Cinnamon Nature Trails

At Yala National Park, where light and shadow drift across the wilderness, Kaushiik Subramanium captures a fleeting monarch of the wild.

An award-winning wildlife conservation biologist, photographer, and filmmaker, his lens transforms a rare leopard sighting into a quiet tribute to Sri Lanka’s untamed beauty, and the fragile balance that sustains it.

Sampath has a way of making the wilderness speak.

Whether it’s a fleeting movement in the canopy or a subtle mark on the forest floor, he reads the land with quiet confidence, revealing stories others might pass by. A master birder, specialist marine mammal guide, and expert leopard tracker, Sampath embodies a rare depth of knowledge across Sri Lanka’s wild landscapes.

From the dry zone national parks to mist-laden rainforests, his patience, precision, and deep respect for nature shape every journey. Paired with an engaging sense of humour and an instinctively warm presence, he keeps guests fully immersed, turning each expedition into an experience that feels both personal and profound.

With an exceptionally keen eye for nature’s hidden jewels, Sampath doesn’t just guide through the wild, he brings it to life.

From his scouting days learning the language of birds and butterflies, Kolitha Senanayake has followed a path shaped by nature.

Volunteering with the Youth Exploration Society led him to Sinharaja, where he trained as a material development officer and deepened his work in conservation from Horton Plains fire-prevention efforts to roles with the Upper Mahaweli Project and The Tea Factory Hotel in Kandapola.

Training in Ahmedabad, along with yoga and Tai Chi, helped him weave mindfulness into his journey.

Today, Kolitha blends science with creativity, identifying species in an instant and turning those moments into art that reminds us why nature is worth protecting. 🌿