TRAVEL & RESORTS
The centre offers educational classes and creative
workshops for children from local fishing communities
which guests can help play a pivotal role in, depending on
their own personal strengths and interests.
Ranging from math classes to singing and dancing, the
happiness gained from this heart-warming experience is a
lifelong memory to add to the treasure chest.
For families visiting, it is the chance for children to strike
up a friendship through the Resplendent Ceylon Pen Pal
programme and organically learn about a different culture.
Accompanying this is a visit to Weligama’s authentic fish
market, only a 10-minute drive from the hotel, with one of
the local chefs.
Exposed to the wonders of the bay, guests are shown all
the different fresh ocean delicacies, before bringing the
fresh catch of the day back to the hotel to whip up a range
of traditional Sri Lankan dishes in a private cooking class.
Resplendent Ceylon’s newest venture, Wild Coast Tented
Lodge, is a nature-lover’s paradise and provides the eco
conservation effort to match.
Guests can get involved in analysing data from wildlife
captured in ten camera traps and if this sparks family’s
interests, children can take their conservation efforts a step
further by applying for a summer internship programme.
The birding workshop and safari will allow guests to
help track behavioural patterns of many species of
birds alongside Wild Coast Tented Lodge’s expert birder,
who is one of the top ten people in the country at bird
identification – especially water birds and waders. Coupled
with a trip to Dilmah Elephant Transit Home with a
ranger, guests will be amazed at the astonishing beauty of
these humble creatures, and the humorous side to their
behaviour too.
This can be coupled with an enriching experience of
traditional pottery making at a local collective.
The connection to the varied and rich wildlife surrounding
Wild Coast Tented Lodge is mirrored by a bike tour to
Bundala to meet the local community.
Guests can visit a local chena farmer and rural home,
tour the fields and surrounding villages, and see wildlife –
including elephants – to gain a rare insight into rural life in
the area.
Issue 41 2019
The Art of Luxury
13