Ramani Jayewardene
Ramani Jayewardene
Born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ramani is also half Swiss. Ramani grew up close with her Swiss mom's seven siblings and hercousins, swapping frequent visits and spending extended holidays in theAlps each year. She lives and breathes nature and has been involved with wildlife professionally for more than two decades. With a biology degree from Smith College in Massachusetts, she focused her energy on marine biodiversity research. Her projects have included valuable work on Sri Lanka’s complex reef system, as well as studies on whale and dolphin behavior off Bangladesh and in the Myeik Archipelago of Myanmar. She has also assisted Sri Lanka’s premier ornithologist on some fascinating bird research.
Having grown up in an adventurous, wilderness-loving family that spent every holiday exploring Sri Lanka's national parks, Ramani is as adept at navigating the jungle as she is exploring the ocean. She is also fluent in Swiss German, acquired while working inSwitzerland during her college summers. Between research projects, she has spent time teaching biology and environmental topics to children and young adults, including a post on the secondary faculty at Colombo International School.
Ramani has worked as a naturalist guide in South Asia since 2012. Her combination of academic knowledge, research experience and intimate familiarity with habitats makes her a favorite with travelers who like to delve deep into the wild world and its natural history. Her own travel portfolio extends well beyond her native Sri Lanka: she has also spent time among the flora and fauna in the wilds of Borneo, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and the Swiss Alps, including extensive hiking and travel around Appenzell, St. Moritz, Zermatt and the Schiltorn. When she's not outside adventuring, you're likely to find her reading, doing yoga or cooking.
What Our Guests Say
Ramani was the finest guide we have ever had in 30+ years of traveling! Both her knowledge and people skills were outstanding.
Ramani is an amazing naturalist and super Expedition Leader. She has a huge depth of knowledge and is wonderful at keeping everything organized. Her direction to the vendors and lodging providers kept us on track and made this trip so pleasant. Thank you, Ramani, for an amazing experience!
Ramani was amazing. She is a soft-spoken Sri Lankan historian and naturalist. She is an incredible storyteller able to make all the information paint pictures in our memory banks. She instantly made you feel like a good friend interested in sharing experiences. She was on top of quietly arranging many details and helped us interact with interesting people involved in conservation projects. She's a fantastic Nat Hab Expedition Leader find!
