Wild Coast Tented Lodge: Glamping in Yala National Park

Camping in Yala National Park

A couple of years ago, on our first trip to Sri Lanka, we got to stay at Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala National Park — and it was out of this world! We stayed for 2 nights (any shorter wouldn’t be enough to fully experience it) in March, which is a great time for safari.

Inside the Tents

The interior of the tents is spacious and beautifully decorated. Our tent had:

• Furniture and accessories imported from India and Africa
• Freestanding copper bathtub (we loved this feature!)
• Air conditioning hidden in a copper cove

Around the Tents

We felt completely immersed in nature; our tent was hidden by shrubs and surrounding trees, which made it feel very private, but we were still close to the fantastic restaurant and poolside bar.

Tip: Wild Coast Tented Lodge is sandwiched right between the park and the ocean, so we could easily walk through the dunes to the beach. However, the ocean is pretty rough, so it’s not advisable to swim.

There are also several nearby streams where animals gather at sunrise and sunset. We heard many animals during the night, but some guests told us they came face-to-face with elephants and wild boars while getting their evening drink!

Note: Wild Coast Tented Lodge offers a unique experience at a premium price. But in our opinion, it’s totally worth it if you have the budget. If not, there are loads of cheaper hotels in Tissamaharama, just outside Yala National Park.

Dining at Wild Coast Tented Lodge

The dining area is in a beautiful bamboo dining dome called the Dining Pavilion. We had all our meals included, so we made the most of the delicious food on offer.

• Breakfast: International favorites, like fresh croissants, pastries, eggs, and fruit. The coffee was especially good! We also tried a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast of egg hoppers (bowl-shaped pancakes with a fried egg) and Pittu (steamed rice flour and coconut).
• Dinner: A daily-changing menu of delicious Sri Lankan cuisine. The quality of their food really surprised us; there were many colorful dishes featuring fresh, seasonal produce from local farmers.
• Drinks: We had a smaller private pool next to our tent, but at the bigger pool, there is the Ten Tuskers Bar, where we ordered delicious cocktails directly from the water.

After dark, the staff escorted us to the dining area. This was to ensure we didn’t bump into any wild elephants. ;-)

Yala National Park Safari

During the day, we did a safari in Yala National Park, where we saw elephants, buffalo, and monkeys. We even got lucky enough to spot the elusive leopard!

We chose a morning safari to increase our chances of spotting wildlife, but the hotel staff also recommended the evening as a good time. Our knowledgeable guide provided all the information we needed about the animals and their habits. For more information, you can head to Wild Coast Lodge’s website.

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