Did i tell you about the time i bumped into an Elephant

After getting up early and having a proper look around the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel, which used to be an old tea plantation and factory, we ended up switching things up a bit. Our safari got pushed back to tomorrow, so instead we decided to leave Nuwara Eliya and make our way towards Ella. And as usual, the best days seem to be the ones that aren’t planned at all.

We stopped off at the famous Nine Arches Bridge, and it was absolutely incredible. We started at the bottom in our tuk tuk and made our way up the narrowest of roads, passing tea fields and little stalls selling coconuts and snacks along the way. When we finally reached the top, wow, what a sight. The bridge sits high up in the hills, surrounded by lush greenery, and just as we arrived a train came rumbling across. Couldn’t have timed it better if we tried. It was one of those proper “right place, right time” moments, and the photos were brilliant.

After that, we made our way back towards Ella for a quick stop and a cold drink at Ekho Ella, honestly one of the best located restaurants you could imagine. The views were unreal, looking out across the valley towards the Nine Arches Bridge with the mountains all around. The food and drinks were spot on too, and the whole place just had such a relaxed feel.

From there, we carried on towards Yala, stopping for lunch at Cinnamon Wild Yala. It’s set right on the edge of the national park, surrounded by nature, and while we were eating, we actually spotted wild crocodiles just lazing by the water. The place has that real safari lodge feel, rustic but comfortable, and you instantly get that sense of being right in the wild. I loved it there, and from there we headed to our hotel for the night, the Jetwing Yala.

This place was something else. The setting is stunning, right between the beach and the edge of the park, and it really feels like nature is all around you. But nothing could have prepared us for what happened next. While we were relaxing by the pool, a wild elephant casually wandered through the hotel grounds, stopped for a drink of water, and then strolled straight through the lobby like he owned the place. It was completely surreal, everyone just stood there watching in disbelief. One of those once in a lifetime moments you couldn’t plan even if you tried.

Next stop,Safari😀