Book Kataragama hotels

Wow, what an experience. When we pulled up into the camp, there was an elephant just there (a tusker no less). The standards were consistently high from there. We were well looked after by the manager Ravi, with impeccable service throughout. My wife's gluten free requirement being well looked after. The views are stunning, the food was great. At camp we sat and watched birds, and beyond seeing an elephant we saw a leopard just crossing the road outside! Before going to bed... Shine a torch into the canopy overhead, and there was a polecat (civet), desperately climbing away from us! Two days of safari in yala, were two of the best of our lives. Elephants, leopards, bears, birds, jackals, buffalo... Achi (driver) made sure we didn't miss a thing. 10/10, if you love nature, don't hesitate to stay here. One thing to note is the price doesn’t include safari. Top tip - take ear plugs, you really are completely surrounded by nature all the time.

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.

Incredible place to spend a few nights while we enjoyed the peace and serenity as well as two safaris. The food was the best we had during our stay in Sri Lanka and the staff was incredible as well.

Great stay here. Food options are limited, but great for a night or two.

This was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. The room itself was dirty—stained bed sheets, no duvet - just a thin sheet, plugs falling off the walls with exposed wiring, clumps of dust and towels that were old and fraying at the edges. There wasn’t even a bottle of water in the room. The worst part? They gave us a room that was already occupied by another guest. Imagine walking into what you think is your room, only to find someone else already there. It was deeply embarrassing and unsettling, and yet there was no apology from the staff. To add to the frustration, when I asked for a spare room key as I was sharing a room with a family member, receptionist told me she’d already given one to the other guest and when I explained that I needed my own as I had a few plans on my own, she rolled her eyes before finally handing over a card—begrudgingly. The corridors were pitch black, with no lighting whatsoever, making it dangerous to walk through. Worse still, the only way to get to the first floor was via an open staircase. When it rained, the floor became slippery, and with no warning signs, it was a complete hazard. The entire experience felt unsafe, unprofessional, and deeply unpleasant. The standards of this hotel had gone downhill significantly.