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Peaceful surroundings in the countryside.

We immediately felt at home and welcome. Thanks to all the friendly staff who made our stay memorable. They were beyond helpful. There is such a special relaxed atmosphere and we loved everyone second of it. We were travelling with our kids aged 3, 5 and 9 as well as my mother in law and we all enjoyed it. We spend four nights here, and one day it was raining all day and we still enjoyed every bit of. Wonderful, spacious hang-out areas, great selection of books and games. And I will really recommend everyone to take a walk around the lake. A special thanks to the owner Anne, who is really making an effort in contributing to the community and village. We love you vision of leadership and we really hope to come back one day. Thanks 🙏

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.

Big room and bathroom with space to eat (so we could eat in our room instead of the restaurant upstairs, which was very cute tho...). Best wifi we had during our trip. Great location for Lunugamvehera Safari (we did not book it with them, but it seemed like we could because they also had a safari jeep). The owner speaks dutch and is very nice! We arranged a well priced tuktuk with her, that took us to Dickwella at 7 pm after our safari (about 2.30-3h drive). We enjoyed our stay and definitly recommend when visiting the Lunugamvehera side of Yala national park. Glad there was a restaurant in the hotel, because there did not seem to be much in the area (we didn't mind tho, we were only here for the safari :))

Thanks to our host Prasad ! Organized safari, transport to next place, took us to see local landscape etc. The place itself (separate buiding) is just enough away from the highway at the small creek. Exactly the place to start safari in Yala (VI) . Thanamalwila also had the cheapest "Lion" on Lanka :)

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!

Everything at Amba Kola was exceptional - especially the people. Louise, Janik, and Janik’s whole family are the loveliest people you will meet. The food is fantastic - everything is locally sourced and prepared with the finest spices and lots of love (Janik’s mom is an award-winning cook by the way). At Amba Kola the hosts will go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. They took us around in their safari jeep to see the elephants and wildlife and we even went swimming in the canal! The room (and the whole property) are lovely with so many personal touches to it. Louise is an artist and her art is present all over the place! Also, the outdoor bathroom is unique. I showered in the dark under the stars - an experience like no other. All I can say is: Come to Amba Kola and see for yourself. These people deeply care for what they do and it shows in every aspect. You won’t be disappointed!

We really enjoyed our stay here! 😊 if you’re about to go on Safari tour, this place is perfect! The staff is so helpful - they even prepared amazing sandwiches for us for an early morning tour!

Nice owner. They arranged our safari tour, and the owner joined us at the safari. He managed to see a lot of animals, specific different birds which were almost impossible to discover in the jungle. They also provided a good dinner for us. The breakfast was also very good and fresch. The rooms were clean and comfy.