Great place to stay and go on safeties saw leopards bears elephants many birds great guided come to sir lanka a beautiful country
We came over from the UK and stayed here for two nights in September 2022, on the first leg of our honeymoon.
We really couldn't have asked for a better way to start the trip then staying here in an exceptionally spacious luxury tent. It was really nicely furnished, with an amazing bathroom and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.
It is a really peaceful venue and it was amazing to sit on our porch and hear the sounds of the animals and local wildlife at night, whilst enjoying a nice cold beer!
The food was first class, we received a great introduction into Sri Lankan cuisine and had some exceptional curries! The staff were always on hand during mealtimes to ensure we had enough to eat and drink.
It is an amazing location for Wilpattu National Park and the location lived up to its name as we saw a leopard on two of our three drives round the park. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and spotted everything from the smallest bird to a leopard! We were very well catered for during our drives and it really was a great experience.
It definitely as a place to stay if you are to make the most of the Wilpattu National Park.
We had an amazing three nights at the Leopard Trails as part of our honeymoon. Malmi, our guide was fantastic and there seemed no end to the depth of his knowledge. Special mention goes to the chef who created some of the most interesting and delicious dishes that we've ever had. Finally, the luxury tent that we had was more of a hotel suite than a tent, and all the staff at the camp were great and clearly work together as a slick well oiled team. Would love to come again (although need to save up!)
The best of the best! Leopard Trails truly promises to give their visitors a very special experience, we felt this way every minute of our 2 night stay. From the warm entrance greeting, especially now in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic they made sure to keep us comfortable as they welcomed us in yet ensured to sanitise our luggage and provided a very appropriate hand washing area made out of clay!
We were then guided to our room and given a small brief of the property and soon served a lunch before departing on our first safari run. The food was mostly of a local palate, some of the best offerings of Sri Lankan cuisine! Delicious to say the least, there wasn't a single meal we didn't feel so stuffed. The highlights were the two dinners under the star lit sky, beautifully accentuated with candlelight and complete silver service. There was no request or requirement of ours they couldn't meet.
Our tent really didn't feel like one at all, Leopard Trails have really married together luxury and camping, bar none. Everything was so well appointed inside the tent, at times we had to remind ourselves we were only separated by a layer of fabric from the wilderness right outside. Beyond our expectations. The comforts of air-conditioning, a plush bed and hot water in a tent really makes it so easy to want to stay in the wild for much longer. There was only a small plumbing which didn't bother us at all but the team responded immediately with the utmost concern.
A special mention goes for the camp ranger - Malmi. His enthusiasm and energy to give his guests the best safari experience was so welcomed, even if you fall short on wildlife sightings he makes guests feel like there's so much more to enjoy about the park. He was very knowledgeable and keen to answer all our questions, it's easy to say we learnt alot of new things in our 2 nights there.
All in all, with no hesitation would be recommend Leopard Trails to anybody because they may be the best wildlife hosts this country has! Finally, an important note to mention is how sustainably and eco-concious the whole operation runs. They have really made sure to leave the wild undisturbed as much as possible. An experience at Leopard Trails is worth every cent, with all the comforts of a resort packaged in a tent uncompromised on quality and authentically wild. Thank you to everyone at Leopard Trails for an excellent experience, we will be back soon 🙂
Leopard Trails is situated just a few minutes from the entrance of Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s oldest and covering an area of 130,000 hectares. Our full and half day safaris were provided by a skilled driver and naturalist who helped us get the most out of our experience. Their knowledge and ability to spot animals was a key element to our fantastic experience. Drives were conducted using a 4x4 vehicle with raised and comfortable seating. which gave us a good viewing point.
There are six tents on the site, well spread apart and the small number of guests gave the camp a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Our luxury tent was vast inside and provided a comfortable queen sized bed, sofa, chairs and coffee table. Facilities included 2 air conditioning units, fan, tea and coffee making area, mosquito spray, fridge (with inclusive soft drinks) and ample filtered water in reusable bottles. The patio outside had 2 loungers, plus a bench seat with table. The overall footprint provided us with a simply luxurious space to rest and relax in between drives. The bathroom consisted of three separate areas (all within the confines of our tent). A toilet area (with door) utilising a flushable western toilet, a 2 sink wash area and a shower area (with hot and cold running water). The bathroom had a hairdryer and standard amenities kit e.g. toothbrush, soap but I’d like to see the single use plastic element here removed. Overall a great job is done to be environmentally friendly, refillable hand wash, shower gel, shampoo etc.
The camp worked on an all inclusive basis and breakfast, lunch and dinner were all superb. Fare was a mixture of western and Sri Lankan, served in style and wonderfully attentive staff catered for our every need. Dinner was served al fresco under gentle light from kerosene lamps and candle light, plus there is little light pollution in the area, so the stars are clearly visible. An evening dinner under a dark sky full of stars, meeting fellow travellers, whilst firefly danced around us was one of the highlights of this experience.
The camp has sandy paths leading to the tents, communal and dining areas, plus small ponds full of pink water lilies. Individuals with mobility issues may find this hard going, as well as the few steps around the camp. Going on drives will involve climbing in and out of the 4x4 or using the seat beside the driver (losing the height advantage). Whilst the staff have expressed their willingness to assist customers in any way practical, individuals should check carefully to ensure their particular needs can be met.
Thank you to all the staff for a superb experience during our two night stay, the complimentary night and upgrade, plus an outstanding level of customer service. Wild animals are just that and don’t appear to a timetable, thus every experience will be different, and we have no hesitation about staying with Leopard Trails again.