lake Front Yala Safari is a business in Kataragama. Address: Lake Front Yala Safari, Kataragama 91400. Phone: 076 136 6225. Average rating: 4.0 out of 5 from 10 customer reviews on Review Guru.
4.0
Based on 10 reviews
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Katha S.
A wonderfully welcoming family offers spacious rooms complete with a large, private enclosed bathroom. I went on a safari with them, which was fantastic, and even enjoyed tea and a sandwich at 5 AM. Despite the heavy rain, they did their best to help us spot a leopard and an elephant, and we succeeded! Thank you for the delightful stay; I highly recommend spending time here! :)
T.V.A.
We had a fantastic experience here. The staff was incredibly kind and accommodating, and the safari tour was outstanding. I will definitely return if I'm in the area.
Anna H.
Our experience at Lake Front Yala Safari will be etched in our memories for a long time, thanks to the warmth and kindness of the family that manages this establishment. The ambiance felt truly homely and inviting. The rooms were tidy, and the food they provided was incredibly tasty and fresh. The safari was well-organized, and it was evident that our driver had extensive experience. We encountered a diverse range of wildlife, and we were fortunate enough to see leopards multiple times, including one at a remarkably close range. We wholeheartedly recommend this place and genuinely wish we could have extended our stay.
Marnix M.
The accommodations are large and roomy. The bathroom, equipped with a shower, was perfectly adequate. The bed was very comfortable. Our room was somewhat near the main road, which might bother some guests due to the noise. However, it wasn't an issue for us since the road quieted down at night, and we were up early for our safari. The true highlight of this place is the warmth of the owner and staff! The woman prepares incredible meals; we enjoyed dinner twice and even had lunch in the park during our safari. Every meal was delightful, and we appreciated the vegetarian options. The portions are generous, ensuring you won't leave hungry. We also went on a full-day safari with the owner, which cost 32,000 for a private jeep, excluding the national park entry fee of 25,000 for the two of us. He possesses extensive knowledge and is an excellent driver, making us feel secure while navigating the park. He has a keen eye for spotting wildlife. We were fortunate to see several elephants up close, water buffalo, deer, numerous birds, and at the end, we even spotted a leopard lounging in a tree before it ventured deeper into the jungle. Yala National Park is spectacular; it’s our favorite so far (having also visited Wilpattu and another park near Sigiriya), and this was the best safari experience we had during our trip in Sri Lanka. Thank you once again for the fantastic experience!
Nanna J.
We had a fantastic stay prior to our safari. The family that operates the place is incredibly kind. Our room was just right—spacious and clean. For dinner, we enjoyed homemade kottu, which was both tasty and convenient. They also offer guided safaris, although we weren’t aware of that since we had already made other arrangements. We highly recommend this place for a stay.
Alain M.
The rooms are spacious, spotless, and everything functioned properly. However, the room could use stronger Wi-Fi, higher-quality towels, and a small table lamp. The bathroom is also generously sized with dependable hot water, though the light switch could be better placed. The owners are incredibly friendly and are willing to prepare meals whenever needed. We chose this hotel for its location just outside of town and its proximity to the safari park, where you might even spot an elephant nearby if you're fortunate. There's some construction happening at the neighboring property, which is the owners' home that suffered from recent floods. Additionally, the husband offers safari tours at a very reasonable price, but payment needs to be made in local cash. I would definitely stay here again.
Holly E.
Our experience at Lake Front Yala Safari was truly remarkable! Nithya and her family were wonderfully kind and accommodating. Upon our arrival, Nithya took care of all the arrangements, and her mother greeted us with refreshing papaya drinks and prepared a fantastic rice and curry dinner. The homestay was not only clean but also comfortable. Stepping out the gate, you’re met with a stunning view of the lake! Nithya's dad guided us on an unforgettable all-day safari through Yala, where we spotted a leopard, two sloth bears, numerous elephants, and so much more! He is an amazing guide with a keen eye for wildlife, spotting things we might have missed, such as hawk eagles perched high in the trees, a hidden Sri Lankan jackal resting in the grass, and a large male Sambar deer concealed among the foliage. Their family's warmth made us feel incredibly welcomed, and I highly recommend booking both a stay and a safari!
Andrew H.
Be cautious! We booked a three-night stay based on positive reviews, but our experience fell short. A week before our arrival, we spoke with the owner to confirm a safari, and everything seemed fine. However, upon check-in, we confirmed that our safari was set for the next morning with an English-speaking guide knowledgeable about Yalla National Park. Unfortunately, the guide we were promised was absent, and instead, we got a friend of theirs who usually drives a tuk-tuk. He had no knowledge of the area and was unable to communicate with us. After spending 11 hours with him, I still didn’t know his name. He made no effort to seek out animals or explain what we were seeing, making numerous pointless stops throughout the day. It felt like he was trying to ruin our experience. He even moved out of the way for other jeeps to see the animals. When we questioned this, he yelled at us. Afterward, we shared our dissatisfaction with the owners, but they responded with rudeness and attitude. Their young daughter, the rudest person I’ve ever encountered, insisted that the driver's "20 years of expertise in safari" only meant driving, not knowledge of the park. Despite spending hundreds of dollars and choosing them over cheaper, more reputable companies, we were treated poorly. We were told in a very rude manner that we hadn’t asked for a guide, even though we were assured, and I quote, "your guide tomorrow is excellent and speaks English." I would recommend avoiding this place if you’re planning a safari. We felt like we wasted our time and money on a terrible experience, and to be made to feel bad about being upset was even worse. Please reconsider staying here if you want a great safari and accommodation. I have attached a video that disproves the owner's response, showing that multiple vehicles make an effort to get close to the animals and there are no one-way rules.
Wladwesley
For anyone planning a visit to Yala National Park, this hotel is the perfect place to stay. The owner, who also serves as the safari tour guide, is incredibly friendly and adds to the overall experience. It was truly worth every cent and stands out as the best experience we've had in Sri Lanka so far! You’ll have the chance to see every animal imaginable, so make sure to bring your best camera!
Danielle
We had a range of feelings about our visit. The homestay was quite nice — the room was spacious and tidy, the bed comfortable, the AC functioned well, and there was consistent hot water. The garden and terrace provided lovely spots to unwind. The hosts were mostly polite and welcoming, plus the fish curry with dhal and beetroot we had upon arrival was tasty. However, the WiFi was practically non-functional, and while the bedding was clean, the sheets had a few holes, and the towels were old and rough. Regrettably, the safari experience was quite disappointing and overshadowed our stay. We booked a full-day safari based on the great reviews and were promised an “experienced driver with over 20 years of expertise.” Before we finalized our booking, we confirmed several times that the driver would be proficient in English and knowledgeable, as we were expecting the dad. However, the night before, he informed us that his friend would take us instead. The family assured us this wouldn’t be a problem. In reality, the driver had very limited English and hardly interacted with us during the 11-hour trip. He pointed out very little wildlife and often stopped without explaining what we should be observing. Although we were fortunate to see several animals, we felt there were many missed chances to view them properly, especially a leopard, because the driver didn’t make an effort to position the jeep well compared to others nearby. At times, other drivers seemed more helpful than ours. The issue was not with the unpredictability of wildlife sightings but rather that the driver did not appear knowledgeable about safaris or genuinely interested in ensuring we had the best experience possible. When we expressed our disappointment afterward, the parents seemed apologetic, but their daughter became defensive and told us we “didn’t understand how safaris work in Sri Lanka.” We were never informed that the driver wasn’t actually a safari guide, nor were we given the choice to book a guide separately. Later, we found out that the driver was a tuk tuk driver, and the “20 years of expertise” referred only to driving and not safari or wildlife knowledge, which felt misleading. In summary, while the accommodation was pleasant, the poor communication and the way the safari experience was managed left us feeling quite disappointed. It’s unfortunate because our stay had the potential to be much more enjoyable.
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