Sahana Safari Eco Retreat

We had an amazing time here. The food was the best, the nature in this place is amazing. And the hospitality from our host is unmatched never experieced such a good service.

Un petit coin de paradis. C est pour nous le meilleur établissement que nous avons fait sur les 5. Lieu exceptionnel, logement authentique et le couple d hôtes d une empathie, d un respect et d un gentillesse tres rares. Les repas sont excellents avec leurs récoltes, les visites proposées très intéressantes et Asanga et sa femme font tout pour que votre sejour soit merveilleux. Nous n avons qu une e.vie c est de revenir.

Devoir partir tellement on était bien 😃

L’hôte était très gentille et nous a préparé l’un des meilleur rice & curry de notre séjour. Le safari organisé avec eux était exceptionnel et nous a même permis de voir un léopard avec petit déjeuner à emporter pour qu’on puisse le consommer pendant le safari.

Rien

Peaceful place in a remote place in the country side close to yala. Perfect to have a break i akiet area. Close to a nice river where possible to "have a bath" Breakfast and meals where good especially rice and curry

Quite remote. Info about activity : We wanted to go fishing and thought that we would go with the host in a specific place or in the river . But we didn't receive much info about when and where we would go. In fact, we went just down at the river. But anyways, the experience was nice.

Es un lugar con mucho encanto, limpio, amplio. El baño y ducha de estilo rústico nos gustó mucho. Y la anfitriona nos gestionó el alquiler del Jeep para hacer un safari a la mañana siguiente.

Fue difícil encontrar el lugar porque está alejado de la carretera principal y por el amino rural no hay indicaciones, tuvimos la suerte de que unos locales nos guiaron en moto hasta el hotel. Recomendamos no llegar de noche.

It was absolutely wonderful and so thoughtful. Every wish was taken care of, the food was absolutely delicious, nice spacious room and comfy beds; we loved every minute of it. The children are already missing the cats! We only wish we could have stayed longer. Thank you so much for everything!

Als je van totale rust houdt moet je hier naartoe. De gastvrouw is heel vriendelijk en behulpzaam. Netjes en ruim verblijf met enkele hangmatten en een fantastisch terras. Achter het verblijf ligt een riviertje om af te koelen. Je kan er heel lekker typisch Sri Lankaans eten krijgen (zo goed als alle producten komen uit hun eigen tuin).

The best place. Great people, great food, great place. Very help full and friendly. Nice place in nature next to the park. Quit and relax

Exceptional care by the caretakers

Jungle book, Kipling and here I am

Off track but manager coming to pick you up

Le calme La gentillesse et la bienveillance de notre hôte

Wir haben zwei Nächte in der Unterkunft verbracht. Wir hatten eine wunderschöne Zeit! Eine Safari zum Yala-Nationalpark wurde für uns organisiert. Die Unterkunft verfügt verfügt über ein einziges Zimmer ( ein Doppelbett und zwei Einzelbetten). Man ist mitten in der Natur ! Hier wird Obst und Gemüse angebaut, auch die Mahlzeiten die man hier bekommt stammen aus eigenem Anbau. Abends wurde ein Lagerfeuer gemacht und unsere Kinder durften helfen Feuerholz zu sammeln. Obwohl man mitten in der Natur ist gab es WLAN und sogar eine Klimaanlage. Nicht weit entfernt fließt ein Fluss entlang, hier kann man sogar baden ! Wir haben uns jederzeit sehr wohl gefühlt, alle unsere Wünsche wurden erfüllt. Vielen lieben Dank :-)

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Está muy cerca de la entrada 5 de Yala. El anfitrión es muy amable y un cocinero fantástico. Nos hizo una cena exquisita y supo hacerla adaptada a nosotros sin picante. Nos enseñó el río muy bonito y siempre estuvo atento. Es un oasis de paz y tranquilidad

Si sabes a lo que vienes, el alojamiento es de 10, pero debes tener en cuenta que la electricidad no funciona muy bien, por lo que el aire acondicionado a veces deja de funcionar y como no tiene mucha potencia, no enfría mucho. La entrada tiene difícil acceso, pero nos fue a buscar a la entrada y nos llevó a nosotros y a nuestro equipaje, así que cualquier impedimento te lo solventa

Asanga war ein extrem hilfsbereiter und freundlicher Gastgeber, der sich sehr viel um unser Wohlbefinden individuell gekümmert hat. Das bio Essen von seiner Farm wurde liebevoll zubereitet und serviert und war ausgesprochen lecker. Die Unterkunft ist sehr abgeschieden in der Natur und es gibt einen Fluss, in dem man baden kann. Wir waren sehr glücklich Asangas Gäste sein zu dürfen!

Nichts, ich wüsste nicht, was man negativ über die Unterkunft sagen sollte.

Sahana retreat is a farm house that is real in many aspects... the rustic ambience... farm... sound ... colour .... river ...and people ....everything we felt authentic ... nothing was touristy or artificial and that is exactly what we were looking for! Though yala was remarkably a great wild life park bordering Sahana... our motivation to stay at Sahana was not elephants and tigers as we were from south India, Munnar , Kerala. We really wanted to get a feel of the real village life, food and vibe with a touch of the wild and Sahana had all that. Asanga our host , chef, and guide gave us a great welcome with refreshing lime juice after a long drive from Ella. Thereafter we just entrusted everything to him and he took us around for short tour to the nearby village and ,fishing riverside bordering the park... It was great talking to him about the gemming in the river, farming and politics etc. Since it was rained in May we could not do any river activities.... and we found the place full of bird life. We spotted several species of birds including Hornbills, little green bee eaters , the giant squirrel along the riverside trees. Asanga also scared us with fun about wild elephants and wild cats peeping from nearby park into the farms around. The food was simple, tasty and very authentic....I think Asanga made the best hoppers that we tasted all over Sri Lanka! I will not do justice unless I congratulate him for the home made yoghurt! it had a unique taste! A must try! The little kitten, the calf, the dogs all added their charm and vibe there! It was a Great Experiential stay... he gave us some farm fresh organic rice as a take away gift however on our way to Kathirgama and Mirissa around Yala we lost it to the bribe elephants! It was an adventure that we keep remembering too! Thank you Asanga and we wished we could have stayed more at Sahana! May be next time!

Nothing ....

Alles! Die Lodge, die Gegend aber vor allem die Caretaker.

Nicht

Geweldige locatie midden in prachtige velden met o.a. de Menik rivier in de achtertuin en vlakbij Yala NP. Heel toegewijde beheerder met zijn vrouw runnen deze plaats waar 1 bungalow staat (naast die van de beheerder). De beheerder wil heel graag de omgeving laten zien met zijn tuktuk (veel Hidden gems!!) en hoewel we 2 nachten verbleven, kwamen we tijd te kort om alles te bezichtigen. Al het eten wordt bereid eco-friendly met producten van eigen land (rijst, curries, groenten en fruit) en wordt in ruime overvloed voorgeschoteld.

Niets

This private accommodation is incredible, one of the most unique and memorable places we have ever stayed. There was excellent communication with Sujith, the property owner, in the lead up to our stay, with a safari of Yala National Park organised for a fair price. The local host Asanga prepared some of the best food we had in all of Sri Lanka for dinner, breakfast, and lunch. While bathing in the river behind the property, we saw incredible local wildlife including black-faced grey langur monkeys. Due to time constraints we could only stay one night, I wish we could have stayed two or more nights to truly relax in this beautiful environment.

Such a beautiful location- this has really made our trip

Einfache Unterkunft in schöner Lage, jedoch nicht dort wo die GPS Koordinaten das Haus angeben. Es liegt am Bach und nicht an der Straße (15 min Fußweg, auch ein Taxi kommt da nicht hin- der Hausherr holt die Gäste vom Taxi an der Straße mit Tuktuk ab- klappte gut.) Erstaunlicherweise Kartenzahlung möglich Meine Diät wurde sehr gut umgesetzt. Das Essen ist gut :-) Empfehlenswert: Wanderung am Elefantenzaun, etwa 6 km in eine Richtung möglich. Start etwas südlich der Unterkunft -gegenüberliegende Straßenseite -kann man zu dem Weg der direkt am Zaun läuft durchstoßen. Man kann es über google Satellitenbild sehen - das Baden am Bach würde ich niemanden empfehlen - man weiß was da alles hineinläuft (wohl nicht alle).

Falsche GPS Koordinaten (dort steht das Schild an der Straße- die Wegweiser führen zum Haus,) harte Matratze

Loved the experience of staying in this simple retreat, off the beaten track. It was very clean comfortable and perfectly connected to nature, Asanga was a delightful host, he showed us around the property and provided authentic and delicious dinner as well as a packed breakfast to take on our dawn safari at Yala. We had a lovely swim in the river to cool off afterwards.

Stunning remote location , very well maintained, lovely wet room and comfortable bed, nice walks around property watching wildlife including monkeys and giant squirrels, Host was amazing nothing was too much trouble and he gave us some memorable trips out to Yala National Park and to some fantastic temples, despite a couple of the temples being a hard climb the experience and views was well worth the effort, Sri Lanka food was home cooked and extremely tasty. Overall a fabulous place to visit with the host being an absolute gentleman

Only problem was having to leave

Ein Traum diese Unterkunft ein Ort wo man komplett abschalten kann. Wir wurden sehr Herzlich aufgenommen. Das Essen war hervorragend. Ein Lagerfeuer wurde vorbereitet mit Liegestühle. Es wurde alles getan.

Garnichts es war alles perfekt.

We hebben echt een heerlijke tijd gehad hier. De accommodatie is comfortabel en schoon, en achter het huis ligt een prachtig beekje waar je heerlijk in kunt zwemmen. Maar wat ons verblijf écht bijzonder maakte, was het personeel. Ontzettend vriendelijk en behulpzaam, zij hebben ons verblijf echt onvergetelijk gemaakt. Een absolute aanrader!

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Die Unterkunft ist einfach wunderschön!! Ich habe dort auf Grund einer Empfehlung von einer Freundin meinen Geburtstag verbracht. Geplant war es nur für eine Nacht, aber ich habe 2h nach Ankunft direkt um eine Nacht verlängert, weil es so ein wunderschöner Ort ist! Am liebsten wäre ich länger geblieben!! Der Haushälter und Koch von dem Anwesen ist einfach ein herzensguter Mensch und er liest einen jeden Wunsch von den Augen ab und das Essen ist unfassbar lecker!! An meinem Geburtstag wurde ich mit einem Geburtstagstisch und einer Torte überrascht! Der Fluss ist wunderschön und es ist so schön ruhig ja dem ganzen Gelände! Große Empfehlung !

Nichts

We had such a wonderful stay here! The location is perfect, right next to the National Parks, which made it ideal for us as we were just passing through and stumbled upon this place by chance. We truly enjoyed every moment. The host was incredibly kind and welcoming, and prepared a delicious breakfast for us, not only tasty but also very generous in portion. Behind the property there’s a river, and the whole setting is surrounded by beautiful nature, giving it such an idyllic and peaceful feeling. We really couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommended!

Echt geweldig!!! Beste plek waar we zijn geweest. Dineth is de allerbeste host die er is. Geweldig eten en locatie. Geweldige prijs - kwaliteit

Helemaal niks

De rust, de natuur, de stilte, je voelt je even helemaal weg van alles. Het ontbijt en diner waren heerlijk. Asanga, de 'caretaker', vertelt met veel liefde en enthousiasme over de natuur en de dieren in de omgeving. De safari was goed geregeld.

Dat we al na twee dagen weer verder moesten. Had heel graag nog een nacht gebleven en op pad gegaan met Asanga. We zullen dus nog een keertje terug moeten komen.....

We had a wonderful time - relaxing in the hammock, swimming in the river, enjoying nature and having the healthiest food. The caretaker and his family is super friendly and attentive. We felt really confortable and can recommend this place to all travelers. There is a fridge and filtered water in the room.

Perfect wenn man die Natur liebt,sehr freundliche Gastgeber und super Food👍😇

Sehr freundliche Menschen. Außerhalb vom Tourismus, in der Natur.

Lieu isolé dans la nature au bord de la rivière ( très rafraîchissant ) ou l on croise des singes , varans , écureuils …. Accueil très chaleureux , excursions intéressantes et bon repas . Ils se sont occupés des Transfers On peut voir facilement des éléphants sans faire le safari de Yala . Lessive pour 400 roupies Il n y a que 1 bungalow avec 4 couchages donc pas embêté par les autres touristes

Rien

Sahana retreat est une maison pour 4 personnes , vous serez donc seuls sur le site avec la personne qui s’occupera de tout ce dont vous avez besoin et qui vit dans la maison d’à côté sans que cela ne soit dérangeant . Terrasse, chaises longues, hamacs, le logement est confortable vraiment charmant. L’emplacement de la maison à côté de la rivière ou l’on peut se baigner est fantastique. Le fait que nous soyons seuls sur le site est un vrai plus: Le calme absolu est absolu, juste le bruit de la rivière et le son des oiseaux (que l’on peut observer à loisir depuis la terrasse). Le logement très bien équipé et le service impeccable. Et surtout il faut préciser l’extreme gentillesse d’Asanga qui a tout mis en œuvre pour que notre séjour soit inoubliable ( balade pour voir les éléphants et la faune sauvage, visite culturelle, recherche de pierres précieuses ) . Il nous a proposé beaucoup d’autres activités mais nous n’avons pas pu tout faire faute de temps… N’hésitez pas à lui demander de l’aide pour planifier vos activités ou pour ce que vous préférez manger, il exaucera tous vos vœux ! Une vrai immersion dans la campagne sri lankaise ou l’on ne s’ennuie pas un seul instant! Nous reviendrons !

Super feines Essen. Allgemein die Betreuung durch Asangan, dem Hausangestellten, war hervorragend. Ob bei der Safari, bei den Mahlzeiten oder zwischen durch, man wurde von ihm immer liebevoll behandelt und er hat sich durchgehen um uns gesorgt.

Es ist in der Natur. Man muss sich bewusst sein, dass es einige Frösche im und ums Haus hat. Nicht weiter schlimm, da man ein Insektennetz ums Bett hat.

I don’t even know where to start with this review. We had the kindest welcome when arriving on the amazing place called Sahana Retreat. Asanga is really a great host and made us feel right at home, we liked the activities like gem searching and also a safari was arranged. All meals where tastefull and plenty and really tasted the Sri Lankan flavours! Sunrise and sunset are something special from this place! The rooms are clean and comfortable, as are the hammocks. Bathroom is also good, and the river close even better! Definitly recommend this place to anyone! We will definitely come back! :) Eric & Hansje

Peaceful nature escape near Yala – highly recommended! If you're looking for peace and quiet, this is absolutely your place. Sahana Retreat is beautifully set in nature, right by a river — perfect for reading a book, fishing, or just unwinding in total calm. What makes it even better is that it's less than a 20-minute drive from the Yala National Park entrance, making it the ideal spot to combine with a safari. The food was truly excellent — every dish was full of flavour and clearly made with care. You’re completely on your own, but there was always a care taker around to help us, and communication with the staff was smooth and friendly throughout our stay. Tip: bring a few extra snacks or drinks if you like to enjoy a little evening aperitif, as shops aren’t nearby. We stayed two nights and could’ve easily stayed longer. A real gem!

Conveniently located right outside Yala National Park, Sahana Retreat makes a nice base camp for those looking to take a safari.

Be aware, although the house is very pretty, it is remote and rustic. You most likely will be sharing the space with geckos, frogs, and other critters who can easily slip inside. And although the caretaker next door is very friendly, he seemed to be on the phone a lot, and the close proximity between the two houses meant I heard him talking a good deal. Wi-fi was also very slow at times.

Wonderful place to stay if you are looking for something remote. You will be looked after - it’s clean, the food is great, the attention is first class. Nature is all around you and you can leave your troubles behind.

Beautiful spot in the middle of nowhere (which is perfect as far as I am concerned). Very quiet save the rush of the river and chirp of circada. Host extremely helpful and answered all my questions, arranged a safari for us which was amazing and even packed up breakfast and lunch for us! Dinner was absolutely delicious and wonderful to cool off in the river.

If you really want to experience nature then this is the place

Everything was perfect! Suj, the owner, was really communicative before we arrived, and he was so helpful when my partner was arranging a special surprise dinner for me. He also helped us plan a great safari with a brilliant guide - we even saw a leopard! Suj, the caretaker made the most amazing food and really looked after us. Super friendly and accomodating. The river is absolutely lovely, a really special place. Can also see monkeys in the trees and lots of peacocks. Very cool! All in all, it was the perfect balance of being hospitable and making us feel like the place was our own. Thank you so much for the perfect stay, our absolute favourite weekend in Sri Lanka.

What a gem of a find ,a truly lovely escape on the edge of a beautiful river in the countryside near to Yala National Park . Sahana Retreat is exactly that a retreat but with lots of little touches that make your stay comfortable, The hammocks,cool relaxing outdoor chairs, garden lighting ,tea ,coffee, water, kettle lots of power sockets the list goes on ,its your own little cabin in the countryside with the beautiful sounds of peacocks in the distance. You will not be disappointed especially with the price and fabulous evening meal and breakfast in the morning. The communication from the owner is fast and informative and the caretaker that lives on site is a gentle person that genuinely wants your stay to be pleasant.Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome 🙏

Your in the country so embrace all of the wildlife around you small and large

Location is 100% pure nature. Personal attention and touch and great food!!

N/A

What a fantastic place! A hidden hide away, perfectly tranquil. Lovely little house you have to yourself. Lots of privacy. Great place to enjoy the surrounding views from the verandah where you will find relaxing chairs, hammocks and a dining table. Bird games are provided, as well as a cooker, tea, coffee and drinking water. Beautiful decoration with nice colours and lovely bathroom. Comfy bed, good food. What more can you wish for? For us a highlight during our 2 months trip through Sri Lanka! Highly recommended!

We were there during heavy showers and during the night the rain on the roof sounded like drums so i would recommend guest to bring earplugs just in case…

A beautiful retreat by the river and close to Block 5 Yala NP. Suj is a lovely guy and a fantastic cook and the servings are more than we could eat. The room is large and very clean and comfortable. You see elephants on the road not far south of the property and the whole experience there felt truly authentic. Highly recommended

Truly, a retreat. Worth staying 2 days.

Caretaker was very friendly and helpful. It felt safe as a single woman in a rural area Both dinner and breakfast very good value and tasty. Guide for safari was lovely too

Hole in mosquito net, I was bitten

Beautiful property set in its own grounds with a river nearby. We loved the remoteness and peace this place had. A great place to unwind. Suppers were prepared by the caretaker and were excellent. A safari to Yala was arranged for us which was brilliant, we even saw 2 leopards.

Nothing

Lovely retreat in the middle of nowhere. The owner was extremely helpful, he organized two halfday safari trips to Yala, plus a driver to and from the retreat, one of them last minute when our other driver didn‘t show. There‘s only one house for guests, so you‘ll stay there alone. The caretaker cooked typical local dishes for breakfast and dinner which were super tasty!

Nothing :)

It is a one bungalow retreat surrounded by the rice paddies, a river that flows behind it and a small woodland on the side. Peaceful and authentic. You can walk to the village and say hello to the very friendly locals. We even got invited to their home for a glass of milk and a fresh king coconut. They even took us to a nearby Buttala where we had an ice-cream together. Sujeeva, the bungalow's caretaker did a wonderful job in making all the meals for us and taking care of the property. On the last day of our stay we had a medical emergency (my husband was feeling very poorly), and both the owner/manager of the retreat and Sujeeva did their best to help us with the transport to the hospital and onward travel to Ella. We will always remember our stay in this special place.

The property was beautiful and clean with everything you need for a wonderful stay. The owner and caretaker were very helpful in organising our safari and all meals were delicious and home cooked. Communication was excellent prior to and during our stay. There is a river next to the property, perfect for cooling off and relaxing. An amazing place to stay all round, relaxing and surrounded by nature. Highly recommended!

Nothing negatives at all, just perfect.

Lovely accommodation in such a peaceful environment. I wish we stayed more than just 1 night. The caretaker made us delicious dinner and breakfast - and safari was even able to be organised. Definitely recommend!

This is a very secluded place surrounded by nature. The food is fantastic, one of the best we’ve had in Sri Lanka. But you will share your accommodation with little frogs and maybe other creepy crawlies but that didn’t bother us too much.

No AC made it a bit difficult at night with the children.

The location, very tranquil, peaceful river nearby, lots of birds, great host which is also an amazing chef, great food. Owner is very helpful, also organized a safari for us, driver guide was really into it and superbly informed .

The bed a tad too small, and better netting in bedroom. But the rest was amazing

A perfect private place with nice river to cool down. The caretaker makes the best breakfast and dinners. It was very clean, warm shower, outside hammocks. And the Yala North gate is close by for safari in the less crowded part of Yala. Really a gem!

Nothing

We really enjoyed our stay here! The property is set in the countryside and there's only one room, which guarantees complete peace and quiet. The room is well furnished and clean. We also really enjoyed the outside area with the hammocks. I think the highlight of our stay was the dinner & breakfast, the food was just so fresh and tasty. I can really recommend to stay here, ideally maybe several days

We stayed here because we wanted to do a safari in Yala park. The place is really nice, a real retreat, surrounded by nature. They cooked for us - delicious dinner and they prepared a snack for the safari, which the host organised for us. Our driver Bati did an amazing job at spotting animals, he was super knowledgeable and friendly. We really enjoyed the time here.

A lot of insects in the night but it was to be expected and we didn't mind it. It was hot during the night and we would have liked to be able to open the windows but there were no nets so we didn't. Maybe something to consider.

Lovely accomodation in a natural and peaceful setting. It was very clean, and the host was nice and attentive. The food was also exceptional and some of the best we had in all of Sri Lanka. I would highly recommend this spot!

A retreat in every sense for all the senses. Your private waterfall bathing rock. The wonderful fresh food and banana’s from own garden. 🙏

If you like a bit of adventure into the wild, this is the pace for you! Situated only 20 minutes drive from the National Park entrance, you will get the perfect quiet & chill atmosphere away from everything. The two hammocks in the patio will help you relax even more. Breakfast & Dinner were simply delicious (homemade products). Room is good and bathroom is just outside. I would recommend the Jeep Safari experience. Thank you to the host Suj for providing us with lots of information before our arrival.

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Surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature , being next to a river, lovely food, good wifi connection, friendly and attentive caretaker

The caretaker (sujeewa) was amazing. The food was all fantastic, and the location is incredibly calming. Lots of wildlife, loads of beautiful birds. Our favourite place in SriLanka so far. Would definitely recommend!

Peaceful and quiet place to stay if you are near Yale national park. Ee enjoy the river and room is very comfortable. Thank you so much!

Beautiful location, welcoming hospitality and great safari organised by the host.

Nothing

Pure magic at Sahana retreat. Peace and quiet and animals. Including lots of birds. Excellent food, romantic atmosphere. Lovely campfire. Nice lighting (which means it is not bright white lights). Games, hammocks. Just the best place in Sri Lanka to stay for a few days. Lovely river for a swim.

Can't fault it.

Fantastic big breakfast. The map sent beforehand of the property made it seem very rich in experiences but it was rather modest.

The very friendly caretaker and chef spoke very little English.

I loved being in the middle of peaceful srilankan countryside, a real lovely hideout

Everything was perfectly to my taste

12 out of 10! We enjoyed our stay so much! Absolutely beautiful and perfect! Best food so far! Wonderful river, sweet cat! Bonfire at night and you can see so many stars and fireflies! We loved absolutely everything and we hope to be back one day🥰

Great stay

Lovely cottage, amidst wilderness, sound of animals and insects non stop, sounds of waterfall as a backround. So many peacocks roaming around and a chance to see many other creatures while having breakfast (which was also great!)