My parents told me that we were going to spend three nights camping in Kumana. I had never been there before but had seen a lot of pictures of Kumana taken by my father who had been there several times during the past few months.
This was also going to be my first camping trip in a National Park.

I almost had to miss the trip because of school. But, luck was on my side as Uncle Yohan decided to wait for me to finish school that day so that I too could go on the trip. It was in his vehicle that we went. I changed clothes and had lunch in the vehicle. Ah! Even my school books went to Kumana with me although I did not have any time to open them while at Kumana. Not that I planned to.

We reached the entrance to the National Park (NP) at Okanda quite late in the evening. At Okanda, Uncle Priyantha joined us as the Tracker.

The ‘Eda Kumbuka 2’ camp site was booked for us. It was by the ‘Kumbukkan Oya’. When we arrived at the camp site, it was dark.

First, the tents were put up and then Amma did the cooking in the dark. Then it was sleeping time. Late into the night, we found that we also have a frog inside the tent.

’’Sleeping Tents and Amma’s kitchen’

In the morning, I realized that there wasn’t a lot of water in the Oya. But, it was just the right amount to allow me to lay back on the river bed for a very long time.

‘Bathing place under the Kumbuk trees’

We saw many birds and Uncle Yohan taught me some of their names.

‘The Painted Stork’

The Indian Darter

The Black Headed Ibis’

Painted Storks at the Kumana Villu

Every time we passed the Kumana Villu we saw several elephants in the Villu. I was happy to see a lot of wild animals running about freely. It is good to have National Parks for animals because animals must have the freedom to live.

Eating & Putting’

(Oh!) Deer

Do not disturb

Nariya (Who? Jackal)

The Deer that came to drink water where we camped

100 metres away from the camp site

There was also an elephant that was brought to Kumana from a very faraway place.

The Transporter

The Cargo

The visits to the archaeological sites were very interesting. But, it was sad to observe that these sites had been damaged by treasure hunters and other people.

Bambaragasthalawa Buddha Statue

Bambaragasthalawa Rock

Bambaragasthalawa Kema

Rocks on a rock

The visit to the Bowattagala Rock Caves was possible only after my father walked around the jungle with his maps and compass along with uncle Priyantha. It was the best site we visited.

The main cave

Inscriptions

Veddha art

Destruction

Just outside the NP is Kudumbigala. Although there were lots of interesting things to see the whole place was a little modernized.

Dagaba on the Balumgala

Ruins

Gal Pahana

Gal Aasanaya

Inscriptions on stone

We visited some other interesting locations too.

Kubukkan Oya

Moya Kata

Kiripokuna Kama

For the first time in my life able to see Gal Siyambala trees at Kudumbigala. Some of the trees had fruits. No, we did not climb the trees but, picked up some fruits that were fallen on the ground.

Fruits of the jungle

Finally, many thanks to Uncle Yohan for taking me and my parents on this trip. This certainly was a super camping trip.

Fire that kept the wild animals away