusive big cats to fragile bird species and complex animal migrations. His images are known for their emotional depth — not simply recording wildlife, but revealing personality, vulnerability, and the delicate balance of natural systems.

Beyond the camera, Steve is deeply committed to conservation storytelling. He believes that compelling imagery is one of the most powerful tools for inspiring environmental awareness and action. By bringing audiences face-to-face with the natural world’s beauty and fragility, his work helps foster a greater understanding of the urgent need to protect it.

Combining decades of experience with an enduring sense of curiosity and adventure, Steve Phillipps continues to push the boundaries of wildlife cinematography — creating films that are as technically accomplished as they are profoundly moving.