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Peaceful surroundings in the countryside.

Absolutely gorgeous hotel, the staff is amazing, Amal is a great cook and a lovely human being who even took us to the hospital when we needed. I recommend the lake fish and the vegetable omelet in the morning! And please don’t miss the night boat tour, it’s a gem

Ik zal mijn review in het Engels schrijven, ik hoop namelijk dat zoveel mogelijk mensen dezelfde geweldige ervaring zullen hebben als ik. This small-scale eco retreat near Thanamalwila turned out to be an unexpected gem. Dilan and Dhanushka, together with the quiet but essential Shashi, run this place with great dedication and heartfelt hospitality. They're in the process of turning it into a sustainable and locally rooted resort — and you can feel that in every detail. We stayed in a wooden cabin above a pond, beautifully lit at night with candles in coconut shells and little lamps in the trees. The bathroom has no roof above the shower, so you're literally showering under the open sky. A little frog on the toilet seat? Comes with the territory. It’s wonderfully peaceful here. From the veranda, you can spot birds, squirrels, monitor lizards and frogs. At night, it’s dark and quiet, with only the soft glow of oil lamps. When our son got tired after dinner, a mattress was already waiting under the tree by the dining tables — so we could stay and chat a little longer while he drifted off to sleep. By car, we visited a nearby river where monkeys leapt between the trees above and tiny fish gently nibbled at our feet — swimming in the current was a treat. No other people around. Just nature. A real highlight was the visit to the local market with Dilan, followed by a cooking class from Dhanushka’s mother. Nothing staged — just cooking and tasting together, the way it's done at home. During a relaxed BBQ under the trees, someone brought out a guitar and music followed naturally — a perfect example of Sri Lankan warmth and spontaneity. The safari to the quieter part of Yala (blocks V and VI) was stunning. We saw elephants, a leopard, crocodiles and countless birds — all without the crowds you’ll find elsewhere. A short walk across the estate took us along numerous elephant trails to a large rock with sweeping views of the landscape and the setting sun.

We had great experience in Thanamal-Villa! We stayed in small house (not tent) and this place was surprising clean and comfortable! We needed place to rest before Safari in block 5 and 6 and it was a great choice! Thanamalvile is a small village, with local restaurants and shops and Thanamal-villa is located close to main roa, but behind it , there are calm fields and nature. The owner is so nice and hospitable! He took us even for short ride around the village- it was a great way to spending time there! You can also arrange safari with him easily! Room was simple but clean, there was a AC. Bathroom was small but had everything what you need. In the evening we could sit on the terrace and listen the peacocks voices. Thanks for everything!

Super kind and friendly staff. Definitely the best of the camp. The tents are super well equipped. You feel you are in a camp without compromising on comfort. The setting is very nice, and the vibe at night is awesome with the bonfire and the fire lamps. Great option to stay one night if you want to do safari in the afternoon and in the morning.

The manager of the camp was extremely kind and available to chat, to show us around. The tent are perfect: very big and with all the services you might want. The food was very good. We had the best experience. Couldn’t ask for anything different!

We had a beautiful stay at Amba Kola, a slice of paradise in the Udawalawa jungle. We originally booked for 1 night but as soon as we arrived we were so warmly welcomed and loved the look and feel so much that we extended our stay. Janik and his family were incredible hosts, they treated us like family. Amba Kola is perfectly located on the edge of the National Park, which made it super easy to access safari tours. Tours are available to book onsite with their recommended tour guide, who we found to be so helpful, spoke very good English, and was amazing at spotting all of the wildlife on safari and relaying information. We saw many elephants as well as peacocks, deer, crocodiles, chameleons, iguanas, and so many different species of birdlife. Our room at Amba Kola was very relaxing and comfortable, we really loved the extra touch of an outdoor shower. We had the best food of our whole trip during our stay here, it truly was amazing. Janik’s mother, Mama Swarna, makes beautiful authentic home cooked meals, made from home grown and locally sourced fresh ingredients, and served with love. We have not stoped raving about it yet! Mama Swarna is a top rated cook and also offers traditional cooking classes. Janik, Greshan, and Sanju were so warm and friendly from the moment we arrived. Some of the most generous and happiest people we have met. They went out of their way to show us many of the local sights, and were always checking in on us with a smile to make sure we had everything we needed during our stay. We loved spending time petting and playing with their lovely dogs and cats, chilling in the beautiful garden, and enjoying a cool beer of an afternoon while playing a game of chess before dinner. We would not change a thing about our stay, every aspect was tastefully thought out and we enjoyed every moment, but the thing that really stood out and made our experience so special was being treated as part of this beautiful family.

Amazing stay close to Udawalawe park entrance. Nice pool, dinner... and staff was superb!

Amazingly kind and helpful family, they do all they can for their guests!

A sweet and lovely place to stay. Amazing woodwork combined with creativity makes it a place you want to stay. Some things are still in progress (new rooms), but when finished it will be an overall amazing hotel. Accommodation was generous and all facilities very clean. The staff and manager where very friendly and helpful in any way. Thanks to the team! 😃 Pool Billard table (very nice idea) and lounge area was very cool and wie liked the aquariums. You can have a proper drink at the bar as well. 😁