Take a cooking class
giants. Sprawling over 30,000 hectares, you’ll cruise through the nature reserve from the comfort of an open-top safari jeep. If you’re lucky, you’ll observe herds of the amazing creatures, from bumbling babies to wizened elders. Also look out for water buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys and peacocks, as well as Sri Lanka’s national bird, the junglefowl. For your best chance at seeing the animals, we recommend waking up before the sun – the park opens at 6am. We promise it will be worth it. Immerse yourself in the local cuisine by learning how to make some delicious Sri Lankan specialties at the Anantara Spice Spoons cooking school. Accompanied by one of the resort’s master chefs, you’ll take an intrepid tuk-tuk ride to the colourful food markets, carefully selecting the freshest fish, produce and spices. You’ll bring your ingredients back to the resort, and set to work preparing your lunch, with plenty of tips and tricks from the chef. There’s nothing quite like the sweet satisfaction of eating a dish you’ve made yourself… and impressing your friends by being able to recreate it at home.