Hotels near Nikawewa

Peaceful surroundings in the countryside.

beautiful tranquil spacious place. stunning lake view. lots of wild birds. the host Anne was extremely friendly and helpful and explained all about the delicious food we ate made with locally sourced products.

Ik zal mijn review in het Engels schrijven, ik hoop namelijk dat zoveel mogelijk mensen dezelfde geweldige ervaring zullen hebben als ik. This small-scale eco retreat near Thanamalwila turned out to be an unexpected gem. Dilan and Dhanushka, together with the quiet but essential Shashi, run this place with great dedication and heartfelt hospitality. They're in the process of turning it into a sustainable and locally rooted resort — and you can feel that in every detail. We stayed in a wooden cabin above a pond, beautifully lit at night with candles in coconut shells and little lamps in the trees. The bathroom has no roof above the shower, so you're literally showering under the open sky. A little frog on the toilet seat? Comes with the territory. It’s wonderfully peaceful here. From the veranda, you can spot birds, squirrels, monitor lizards and frogs. At night, it’s dark and quiet, with only the soft glow of oil lamps. When our son got tired after dinner, a mattress was already waiting under the tree by the dining tables — so we could stay and chat a little longer while he drifted off to sleep. By car, we visited a nearby river where monkeys leapt between the trees above and tiny fish gently nibbled at our feet — swimming in the current was a treat. No other people around. Just nature. A real highlight was the visit to the local market with Dilan, followed by a cooking class from Dhanushka’s mother. Nothing staged — just cooking and tasting together, the way it's done at home. During a relaxed BBQ under the trees, someone brought out a guitar and music followed naturally — a perfect example of Sri Lankan warmth and spontaneity. The safari to the quieter part of Yala (blocks V and VI) was stunning. We saw elephants, a leopard, crocodiles and countless birds — all without the crowds you’ll find elsewhere. A short walk across the estate took us along numerous elephant trails to a large rock with sweeping views of the landscape and the setting sun.

Mayka is a lovely host! She and her husband organised an amazing safari for us and were really helpful and accommodating.

The place is very simple but it has enough for a couple night staying. If you want some peace and a chill time before go to the crowder places in Sri Lanka I think is a right place. The owner was super kind and he helped us with everything You can also book a safari tour with the hostel. It was a fair price and the entrance of the N. Park you have there is much less crowdy than the most famous one. We could see many different animals, and our guide Weli was also very nice guy. He speaks good english and after the safari we shared a beer and a very nice talk. If you want visit a local village... Very recomended place!!! 10/10

Super kind and friendly staff. Definitely the best of the camp. The tents are super well equipped. You feel you are in a camp without compromising on comfort. The setting is very nice, and the vibe at night is awesome with the bonfire and the fire lamps. Great option to stay one night if you want to do safari in the afternoon and in the morning.

Fantastic staff, excellent food.

We had a truly amazing stay at Amba Kola. The food was better than most restaurants and hospitality better than most hotels. The living space is comfortable, the area is calm and within a kilometer from the national park where you can see wild Elephants in their natural habitat.

With out a doubt one of the best locations in Sri Lanka where we have stayed in the last 3 weeks! A big room, which was extremely clean. Great bed, and perfect shower! And really close to the park. The manager and his team do everything to help you out for the park visit. And the chef makes sure you don’t have to go to the town. By the way; there isn’t anything in the town anyway, so better stay at the hotel for lunch and dinner. 👍🏻

Clean big room, very close to the Park. Great breakfast