Land Rover and Cinnamon Nature Trails present ‘Explorations’
Thursday, 22 May 2014 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Land Rover is offering its customers the chance to explore some of the best wildlife destinations that Sri Lanka has to offer – where owners will have the chance to experience spectacular scenery and interesting driving experiences from behind the wheel of their state-of-the-art all-terrain vehicles.
Land Rover has partnered with Cinnamon Nature Trails, the award winning wildlife and adventure tourism division of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and one of Sri Lanka’s leading eco-excursion providers, which will ensure that expert guidance is at hand and the high levels of comfort and refinement that Land Rover owners expect are maintained. Together, the companies will offer customers a series of vibrant tours, which will explore, conserve and help research the brilliant wildlife in Sri Lanka.
“Cinnamon has the vision to position Sri Lanka as the ‘Ultimate Island Safari’ experience, going well beyond the traditional one-off safari engaged by many tourists visiting the Island. With over 13 million trips undertaken by wildlife-seeking tourists annually – and a 10% global annual growth – the value and potential of this niche is significant when promoting tourism. As a brand that is truly committed to promote and conserve Sri Lanka’s natural world, we believe that this partnership with Land Rover is a beginning of a long journey in celebrating what’s ours whilst also promoting and raising resources to research sensitive species across Sri Lanka’s wilderness,” said Ajit Gunewardena, Deputy Chairman, John Keells Holdings.
“Our commitment to the environment is based on the belief that future generations should be able to enjoy what we enjoy. In Land Rover’s case this is the ability to explore and do good in the very far flung regions and terrains of the world. This ‘spirit of exploration’ can only be appreciated by future generations through the protection of Sri Lanka’s inhabitants and landscapes. This is what Land Rover and Cinnamon Nature Trails are working to achieve, and this is why we are very proud to bring ‘Explorations’ to our customers,” said Sheran Fernando, Managing Director, SML Frontier Automotive.
The first of this series of expeditions, ‘Trailing Bears’ will take owners to Yala for the palu season, providing them with the best chance of seeing these shy, elusive creatures. Chitral Jayatilleke, the Head of Eco-Tourism and Special Projects at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, will be on hand to provide photographic training and expertise whilst cameras and lenses will be provided for the entire weekend free of charge by Canon.
‘Corals and Reefs’ in July will give customers a chance to explore the natural beauty of the underwater world in Trincomalee with Cinnamon Nature Trails in the company of Dr. P.D.Terny Kumara, Head of the Oceanography, Ruhuna University. Dr. Kumara’s expertise will offer young Land Rover enthusiasts an insight into conservation of corals and marine life.
In exploring ‘The Gathering,’ customers will be taken to Minneriya with Dr/ Prithiviraj Fernando to observe, learn and understand the gathering of elephants. Land Rover kids can be a part of the research team at the Cinnamon Lodge, contributing data to the ongoing elephant research, which is conducted by Dr. Fernando. A special jungle 4x4 driver training experience will also be arranged during this expedition.
‘Whale of a time’ will see Land Rover taking customers on a sea faring expedition to observe and photograph whales near the coast of Mirissa, in the company of sea going naturalists with champagne breakfast served on board.
‘Search of Stripes,’ which is planned for 2015, will see Land Rover owners travelling beyond the shores of our island, to India where they will observe and photograph the famous Bengali Tiger at Ranthambore National Park.
In true Land Rover style, customers will stay in star class Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, including Cinnamon Wild in Yala, Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana and Blu in Trincomalee. It will also include driver-training programs, which will help customers understand their vehicles and the environment they traverse upon better. Cocktails and themed dinners will be the finale of each ‘Exploration’ with a chance for all to reflect on their time with Land Rover and Cinnamon Nature Trails.
