Ceylon Wild Safaris

The food was incredibly tasty, the open-roof showers were great, and the big air-conditioned tents were fab. We had breathtaking safaris too. This is a real out-of-the-way gem if you like getting off the beaten track and experiencing authentic SL life. The proprietor is so nice and helpful, and the rest of the staff are just as good. 😄

Our guide was amazing, very knowledgeable, and genuinely nice. The staff were lovely too, but seemed undertrained and inexperienced. We chose Ceylon Wild after reading so many rave reviews, so our stay was a real letdown, especially at the premium price. The glamping tents were fine, nothing special, and the experience didn’t feel high standard or luxurious. We had no hot water for the whole stay. I brought it up a few times. The bathroom was dirty, and the trash was full when we arrived. It was hard to work out who was managing the camp or get information about safaris, food, or service. Andre, who I assume manages the place, didn’t introduce himself. He only asked who I was, then said, “took you a while to get here”. I barely saw him after that until he hurried us out the door when we left. Service was poor. We’d get halfway through a meal before our drink arrived, usually after asking several times. Maybe more training or staff would help. Sadly, I wouldn’t stay again, even if it cost half as much.

We’ve been to Ceylon Wild Safaris twice over the past year, and both stays were fantastic. The team is friendly and attentive, the setup feels luxurious, and the whole experience is personal and carefully thought through. We had memorable wildlife encounters on the safaris, with excellent guides who knew the park well. Everything ran smoothly and let us relax and enjoy ourselves. If you’re heading to Yala and want a reliable, high-quality safari stay, this is a great option. We’ll be back again.

Ceylon Wild was fully booked, so Gaithri arranged for us to stay at the neighbouring Kulu safari camp. We slept and ate at Kulu, then did our safaris with Ceylon Wild. It was an unusual setup, but it worked out fine. Our guide Amavin and camp manager Andre were great and accommodated our requests. We saw a leopard, elephants, monkeys, deer, crocodiles, water buffalo, and countless birds. It was a fantastic experience, and the people at Kulu looked after us really well. I’ll leave them a separate review. I want to commend Gaithri for how she handled our lost booking. We’d booked with Ceylon Wild in July for a December safari for two adults and two children. We got the invoice, paid the deposit, and thought everything was confirmed. At 5pm the day before the safari, I called to confirm our pickup point, only to learn they had no record of our booking or expected arrival. Gaithri said she couldn’t explain why or make excuses, but would find a way to sort it out. Anyone can make a mistake. What mattered was how Ceylon Wild treated us and made up for theirs. They saved our Sri Lankan safari experience.