When you stay at Wadula Safari Yala in Kataragama, you'll be on a lake and 14 minutes by car from Yala National Park. .This guesthouse is 5.7 mi (9.2 km) from Kataragama Archaeological Museum and 5.7 mi (9.2 km) from Kataragama Temple.
SMOOTHIEBUN - Healthy Vegetarian Restaurant, Kataragama - 18 min drive
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Edirisinghe Rest - 18 min drive
Eth Yahana - 19 min drive
About this property
Wadula Safari Yala
Wadula Safari Yala offers 5 air-conditioned accommodations with complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea makers. 42-inch flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads, bidets, and complimentary toiletries. Additionally, rooms include ceiling fans and blackout drapes/curtains. Irons/ironing boards and hair dryers can be requested. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 5 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Satellite television is provided for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers and complimentary bottled water, and housekeeping is provided daily.
You can experience a safari adventure. This guesthouse also features complimentary wireless internet access, tour/ticket assistance, and a picnic area. Guests can get around on the shuttle (surcharge), which operates within 200 kilometers.
Satisfy your appetite for lunch or dinner at the guesthouse's restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Continental breakfasts are available daily from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.
The front desk is staffed during limited hours. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours).
Continental breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 5:30 AM and 10:00 AM.
Onsite venue - This restaurant specializes in local cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Free offsite parking within 1 mile; reservations required
Offsite parking; reservations required
24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
Area shuttle (surcharge) up to 200 km
Beach shuttle (surcharge)
Food and drink
Daily continental breakfast available 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: LKR 2,000 to 3,000 for adults and LKR 1,000 to 2,000 for children
A restaurant
Things to do
Safari
Conveniences
Limited-hour front desk
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Turndown service
Outdoors
Garden
In a national park
On a lake
Picnic area
Accessibility
No elevator
More
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Bathroom
Bidet
Free toiletries
Hair dryer (on request)
Private bathroom
Rainfall showerhead
Shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
42-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Free bottled water
Limited room service
More
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Iron/ironing board on request
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 15
Check-out
Check-out before 11:30 AM
Contactless check-out available
Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
No pets or service animals allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for LKR 23.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for continental breakfast: approximately LKR 2000 to 3000 for adults, and LKR 1000 to 2000 for children
Airport shuttle fee: LKR 45000 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 3)
Rollaway bed fee: LKR 23.0 per night
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property
Property is also known as
Wadula Safari Yala Guesthouse Tissamaharama
Wadula Safari Yala Tissamaharama
Wadula Safari Yala Tissamahar
Wadula Safari Yala Guesthouse
Wadula Safari Yala Kataragama
Wadula Safari Yala Guesthouse Kataragama
Wadula Safari Yala Reviews
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Wonderful staff and amazing place to stay. Helped up organize our safari. Food was great and the sunset views can not be beat!
Andrea
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Kim
Feb 23, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very tranquil place hidden in forest. Comfortable rooms and great food. Need to climb up into a safari ute to access the premises. Lots of wildlife about and a beautiful lake.
Kim
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Matthew
Jan 6, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We had a fantastic stay here, the team were incredibly attentive, flexible and communicative with us, thanks for a great stay!
Matthew
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Mike
Feb 25, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very nice place and great staff! If you want to experience “living” in the jungle 100% a recommendation! The rooms are large, clean and no bugs and the staff very helpful and friendly!
If I am every around Yala area again then it’s the place I will stay 😎
Mike
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Karen
Dec 27, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very friendly and helpful staff made our stay in the wilderness a great experience. Nice and clean with good, plentiful food.
The staff here could not be more helpful and friendly. I felt very welcomed and safe. The property sits on a lakefront with abundant wildlife. I enjoy photography and one of the staff kayaked me with my camera around the lake to take photographs of the wildlife. Like I said the service is unparalleled and the food is excellent. The staff is prompt and plans were followed up to the letter. It doesn’t get any better.
James
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Todd
Jan 29, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Amazing, clean, fully appointed “cottages” - the grounds are on the lake which was explosive with wildlife and great views. Right on the fence line of Udawalawe National Park. The food was EXCEPTIONAL and the staff were some of the kindest people we have ever met. (Big hugs to “Chef”!!! They set up an amazing safari for us where we had THREE leopard sightings - beyond our wildest expectations!!
A hidden gem! A beautiful, clean and comfortable cottage right in the middle of the forest, in the heart of nature. Lovely staff and service. They even arranged a last minute safari for me, which was worth it. The restaurant serves organic and fresh meals (veg only) and the view of the lake is spectacular! The host even took us for a walk around the areas and we saw some lovely birds. This place is worth every penny. Highly recommended.
Everyone was super accommodating, the food was excellent and the area is beautiful truly amazing spot.
Bineth
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
SHAY
Oct 15, 2025
Amazing wilderness
A real wild experience. The staff is very kind and helpful
SHAY
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Monica
Feb 23, 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The rooms were comfortable with a/c and hot water showers. The staff were outstanding. They picked us up from the main road in the dark at 11pm in a Safari jeep and they drove us and all our luggage to the lodge, as our driver’s buss would get bogged on the muddy road. The chef was very friendly and cooked delicious food for us. The Safari was exceptional. We got very lucky to see leopards. One of them is called Lucas, a mature male leopard. The king of the jungle. Apparently a rare sight. We also spotted elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, lots of birds and deer. It was a memorable experience.
Monica
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Tegan
Aug 24, 2025
We really enjoyed our stay here. Beautiful small resort in the national park. You were surrounded by palm trees and nature and right on a lake. The bungalow was lovely, nicely decorated, clean and comfortable bed. We were able to walk to the lake and watch the sunset which was memorable. The host was very friendly and welcoming and arranged our morning safari.
The hotel and staff are amazing! They were so attentive to our needs and everything was so clean. The hotel had great communication with us through the Expedia app. We able to meet at a local temple for a late hour pick up. The drive in by jeep as the hotel is on the edge of the park! I can’t wait to go again!
The room is a spacious cabin and it’s beautiful. There is a nearby lake where we saw wild water buffalo and wild peacocks.
The food in the hotel is a little pricey but well worth it. The best vegetable curries I have eaten in Sri Lanka! This hotel is a hidden gem!
At end of a 4x4 dirt trail, the brothers have worked hard during difficult times to create a small high-end eco-friendly resort in the woods where monkeys play and peacocks crow. Recently built modern brick and plaster cottages with a/c face a lagoon lake with a property adjacent to Yala National Park. Service is excellent.
Very beautiful place. Very quiet, green and glorious forest around it. The lake next door is beautiful. The sunset from the restaurant was beautiful. One slight issue I found was big red ants in bathroom (didn't come to bedroom and didn't trouble when in bathroom but was concerning). Rest everything was fantastic. Dulaj and Chamita were wonderful hosts
Very special and unique resort, with personalized touches. Beautiful villas in a peaceful pristine forested area near a lake and close to Yala National Park. The management was outstanding -- they went out of their way to surprise me with a birthday cake. The food prepared by their chef was delicious. The safari they booked was easily accessible to the park and made the adventure an exciting destination. We highly recommend Wadula Safari Yala as the place to stay when visiting Yala.