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Wadula Safari Yala

3.5 star property
A tranquil lakeside retreat where nature creates the perfect backdrop for garden relaxation and delicious meals at the charming on-site restaurant

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Photo gallery for Wadula Safari Yala

Exterior - Wadula Safari Yala (Kataragama)
Economy Cottage, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Lake View | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, bed sheets - Wadula Safari Yala (Kataragama)
Exterior - Wadula Safari Yala (Kataragama)
Economy Cottage, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Lake View | Bathroom | Shower, rainfall showerhead, free toiletries, hair dryer - Wadula Safari Yala (Kataragama)
Food and drink - Wadula Safari Yala (Kataragama)
Wadula Safari Yala, surrounded by the serene lake, offers a peaceful escape. Guests can relax in the garden, enjoy flavorful meals at the restaurant, or access a nearby pool. The guesthouse's distinctive charm leaves a lasting impression on all who stay.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
  • Breakfast available
  • Room service
  • Housekeeping

Room options

View all photos for Economy Cottage, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Lake View

Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, bed sheets

Economy Cottage, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking, Lake View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(8 reviews)
  • Lake view
  • 18 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

About the neighborhood

Located in Kataragama, Wadula Safari Yala is in a national park and on a lake. Kataragama Archaeological Museum and Patanangala Tsunami Memorial are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yala National Park and Lunugamvehera National Park. Kayaking offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and ecotours nearby. Visit our Kataragama travel guide
View more Guest Houses in Kataragama
Map
Situlpawwa Road, Kataragama, uva, 82600

What's nearby

  • Yala National Park
    Yala National Park
    1 min walk - 0.0 miles

Restaurants

  • Cafe J Restaurant
    16 min drive
  • SMOOTHIEBUN - Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant, Kataragama
    18 min drive
  • Wild Edge Restaurant & Cafe
    17 min drive
  • Edirisinghe Rest
    18 min drive
  • Eth Yahana
    19 min drive

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Interior
Yala Safari Camping
Kataragama
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  • All inclusive
  • Parking included
  • Restaurant
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking within 1 mile; reservations required
  • Offsite parking; reservations required
  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge) up to 200 km
  • Beach shuttle (surcharge)

Food and drink

  • Daily continental breakfast available 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: LKR 2,000 to 3,000 for adults and LKR 1,000 to 2,000 for children
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Safari

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • On a lake
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 42-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11:30 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for LKR 23.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Important information

Optional extras

  • Fee for continental breakfast: approximately LKR 2000 to 3000 for adults, and LKR 1000 to 2000 for children
  • Airport shuttle fee: LKR 45000 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 3)
  • Rollaway bed fee: LKR 23.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Frequently asked questions

Is Wadula Safari Yala pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

There is free parking nearby.

What time is check-in at Wadula Safari Yala?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Wadula Safari Yala?

Check-out is at 11:30 AM.

Does Wadula Safari Yala provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of LKR 45000 per vehicle applies.

Where is Wadula Safari Yala located?

Situated on a lake, this guesthouse is within 6 mi (10 km) of Yala National Park, Kataragama Archaeological Museum, and Kataragama Temple. Sithulpawwa Buddhist Monastery and Sacred Bo Tree are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Reviews

Wadula Safari Yala Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

9.6

Amenities

10

Staff & service

9.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 63 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 63 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 63 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 63 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kwan Yin Jack

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Unique atmosphere and really friendly host!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful staff and amazing place to stay. Helped up organize our safari. Food was great and the sunset views can not be beat!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We had a fantastic stay here, the team were incredibly attentive, flexible and communicative with us, thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very nice place and great staff! If you want to experience “living” in the jungle 100% a recommendation! The rooms are large, clean and no bugs and the staff very helpful and friendly! If I am every around Yala area again then it’s the place I will stay 😎
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very friendly and helpful staff made our stay in the wilderness a great experience. Nice and clean with good, plentiful food.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff here could not be more helpful and friendly. I felt very welcomed and safe. The property sits on a lakefront with abundant wildlife. I enjoy photography and one of the staff kayaked me with my camera around the lake to take photographs of the wildlife. Like I said the service is unparalleled and the food is excellent. The staff is prompt and plans were followed up to the letter. It doesn’t get any better.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Todd

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Amazing, clean, fully appointed “cottages” - the grounds are on the lake which was explosive with wildlife and great views. Right on the fence line of Udawalawe National Park. The food was EXCEPTIONAL and the staff were some of the kindest people we have ever met. (Big hugs to “Chef”!!! They set up an amazing safari for us where we had THREE leopard sightings - beyond our wildest expectations!!
Taken with an iPhone!
Dinner on the dock
Accomodations!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Harmeet

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A hidden gem! A beautiful, clean and comfortable cottage right in the middle of the forest, in the heart of nature. Lovely staff and service. They even arranged a last minute safari for me, which was worth it. The restaurant serves organic and fresh meals (veg only) and the view of the lake is spectacular! The host even took us for a walk around the areas and we saw some lovely birds. This place is worth every penny. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

SHAY

Amazing wilderness

A real wild experience. The staff is very kind and helpful
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vibeke

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Place with a soul

Felt so taken care of the second we arrived. Went on a safari with the hotel and came back to a lovely dinner. The staff was excellent.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ebenezer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel and staff are amazing! They were so attentive to our needs and everything was so clean. The hotel had great communication with us through the Expedia app. We able to meet at a local temple for a late hour pick up. The drive in by jeep as the hotel is on the edge of the park! I can’t wait to go again!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The setting is beautiful with abundant wildlife. The food was superb as were the excellent staff. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Luc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location for easy access to a Yala safari. The room was very clean, looked brand new. Great service ans the food was good!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing place👌

Amazing place👌 The rooms were so nice and clean, the service was great and friendly and also the food was good. A big recommendation from me🙏
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alessandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room is a spacious cabin and it’s beautiful. There is a nearby lake where we saw wild water buffalo and wild peacocks. The food in the hotel is a little pricey but well worth it. The best vegetable curries I have eaten in Sri Lanka! This hotel is a hidden gem!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ernest

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Ideal place to stay for Yala National Park

At end of a 4x4 dirt trail, the brothers have worked hard during difficult times to create a small high-end eco-friendly resort in the woods where monkeys play and peacocks crow. Recently built modern brick and plaster cottages with a/c face a lagoon lake with a property adjacent to Yala National Park. Service is excellent.
Scene typical of Yala National Park
Romantic Dinner
Foot trail to cottage
Forest cottage
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Cristian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Little slice of paradise

This was a great location. It was peaceful and secluded. Breakfast was served on the porch. It was delicious. Bed was a little firm.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amit

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very beautiful place. Very quiet, green and glorious forest around it. The lake next door is beautiful. The sunset from the restaurant was beautiful. One slight issue I found was big red ants in bathroom (didn't come to bedroom and didn't trouble when in bathroom but was concerning). Rest everything was fantastic. Dulaj and Chamita were wonderful hosts
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

meeka

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent hotel

This place is wonderful. The 2 brothers really go all out to take care of you. They have a western menu and food is plentiful. The rooms sit in front of a surprise beautiful lake inside the park. Wifi and TV were not expected so glad to have, as well as a spacious bathroom with Toiletries. They picked us up in a tuk tuk and gave door service no where did they lack service. Really nice owners.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great value in nature

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gipsy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The whole experience with Chamith and Dulash was absolutely perfect, from minute 1. Chamit was in contact with us since we left Ella, just to make sure that we were OK and that our arrival to his place was without any incident. We hired 2 safaris, the first one on the day of our arrival and the second one on the next day. And, of course, everything was also perfect. The food they prepared for us was world-class, including breakfast and dinner. They were so warm that we felt at home. And of course, room was pristine when we arrived. Room and all of the rest was clean and neat. I would stay at Wadula 100 times if needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The best service in Sri Lanka! We stayed one night in this property in the middle of the jungle. The staff is amazing - from pick up, through check in and until check out, they treated us like nowhere in Sri Lanka. They prepared an awsame dinner, took us for an hour tour around the property to explore the wildlife, organized a wonderful safari for us and even brought us things we needed from the shop in the city! The room si super clean and you will find there everything you need. A couple of practical advices: inform the property before arrival so that they can pick you up. Your driver won’t be able to go that far with the car. Buy the things you need before checking in, going back to the city is not an option in the night. But, you will be privileged to enjoy the wildlife and the nature and see some of the most beautiful scenaries and animals just a couple of steps from your room!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sathish

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing staff, excellent service

The accommodation is off-roads, 2-3 kms, needing a 4-wheeler drive (which the staff will pick you up on) to access. It is a bit remote, and takes a narrow dirt path, so I recommend arriving before dusk. The rooms are cute & comfy. There are telephone networks in the property, so Internet isn't an issue. While getting off the 4-wheeler safari jeep, I missed a step (my fault) and ended up spraining my ankle, hurting my ligament. My ankle was pretty swollen, and I needed help to hop to my cottage. I was pretty bummed out - but, the staff totally turned around the situation for me. - Chamit and Nisal immediately got us ice & first aid to reduce the swelling. - They arranged for me to see the nearest doctor (around 10 kms away). Chamit drove us to the doctor. The doctor didn't have an x-ray machine and Chamit drove us another 30 kms to the hospital with the nearest x-ray machine. Thankfully, I didn't have a fracture and it was just a ligament tear. Chamit drove us back 40 kms to the cottage. That night's dinner at our cottage was the best food I have ever eaten in Sri Lanka. I was able to go on the safari the next day and see peacocks, alligators, wild buffalos, monkeys, deers and leopard. The food packed by the staff for the trip was delicious. This story would have been us being stuck in forest land with a swollen ankle not knowing what to do - I deeply owe it to Nisal, Dulaj & Chamit for their calm, patience, kindness & hospitality and being a source of strength!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very tranquil place hidden in forest. Comfortable rooms and great food. Need to climb up into a safari ute to access the premises. Lots of wildlife about and a beautiful lake.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bineth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everyone was super accommodating, the food was excellent and the area is beautiful truly amazing spot.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025