Family hotels and homes in Nikawewa

beautiful tranquil spacious place. stunning lake view. lots of wild birds. the host Anne was extremely friendly and helpful and explained all about the delicious food we ate made with locally sourced products.

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!

Peaceful surroundings in the countryside.

The place was really awesome. We had a great time with family.

The glamming tents were luxurious and well-equipped; far exceeded my expectations

The best stay of our 1 month trip to Sri Lanka. I highly recommend Amba Kola Udawalawe. We spent 3 days and never wanted to leave. Rooms and the common area are artistically designed. Super friendly host and excellent home cooked meals. Spotlessly clean rooms and peaceful surroundings. Do yourself a favour to stay at this beautiful property to make your trip to Udawalawe memorable. Special thanks to Amma to provide us an authentic Sri Lankan food and drinks. We definitely would like to come back and stay here for longer time.

Really good place! Clean room, good ac, really good bed and sheets + blanket!! The staff was helpfull and they did book Safari for us and made things easy. 10/10

Clean, smells good, welcome drink, great hosts, perfect location. Nothing like most con hotels in Udawalawe. The owners really care about you and your stay and offer a fair price for the safari. They went the extra mile and even offered me a ride to catch an early bus a few kilometers away. They even texted afterwards to make sure I travelled well.

We had an amazing time at Makulu. It’s very easy to underestimate how much work goes into making a jungle camp so comfortable and welcoming. Sami and his team go above and beyond to provide an unforgettable experience and they genuinely want to give all their guests a trip to remember. As novice campers we were a little apprehensive but the beds are comfy, the toilet and shower functional and the food is delicious. They even catered brilliantly for our children’s dietary needs. The safari trip was well organised the guide knew his animals! We even had a beautiful early morning boat ride on the river. Going to sleep listening to monkeys, peacocks and singing frogs is something we’ll never forget!