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the Horton Plains hosts a wide range of
wildlife. There are a few leopards, sambar
deer and wild boar about, but you’d be very
lucky to see the boar or leopard. The shag-
gy bear monkey (or purple-faced langur) is
sometimes seen in the forest on the Ohiya
road, and occasionally in the woods around
World’s End (listen for a wheezy grunt). You
may also find the endemic toque macaque.
̈ Birdwatching
The area is popular with birdwatchers. En-
demic species include the yellow-eared bul-
bul, the fan-tailed warbler, the ashy-headed
babbler, the Ceylon hill white-eye, the Ceylon
blackbird, the Ceylon white-eyed arrenga, the
dusky-blue flycatcher and the Ceylon blue
magpie. Birds of prey include the mountain
hawk-eagle.
̈ Plants
A tufty grass called Chrysopogon covers the
grasslands, while marshy areas are home to
copious bog moss (sphagnum). The umbrella-
shaped, white-blossomed keena (Calophyl-
lum) stand as the main canopy over montane
forest areas. The stunted trees and shrubs
are draped in lichen and mosses. Another
notable species is Rhododendron zeylan-
icum, which has blood-red blossoms. The
poignant purple-leafed Strobilanthes blos-
soms once after five years, and then dies.World’s End viEWPOiNT
The walk to World’s End is 4km, but the trail
loops back to Baker’s Falls (2km) and con-
tinues back to the entrance (another 3.5km).
The 9.5km round trip takes a leisurely three
hours. Unless you get there early the view
from World’s End is often obscured by mist,
particularly during the rainy season from
April to September.
All you can expect to see from World’s End
after around 9am is a swirling white wall.
The early morning (between 6am and 10am)
is the best time to visit, before the clouds
roll in. That’s when you’ll spy toy-town, tea-
plantation villages in the valley below, and an
unencumbered view south towards the coast.
Try to avoid doing this walk on Sundays
and public holidays, when it can get crowd-
ed. And despite the signs, weekend groups of
young Sri Lankan guys will do their utmost
to make noise and inadvertently scare away
the wildlife.
Guides at the national-park office expect
about Rs 750. There’s no set fee for volunteer
guides, but expect to donate a similar amount.
Some guides are well informed on the area’s
flora and fauna, and solo women travellersmay want to consider hiring one for safety.
Two guides who are genuinely enthusiastic
about the park and unusually knowledgeable
on the area’s fauna and flora are Mr Nimal
Herath (%077 618 9842; [email protected])
and Mr Kaneel Rajanayeka (%077 215 9583;
[email protected]), who is
just Raja to friends. Both normally work as
guide/drivers through the Single Tree Hotel
in Nuwara Eliya, but are available on a free-
lance basis as well.
Wear strong and comfortable walking
shoes, a hat and sunglasses. Bring sunscreen,
food and water. Ask your guesthouse to pre-
pare a breakfast package for you, and reward
yourself with an alfresco brekkie once you
reach World’s End. The weather can change
very quickly on the plains – one minute it can
be sunny and clear, the next chilly and misty.
Bring a few extra layers of warm clothing (it’s
very cold up here at 7am).
It is forbidden to leave the paths. There are
no safety rails around World’s End and there
have been a couple of accidents where people
have fallen to their deaths. If you have young
children with you keep a very firm grip on
them as you approach the cliff edge.Farr Inn lANDmARK
A local landmark, Farr Inn was a hunting
lodge for high-ranking British colonial of-
ficials, but now incorporates a basic but ex-
pensive cafe and visitor centre with displays
on the flora, fauna and geology of the park. A
small souvenir stand nearby has books on the
park’s flora and fauna.
It can be reached by road from Ohiya or
Nuwara Eliya and is a three-hour walk uphill
from Ohiya train station. It is situated next
to the car park from which almost all visitors
start the walk to World’s End.T^ To ur s
Almost every guesthouse in Nuwara Eliya and
Haputale operates trips to Horton Plains and
World’s End. Expect to pay around Rs 4000
per van and guide (park fees not included).4 leeping & EatingS
There are two basic Department of Wildlife
Conservation bungalows in which you can
stay: Giniheriya Lodge and Mahaeliya Lodge.
Foreign tourists stay here so rarely (read:
never) that nobody appears to have any idea
what the rates are. Enquiries should be made
through the Department of Wildlife Con-
servation (%011-288 8585; 382 New Kandy Rd,
malambe) in Colombo.