Siyambalanduwa accommodation from NZ$61

What an amazing time we had at yala safari camping! The place is magical - completely immersed in the jungle, with trees as far as the eye can see and the mountains in the distance. Our « tent » (it’s not really a tent, definitely more like a luxury cabin) was in front of a lily pad pond and the sounds of the frogs made it a super relaxing place to sleep. When we arrived we were immediately greeted by the friendly staff and served a Sri Lankan meal with vegetable curries and jumbo prawns which was delicious. We then went on our first safari half day with Achi in block 5 where we spotted elephants, a leopard and plenty of monkeys, deers and various birds. The next day, we went to a full day drive on block 1 with Niro, and we loved how he spent time showing us various birds - from eagles to egret, kingfishers and bee-eaters - he had a keen eye to spot and we were fascinated with all that we discovered in the jungle. We even saw another leopard walking peacefully down the road, a family of elephants bathing, a malabar pied horn bill, painted storks, mongooses, monitor lizards, deer, grey langurs, and even Sri Lankan’s national animal the giant squirrel. On our last day, we went on a bush walk with Chamara, and walked through the forest and climbed a small mountain to get incredible views. Overall Ravi and his team gave us an unforgettable experience and were lovely, attentive and kind with great attention to detail across everthing. Definitely one to remember and return to!

Really nice place surrounded by nature and adjacent to a serene lake. Lots of birds to watch while sipping your tea on your private patio and even the odd visit from neighbhood monkeys. Rooms are clean, with ceiling fan and AC, with very few bugs/mosquitoes inside. The staff are incredibly helpful and kind. They also offer safari from 4 hours to full day at seemingly standard prices. We did a six hour private safari for 31K PP where we saw elephants, mongooses, loads of birds, and even (just about) a leapord. Food is good, simple, traditional vegetarian Sri Lankan cuisine. No fresh coffee and no alcohol served but seemed ok with others bringing their own. The biryani comes with the local buffalo curd which is delicious.

A special place close to Yala that makes you feel like you’re in the park. Small staff was so friendly and lovely, and I felt well taken care of. Delicious meals—often candlelit and with an outdoor grill. Room was air conditioned and well appointed, despite the jungle setting. Only caution: there probably will be some wildlife in your bathroom! They also organized my safaris in the park, as well as pick ups and drop-offs, which I appreciated.