About this hotel
General information
Wild Coast Tented Lodge is a safari camp in the south-east of Sri Lanka, where the forest of Yala National Park runs down to the Indian Ocean. Its 28 canvas-clad Cocoon tents are scattered through the jungle behind the dunes of a wide beach, while the restaurant, bar, spa and library sit among the trees as separate, lightly built eco-friendly pavilions.
The boundary with the park is unfenced, so elephants, wild boar, deer, monkeys and peacocks wander through the grounds, leopards have been seen just outside, and staff walk guests to their tents after dark. The tents ring five clay-lined waterholes laid out in the shape of a leopard's paw print, filled with the lodge's own recycled water and stepped so that buffalo and elephants can reach the edge. Stays are all-inclusive, with game drives, walks and most excursions led by the lodge's rangers, and the lodge is open all year.
Location
The lodge lies at Palatupana on the south-east coast, about 2 km outside Yala National Park and joined to it by continuous forest; Block 1 of the park is roughly a 10-minute drive. Colombo is 278 km away (4.5–5 hours by road), Colombo's international airport 303 km (5–6 hours) and Galle 165 km (about 3 hours). Besides road transfers, guests can arrive by domestic flight, floatplane or helicopter.
Spa
The Sanctuary Spa has four treatment rooms set in whimsical elephant-shaped pods, a quiet counterpoint to the morning and afternoon drives. Treatments draw on local ingredients such as cinnamon and tea.
Sports & leisure
Game drives with the lodge's rangers are the heart of a stay, and one drive per night is included. Each lasts about three hours, leaving at 5.45 am and 2.45 pm. Most go to Block 1 of Yala, with Block 5 and the Bundala and Lunugamvehera national parks as alternatives, notably for birding; standard drives share a jeep among five or six guests, exclusive drives are private. In September and October, when Block 1 usually closes, drives move to Block 5 or Bundala. April to September is the driest time in the park, sloth bears are seen most often from April to June, and migratory birds arrive from November to April.
- guided walks with a ranger through the park's forested buffer zone, reading tracks (recommended from age six)
- an outing to Sithulpawwa, an ancient Buddhist monastery among rocky outcrops and caves deep in the park, thought to date from the 2nd century BC (about 45 minutes' drive)
- a guided bicycle ride through the surrounding villages
- a hands-on cookery class in which guests blend their own spices and cook a rice-and-curry lunch with one of the chefs
- the infinity pool and the spa
- a library with a central display of fossils, shells, pressed plants and specimen jars, wildlife books and a large screen for nature documentaries
For children
The Junior Ranger programme, for children from six, pairs young guests with their own ranger for animal identification, footprint tracking and the behaviour of herds, with longer programmes leading to a Junior Tracker certificate or a 'specialist' path devoted to a favourite animal. Younger children have The Fossil Room, a kids' club with activities inspired by Sri Lanka's wildlife.
Restaurants & bars
The cooking is modern Sri Lankan, and most meals are taken in the open air.
- Dining pavilion — the main restaurant, looking out to the ocean, serving modern Sri Lankan breakfast, lunch and dinner
- TenTuskers — the bar that opens off the dining pavilion
- Pool bar — a domed pavilion from which the pool fans out
- Wilderness dining — private picnics or candlelit dinners on the beach and the dunes, lunch in the bush, high tea in the jungle
The all-inclusive plan covers breakfast, lunch, afternoon cream tea, dinner, snacks and all drinks around the clock, spirits and wine included, along with sundowners on the beach every evening. There is no in-tent dining, because of the wildlife.
Swimming
The lodge opens onto a wide, secluded beach of golden sand and dunes on the Indian Ocean. Strong currents and big waves mean swimming in the sea is not allowed, so guests swim in the large free-form infinity pool, with shaded alcoves fitted with jacuzzi jets, and 12 of the tents have their own plunge pool. The beach is kept for walks, sundowners and stargazing.
Rooms
The lodge has 28 Cocoon tents in three categories, 12 of them with a private plunge pool. Interiors mix expedition style with contemporary design: vaulted ceilings, double-height glass and canvas facades, handmade copper bathtubs, four-poster beds and campaign furniture.
Each tent has individually controlled air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a desk, a minibar with an espresso machine and Illy coffee, Dilmah teas, a Sonos speaker with a music library, a safe, a phone, mosquito repellent, a bathroom with a copper bathtub, shower and twin vanities, handmade Ophir toiletries and a deck with two sunbeds.
Cocoon Suite
A Cocoon tent with a king-size bed beneath a vaulted ceiling, a double-height glass facade facing the jungle and a deck with sunbeds overlooking a waterhole. Sleeps two adults and up to two children on a rollaway bed or futons.
Cocoon Pool Suite
The same Cocoon with a king-size bed and jungle views, plus a private plunge pool on the deck among the trees. Sleeps two adults and up to two children.
Family Cocoon Pool Suite
A parents' Cocoon with a king-size bed, linked by a raised wooden footbridge to a smaller twin-bedded Urchin tent about 5 m away, with a private plunge pool, a deck overlooking a waterhole and an outdoor shower. Sleeps two adults and up to four children.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.