Yala Jungle Haven

The best part for my son was getting to feed the giant squirrel he’d been eager to see. And for me, the morning began with an amazing sunrise, a walk along trails where I was shown animal tracks, then a motorbike ride to a nearby lake to see wild animals, all before my husband woke up. There was wildlife right on the property, next to Yala National park. At dinner by the campfire, we could see and hear wild buffalo and deer heading to the watering hole, safely behind electric wire. The pathways, with large dried vines, welcoming messages, and lamps at night, made the place feel special and unique. Rooms and beds were comfortable, and the mosquito nets had no holes, unlike ones we’d encountered elsewhere. For our Yala safari, we went with Thushala, the owners’ son. He seemed to read the animals and anticipate what they’d do. His patience and enthusiasm helped us get close to leopards and elephants, and we saw lots of other wildlife too, from monkeys and birds to jackals and two kinds of deer. I felt a little bad for tourists in the other jeeps who missed what we saw. This jungle experience was the highlight of our trip. I’d stay again and have already recommended it to friends.

I came away from Yala National Park with incredible safari memories and a new friend. Thusara is one of the kindest, warmest people I’ve met, and I’ll miss him. We loved the first safari so much that we decided spontaneously to go again the next day. Both times we saw leopards and plenty of other amazing animals. The camp food was great, and dinner by the fire under the stars was special. The dogs were adorable and friendly too. The host’s kindness and hospitality stood out, and meeting his lovely family made the stay feel even more personal. The rooms were perfectly clean, and the accommodation had everything we could have wanted and more. For people complaining about no electricity or cold water, remember you’re in the jungle. I could write a whole book about what was wonderful here, but I’ll stop there. It was unforgettable, and I’ll always remember it fondly.

The BBQ dinner by the campfire was the highlight for me. Great food, a roaring fire, stars overhead, and jungle sounds all around made for an unforgettable evening. The rooms are simple but clean. It was warm at night, though the fans and mosquito nets made things comfortable. There were hardly any bugs despite the jungle setting, just a couple of harmless geckos. Thushara was one of the best hosts I’ve had. He was thoughtful and attentive, even checking the room for bugs and spiders after I mentioned my fear of them. On safari, we saw birds, crocs, buffalo, land monitors, and the biggest leopard, Lucas, resting under a tree. Thushara knows his wildlife and spotted animals and explained them as we went.

We arrived ahead of schedule and were hungry, so we asked for something small. They quickly brought us a fantastic rice and curry meal with fresh fish curry, bean curry, eggs, coconut roti, and pineapple afterward. Dinner at the campfire was just as good: chicken BBQ and vegetables, with the corn on the cob we requested. Dessert was local buffalo curd topped with Sri Lankan treacle. With the sky above, fire roaring, and animal sounds in the background, the evening felt surreal. The safari we booked with Thushala was fantastic. He was a wonderful host and made sure even the small details helped make the trip special. He also chose a comfortable jeep, which was different from our experience on two other safaris. We saw lots of elephants, crocodiles, and a Jackal, and he pointed out many birds and other wildlife. The rooms were clean and tidy, basic but whimsical, and suited the experience. It was hot at night, but fans were provided, and the mosquito nets worked well.