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Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort

Our rating

7/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Close to national park
- Wildlife and cultural excursions
- Good on-site facilities

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Overview

The Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort is an environmentally friendly hotel located in southern Sri Lanka. It’s ideally located for exploring Udawalawe National Park which is a mere 10 minute drive away. The hotel grounds cover seven acres and feature tropical gardens with several bird species, and even a monkey or two. Contemporary and stylish throughout, this independent hotel blends in seamlessly with its surroundings thanks to the many towering trees that are scattered throughout the gardens, not to mention the natural waterway that flows through the grounds.

There are 79 air conditioned rooms, all of which are spacious, comfortable and well presented. Each room has either a private terrace or a balcony offering idyllic views of the natural surroundings and scenery.

The nearby Udawalawe National Park - Sri Lanka’s third most visited national park - is home to all sorts of animals, from sambar deer and leopards, to water buffalo and mongooses, and is perfect for going on safari. The most famous residents of the park are undoubtedly the Sri Lankan elephants, of which there are around 400. Guests visiting the park often see herds of them playing in the water or feeding together. Also nearby is the Ath Athuru Sevana, Asia’s first rehabilitation centre for elephants. Excursions are on offer to the Udawalawe National Park and the Ath Athuru Sevana, as well as the nearby village or Udawalawe and Maduwanwela Walawwa, the former stately home of a regional ruler.

The hotel’s restaurant serves a variety of Sri Lankan and western cuisine, with room service available round-the-clock. There’s an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre, as well as an indoor theatre and a small outdoor theatre, affectionately named ‘Wala’.

Children of all ages are very welcome to stay at the Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort and the hotel offers a babysitting service for an extra charge. Because the hotel is situated out in the open, it’s suggested that parents keep an eye on their children at all times, especially if they’re in a ground floor room with a terrace or exploring the hotel’s gardens.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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