Full Bio

Noel Rodrigo, native of Sri Lanka, had been contemplating the land from the sky, high in the air on Sri Lankan airline, as a cabin manager for 25 years. Canvassing the world, complying with professional requirements of upper-standard and interfacing with travellers of all nationalities every day, he got attuned to many cultures and to a sense of company that made him part of a "global village". Yet, in 2006, Noel felt he should take a closer look at the villages and landscapes he used to know during his childhood, "no such thing like your home" especially when he remembered having gone to camps during his youth holidays... Passionate with wildlife, he decided to set up "Leopard Safaris", a small business with barely a team of 5 staff, who helped to operate even while Noel was flying. The business started successfully and Noel soon had to devote himself fully to his new venture. Two national parks are selected for the organization of safari tours in jeeps and tents, one in the north west (Wilpattu) and the other in the south east (Yala).

In contrast, the arrival of Cecile, born in northern Germany, owed nothing to predestination. She did attend universities in Köln and later pursued a master in finance in Leicester. After completion, in 2009, she decided to look for a three months internship in an NGO in Africa: however the minimum required was 6 months, so she had to look for alternative; thanks to a tip from a German NGO, she was recommended to search in Sri Lanka, while she had never visited Asia... love at first sight! Cecile decided to stay and to share the life, the passions and the lifestyle of Noel and his team: she found her business and finance skills to be readily applicable to the management needs of "Leopard Safaris" and she enjoys ever since, the country, its people, its climate and its natural setting. Leopard Safaris summarizes everything in two words: the camps are mobile, require driving and patience to observe the elusive leopard, a symbol for Sri Lanka which carries the highest density of this animal in the world, the biggest as well and which is the apex predator in the country, so it will have no need to take up its prey in the trees for eating!

The team is comprising experienced and educated naturalists and trackers, and Leopard Safaris offers the best chances to take extraordinary shots of this animal, but many other species can be observed such as elephants, sloth bears, red deers, crocodiles, water buffalos, nearly 200 birds species etc. While the mobile camps under customized South-African style tents are displaying many luxury items in the bedding, decoration, furnishings, cuisine, one should not expect the full amenities from a static brick and mortar hotel; the safari is real, fans are provided but no air-conditioning in the mobile tents, you can take hot showers, but from the reservoir and not from running water pipes; you should expect to get up early, to listen to the wildlife music at night and to enjoy bonfires as well as lanterns at night and zipping your tents properly to keep wild animals away from them. Wifi is provided, but you are recommended to limit its use and invest your time in the real adventure. Plastic bottles should be exchanged for metallic refillable ones; Leopard Safaris is following rather strict eco-policies and expects its guests to respect the same values, its "Green Mission". It relies on solar power, supports many local communities initiatives and conservation organizations such as Wildlife and Wilderness Conservation Trust's (WWCT) Leopard Project with logistics and finance and, last but not least helps the authorities to fight poaching. The meaning of "Commonwealth" is rediscovered here: 60% of the guests are British, another 15% come from Aussie...so there is ample room for you to change the statistics if you come from another place and if you wish to join the Common Wealth from another standpoint, you’ll simply participate in a tree-planting session. A major recommendation from Noel to memorize your stay: take your camera, long life batteries and an excellent zoom!