Wild Coast Lodge

Wild Coast Tented Lodge is adjacent to Yala National Park, renowned for its leopard population. This spectacular luxury tented camp is situated on a rugged, empty beach, overlooking the Indian Ocean. The unique design sees the man-made structures blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, thanks to the use of carefully selected natural materials. The use of arched fabric structures allows each of the 28 tents to take on the shape and colour of the rocks and boulders that lay scattered nearby, whilst a clever layout in the shape of a leopard’s paw print alludes to the area’s most famous resident. The open-air bamboo-clad Ten Tuskers bar and Dining Pavilion – designed to mirror the boulders scattered across the golden beach beyond – wrap around the resort’s enormous free-form swimming pool. Guests can enjoy creative daily-changing menus of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in the restaurant, as well as sundowner cocktails and picnics al fresco on the sand dunes, watching dusk settle over the Indian Ocean.

Additional Notes:

Limited availability during peak season (01–31 Aug & Dec 20-Jan 10th).

The experience is exclusive to the party booking it.

We strongly advise against going on a game drive if pregnant, due to the bumpy jeep tracks inside the national parks

Guided Nature Walk

Our guided nature walk, in the company of a Wild Coast Lodge ranger, is a signature experience. A bushwalk is, without doubt, the most immersive and interesting way to appreciate the wilderness. Bushcraft is the art of reading the signs of the jungle – taking what would appear to be random pieces of information to the untrained eye and stitching them together to bring the wilderness to life. During the walk, our ranger will find, identify and interpret animal footprints, droppings, sounds and bird calls and more, in a safe yet fascinating manner A great experience for older kids. Wild Coast Lodge is delicately and uniquely placed within the jungle on a protected buffer of Yala National Park. Keystone species including elephant, leopard and bear roam through our lodge, as do smaller mammals and critters in abundance.

Duration: 1 hour

Time: 07.30 am or 04.30 pm

Availability: Year-round

Additional Notes:

The minimum age for kids is 6+

Walking trails are conducted with a safety-first approach. Therefore, guests must follow the instructions of our ranger at all times. We reserve the right to cancel walks at full charge if guests do not obey ranger orders, are intoxicated at the start of the walk or attempt to touch or chase after animals.

There are no restroom facilities during the walk, so we advise guests to freshen up before heading out, and be comfortable “going behind a bush” if needed

The jungle around WCL is in the “Buffer Zone” of the National Park which is a forest reserve. Guests should be mindful and respectful of this level of protection

Dangerous wild animals such as leopards, elephants, buffalo, sloth bear and snakes traverse our lodge frequently so it is essential to walk quiet, be alert and follow instructions of your ranger at all times.

Once booked, Cancellations need to be made 12 hours prior, else the full fee will be charged

Exclusive High Tea in the Jungle

Symbolizing our philosophy to make the safari a holistic wilderness experience, High-Tea in the Jungle is a one of a kind dining experience! Mid-way through your game drive, stop for a beautifully laid out high-tea at a scenic location for a bit of gastronomic indulgence! You also have the chance to do a short walk around the area and look for pugmarks or trails with your ranger. The High-Tea experience includes an exclusive jeep for you and your group and your ranger.

Duration: 30-45 minutes

Time: During the evening game drive

Availability: Year-round

The minimum age for children on a game drive is 3, however, we advise the ideal age for kids is 6+ due to health and safety

Additional Notes:

Minimum 12 hours prior notice is required to execute.

Once booked, Cancellations need to be made 12 hours prior, else the full fee will be charged.

High tea is exclusive for the booking party and will have a dedicated jeep for up to 6 guests

We strongly advise against going on a game drive if pregnant, due to the bumpy jeep tracks inside the national park

Visit an Ancient Jungle Monastery

Buried deep within the wilds of Yala National Park, is Sithulpawwa. An ancient Buddhist monastery comprising of a sprawling cave complex is said to have been in 2nd Century B.C. For centuries, pilgrims have braved the dangers of the jungle to pay homage to this sacred site that is truly magic on a quiet afternoon. In the company of a WCL ranger and a guide from the monastery, take a walk back in time; explore the beautiful location and learn the significance of the site to Buddhism in Sri Lanka, As Sithulpawwa is within the park, wildlife is plentiful and it is common to encounter elephant, deer, wild boar, smaller game such as mongoose and birdlife on the trail to the site and back. While we don’t promise a leopard sighting, an encounter with the big cat is not uncommon either. A perfect alternative to a “game drive”, bringing to light our philosophy of safari, which is a holistic wilderness experience.

Duration: 2.5 hours (45-minute drive to the location)

Time: 03.00 PM

Availability: Year-round

Additional Notes:

Sithulpawwa is best done in the afternoon as the day cools down

Avoid school holiday months (April, August, and December) and Poya holidays (Buddhist holiday on account of a full moon) due to crowds and pilgrims

The walk is not a technical tour focusing on archaeology or history, but the host is knowledgeable on key information

Shopping or donations of any kind are not part of the tour

The walk is conducted in English, and our ranger may translate the local guide’s narrative

Visit Kataragama

Kataragama is a temple complex dedicated to Buddhist guardian deity “Kataragama deviyo” and Hindu War God Kathirkamam. It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda people. As such, the Kataragama festival (middle of each year) is visited by rich, poor, and all religions alike. It is a spectacle of sound, light, faith and fervour. Guests can visit Kataragama at any time of the year and are accompanied by WCL personnel, who will guide and provide a narrative on the layout, the history, customs and practices. A local “site guide” may join, as per local govt. regulation

Duration: 6 hours (1 hour, 15-minute drive to the location)

Time: Flexible

Availability: Year-round

Additional Notes:

Kataragama festival happens in June-July and the site is very crowded. This has appeal for some, but guests are best warned of the throng of pilgrims

The tour is not a technical tour focusing on archaeology or history, but the host is knowledgeable on key information

Shopping or donations any kind are not part of the tour

The walk is conducted in English, and our ranger may translate the local guides’ narrative

Rural Bike Tour

Guided by one of our rangers, explore the nearby village of Kirinda which sits between the Yala and Bundala National Parks. Kirinda is a small fishing town with a vast expanse of rice fields that creep inland, a series of lagoons spanning into the wetlands of Bundala and overall vibe of a quaint village. A bicycle ride through the village offers a non-intrusive, immersive and authentic perspective to the charm, and scenic beauty of Sri Lankan rural life. Kirinda also straddles a lot of forest area which is home to wildlife, especially birdlife on its Bundala flank. The perfect tour to explore the nuances of the village, from the little corner-store to the farming culture, to unique points of interest, and ends with sundowner in-hand while overlooking a rice- paddy and a forest nearby, while waders (shorebirds) scour the shoreline of a saltern before nightfall. The experience is guided by a Wild Coast Lodge ranger.

Duration: 2.5 hours–03 hours

Time: 06.30 am or 02.30 pm

Availability: Year-round

Additional Notes:

Minimum 12 hours prior notice is required to execute.

Once booked, Cancellations need to be made 12 hours prior, else the full fee will be charged

Recommend kids 12+ as the bikes are adult size

Cook Your Lunch

The Wild Coast Lodge version of the Sri Lankan cookery class–a more hands-on introduction to Sri Lankan food. Guests get to mix their spices, season their ingredients and cook their lunch, under the watchful eye and instruction of Chef Ranil. The experience is not a typical “demo” but interactive learning on how to make some of our favourite and most popular dishes. However, it is safe to say that guest ability behind the stove will not obstruct an exquisite Sri Lankan “rice & curry” lunch from being presented to guests.

Duration: 1.5 hours to 2 hours

Time: 11 am

Availability: Year-round

Birding By Sound

Guests at Wild Coast Lodge wake up to a symphony of bird calls every morning but most often, the identities of these singers remain a mystery. Some birds vocalize to attract mates, alert others to danger and establish their territories so the walk is a fascinating insight into interpreting bird behaviour as well. Birding by Sound is a Wild Coast Lodge signature experience. While birds are primarily identified visually, they can also be identified by how they vocalize–the latter is equal parts art and skill. Guided by a Wild Coast Lodge ranger, the walk is, without a doubt, an extremely immersive and interesting way to appreciate the wilderness and lends itself to an intimate bird watching experience.

Duration: 1–1.5 hours

Time: 6.30 am

Availability: Year-round

Additional Notes:

Walking trails are conducted with a safety-first approach. Therefore, guests must follow the instructions of our ranger at all times. We reserve the right to cancel walks at a full charge if guests do not obey ranger orders, are intoxicated at the start of the walk or attempt to touch or chase after animals.

The jungle around WCL is in the “Buffer Zone” of the National Park which is a forest reserve. Guests should be mindful and respectful of this level of protection

We share an unfenced border with Yala National Park, so dangerous wild animals may traverse our lodge. It is essential to walk quietly, be alert and follow the instructions of your ranger at all times.

Junior Ranger Programme

The responsibility of protecting forests, wilderness and critical ecosystems will fall heavily on the shoulders of the next generation. To equip them with the knowledge and passion to effectively protect our planet, one of the biggest investments that we can make for their futures is to foster a deep appreciation (and hopefully a love!) for the wild. Our Junior Explorer Series is a collection of experiences to introduce the magic of Sri Lanka’s remarkable nature and wildlife to the curious minds of our younger visitors. Our program is designed to benefit children from age 6 to 12. The program is led by our young and dynamic rangers who are passionate about educating, guiding, and leading children through fun, informative, and interactive experiences. Families have the flexibility to partake in single experiences (ideally for shorter 1-2 night stays) or enrol their kids in our Junior Ranger Program if they’re staying for 3 nights or more. Our ranger team will try their best to tailor-make a program specific to your needs. Here is a list of our experiences and activities. During their stay, the juniors will collect “badges” for activities they have taken part in, reinforcing their experience and learning with a sense of accomplishment. Three exclusive guided game drives (over the three-night stay) for the family (maximum of 6 pax) with a dedicated ranger are standard. This allows the family to visit different areas of the Yala national park on drives, in an unhurried and immersive way. This gives the family the full attention of the ranger which is especially beneficial for the juniors to ask as many questions as their curious minds can throw out!

Activities: During the 3-night stay, the kids can engage in three sessions (besides the game drives) that delve into topics of their interest. The sessions can be outdoors (walks) and/or indoors (in our beautifully appointed library). When engaging in these sessions, the juniors will earn badges for a topic they show interest in. The badges are linked to the activities such as “Tracking” (the art of identifying animal footprints and even droppings on walks), supported with a classroom session on track identification), “Birding” (visual identification–both game drive and indoor), Botany etc. The indoor sessions would also include watching nature-related films or documentaries and ranger-hosted sessions where they learn about the animals they will be seeing in the park and on the resort. We will be continuously upgrading our library will more children’s books and video content as well.

Availability:

Year-round. Limited availability during peak season (Dec 10th to Jan 15th)

Time: Over a minimum 3-night’s stay

Additional activities include:

Nature Walks for Kids

“While you were sleeping”–review of sightings on lodge camera traps

Use of library for a classroom session with a ranger

Junior Chef

Additional notes:

Walking trails are conducted with a safety-first approach. Therefore, guests must follow the instructions of our ranger at all times. We reserve the right to cancel walks at a full charge if guests do not obey ranger orders, are intoxicated at the start of the walk or attempt to touch or chase after animals.

The jungle around WCL is in the “Buffer Zone” of the National Park which is a forest reserve. Guests should be mindful and respectful of this level of protection

We share an unfenced border with Yala National Park, so dangerous wild animals may traverse our lodge, so it is essential to walk quietly, be alert and follow the instructions of your ranger at all times.