Big Game Camp Pickup Spot
Big Game Camp Pickup Spot, Kataragama-Situlpawwa Road, Kataragama 91400, Sri Lanka- Attraction
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Nature Retreat at Big Game - Yala by Eco Team
Escape to the wilderness at Big Game - Yala by Eco Team, nestled on the fringes of Yala National Park. Enjoy the serenity of a mini nature reserve, just a short drive from Katagamuwa park entrance.
Campfire Barbecue and Free WiFi
Relish a delightful barbecue dinner under the stars around a crackling campfire. Stay connected with complimentary WiFi in public areas during your stay.
Comfortable Family Tents and Safari Adventures
Unwind in spacious fan-cooled tents with private bathrooms. Family tents are available on request, all equipped with cozy beds, mattresses, and hot/cold showers. Embark on thrilling safaris and explore the exotic wildlife with our tailored safari packages.
Book now to experience the ultimate blend of nature and adventure at Big Game - Yala by Eco Team!
Check-in from
12:30 PM
Check-out by
10:30 AM
Parking
FREE
Children
Allowed
Pets
Not allowed
Sleeps
Up to 3 guests
3 adults · 2 children
Beds
3 Twin bed (90-130 cm wide)
Room details
10 sqm
Garden View
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 3 guests
3 adults · 2 children
Beds
3 Twin bed (90-130 cm wide)
Room details
16 sqm
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 4 guests
4 adults · 3 children
Beds
4 Twin bed (90-130 cm wide)
Room details
32 sqm
Garden View
In-room amenities
Sleeps
Up to 4 guests
4 adults · 3 children
Beds
4 Twin bed (90-130 cm wide)
Room details
32 sqm
Garden View
In-room amenities
Get answers about amenities, policies, and more — e.g. “Are pets allowed?” or “Is parking available?”
Provider-sourced guest reviews.
Me gustó mucho la cena, estába muy rica. Además el ambiente era increíble alrededor del fuego. Dormir en la tienda es una experiencia increíble. Y la piscina está genial.
Das Barbecue am Abend war besonders schön.
Die Lage personal und die Kulisse
L’accoglienza in un ambiente molto in linea con il Safari
Nulla
La experiencia fue increible y el personal todavia más. Hicimos el safari con ellos y tambien super bien.
Very unique! Super experience.
The dim lighting in the room and the shower area.
Un glamping muy cómodo. Las instalaciones están bien, todo muy eco. De noche las torchas te iluminan.
No creo que sea un sitio para ir con niños pequeños. La cena al lado del fuego es demasiado tarde para los peques ya que al dia siguiente hay safari y es pronto por la mañana. Y la caminata nocturna no recomendable para menores de 7años.
This stay was incredible! From the glamping tents to the camp facilities and the food! Amazing. 10/10 recommend. We also got very lucky on our safari seeing lots of rare animals. MJ our safari tour guide was amazing. The candlelit dinner and bonfire was also a highlight. Wish we stayed longer!
Hardworking staffs
It’s eco friendly approach. In the nature. Calms one down
Tent can become hot. There is a fan but it is still very hot
The naturist guides, the services offered, the nature walks offered, the safaris, the location, the tents and even the meals were simply wonderful! It was quite a unique experience.
We had the impression that the front office staff could be a tad more organised.
This place was really lovely. The food was delicious and such generous portions. The staff were very hardworking and friendly nothing was too much trouble.
All was good
The curtains in the tent should cover upto thr wash basin to make it more comfortable
Everything except the food
The food
The staff go above and beyond to make your stay memorable. All the staff from the guides to reception to the kitchen/dining staff were so friendly and helpful. The camp is basic but this is as described and what we expected/booked. Tents are clean and beds comfortable. We did cooking class, making a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast, which was great fun and ate what we cooked for breakfast. Breakfasts and the BBQ dinners were delicious and more than enough food served. We did an afternoon safari and saw lots of fascinating wildlife including mongoose, snakes, deer, crocs, lots and lots of birdlife and we were also fortunate enough to see two leopards. Also took part in the morning and night walks around camp which were very informative and saw lots. Again the guides were very knowledgeable. Would highly recommend staying here. Safari was booked through them. You are located very close to the park.
Nothing.
Tolle Unterkunft in Zelten. Zelt mit Ventilator ausgestattet. Das Hotel organisiert auch Safaris. Bei unserer Buchung (2 Nächte) waren wahlweise zwei Halbtagessafaris oder eine Ganztagessafari inklusive. Sehr gut organisierte Safari mit Guide und Fahrer. Ca. 30 Minuten bis zum Eingang des Yala Nationalparkes. Abendessen (Barbecue) im Freien mit Feuer in der Mitte. Sehr schöne Atmosphäre. Abendessen leider erst etwas spät (20 Uhr).
Tres proche du parc national, ambiance camp tres sympa et très confortable pour du camping. L'ambiance est top, les propositions de balade sont supere ! Les repas mériterai d’etre de meilleur qualité. (Quantité et produits). Petit déjeuner imposé sur le safari et malgré une demande sur le camp et il n’est pas à la hauteur du prix. De plus. Le manger sur "l’air d'autoroute" du safari n’est pas agréable.
La qualité des repas est légèrement décevante pour le prix, le petit déjeuner est un vrai point negatif. Take away imposé, quantité et qualité trop en dessous du prix facturé.
Good for easy access to the park, convenient for safari. Staff are great, night walk was fun.
Food didn’t start being served until 8:30 pm. It was very small portions and very slow to be distributed… we began ravenous and finished hungry. We were also swarmed by beetles for about 45 minutes while we sat waiting for dinner, as the fire wasn’t lit. Some people gave up and went to bed, younger and older didn’t make it, falling asleep at tables. Food tasted nice but needed at least twice as much. We had a mouse with babies, a few lizards and a big spider in the tent (it’s camping) but the mouse had had babies in the fan so everytime I caught it and threw it outside it kept coming back in to get another baby. If the food was a couple of hours earlier and more plentiful people would have been awake for the meal and been able to attend the evening walk. Many missed out on experiences because of this
The pool - once we asked where it was. The dinning setup was great yet too dark too see what you were eating. My son enjoyed the common relaxation area!
The price was over rated. The breakfast was exceedingly expensive for what it was. It would be more efficient if a common luxury bathroom was created rather than an on-suite scenario - the shower was a dribble. Dinner was too late at night and was ordinary for $20 USD - a decent Sri Lankan meal would have been preferred over trying a French cuisine.
Virkelig fint sted. Alting er gennemtænkt med respekt for naturen. Teltenen er placeret så fint rundt omkring og er forbundet med små stisystemer med masser af natur. De tilbyder forskellige aktiviteter og vi var især vilde med eveneibg walk. De har formodet at skabe en rigtig rolig natur stemning.
Jeg syntes det er ærligt at der ikke er bad udenfor. Badet i teltet lugtede meget grimt og der blev vådt over det hele, når man gik i bad. Selve badeværelses var også ret beskidt. Maden var af svingende kvalitet. Vi sov der 2 gange og fik dejlig mad den ene aften og mindre god mad den anden aften. Det er dig super hyggeligt at sidde i mørket rundt om bålet og spise. Morgenmad og frokost var fint.
The location is magical and a wonderful experience x
The food is awful. So bring snacks.
Den autentiske oplevelse Godt mad Hyggelig stemning
Toilettet var lidt utæt.
The activities. Night walk, communal bonfire, outdoor games (badminton and basketball). The sounds you could here, makes you feel like your staying in the National Park. The staff are amazing and kind.
Loved the atmosphere around the fire and the barbecue and dining experience was good and the staff were very attentive
Should have thought to bring a torch as it was difficult to see the paths at night
Das ist natürlich ein Abenteuer in so einem Zelt und man fühlt sich wie ein Ranger in dem Camp. Die Führung zu Fuß nachmittags mit einem Ranger durch den Ort hat uns gut gefallen.
Nun gut, wir sind dann doch nicht so abenteuerlustig. Alles ist sehr basic, was ja auch anzunehmen ist, allerdings hatten wir zwei wirklich große Wolfs Spinne im Zelt und allgemein fand ich den Preis, für das was geboten wird, zu hoch. Das Essen ist „geht so“ bei der Ankunft konnte man unsere Buchung nicht finden und auch um halb 6 zur Safari Abfahrt war alles eher unorganisiert. Was mir auch nicht klar war ist, dass man zwar neben dem Reservat ist, der Eingang zur Safari aber 30 min über die normale Straße geht. Also wären diese abenteuerlichen Nächte gar nicht nötig gewesen und man hätte einfach eine „normale“ Unterkunft näher am Camp Eingang nehmen müssen. Auf der Safari am Morgen haben wir gar keine Tiere gesehen, am Nachmittag dafür sehr viele Elefanten.
The tent was spacious and staff very kind. Free nature walks were interesting.
It was cold at night and there were no blankets provided in the tent.
Loved it! So beautiful 🤩
Sometimes you hear noise from the city
Safari was Nice! The Guide was very heplful!
The Interior of the tent was old. The shower was not functional. The tent had many holes, so we were sleeping with hundreds of mosquitoes. Th food “bbq” that we had for dinner, was partly raw. The sizes were way too small. We went to bed hungry two days in a row :(
We liked the location and attentive staff plus the safari tour we booked
We felt although the property was clean and tidy although it felt very tired compared to the photos. The dinner was really disappointing for the price
Klimat
Ceny
The dinner and the tents were great. The waiting/food staff were very good
The general staff in charge of check-in and check-out and arranging the safari tours were very disorganised. Didn’t get the booking right and took ages to get everyone into vehicles for the safari because of lack of vehicles and drivers. Quite a lot of money for what it was.
Wonderfully authentic experience
Beds were quite uncomfortable
Hyggelig personale, veldig god mat, rene telt og super safari opplevelse!
Super well organised and felt like an authentic safari experience. From the safaris, to the dinner under the stars, the night time nature walk, and very understanding and helpful reception for our transfers. We had a great guide, MJ, for our safaris too.
Nothing
Food is ok and the staff is nice.
The toilet didn’t work properly. We had two chairs in front of the tent that were removed with no explanation and never came back. Pity, we had planned using them The mosquito net zipper was broken, we asked to have it repaired, they said they’d do it but nothing happened.
Location
Bathroom cleanliness and Safari jeep
Un dépaysement absolu et une expérience de qualité ! La piscine est un peu éloignée mais nous avons adoré cette nuitée La salle de bain sous la tente est un réel plus!
Big Game Yala is a fantastic, super organised campsite. Tents are big and comfortable. All the staff were truly lovely. We enjoyed morning safari and the candlelight dinner night before. Highly recommend to all animal lovers!
A great experience on the edge of Yala National Park. We had a wonderful safari and were lucky enough to see a leopard and sloth bear. Staff were amazing, and the food was wonderful.
El paseo nocturno y la cena.
La tienda es muy decepcionante y desagradable. Necesitaría una urgente renovación y desde luego el precio es totalmente desmesurado.
Nos gustó mucho el paseo nocturno y la cena.
La tienda es muy decepcionante y desagradable. Necesitaría una urgente renovación y desde luego el precio es totalmente desmesurado.
La cena en el campamento
La recepción no fue muy adecuada. La persona que nos atendió estaba muy enferma y aún así, nos acompañó a la habitación. Las habitaciones/tiendas no están muy bien cuidadas y para llegar a ellas, no hay prácticamente nada indicado ni iluminado correctamente
Great property - unfortunately though Yala National park has no tourist numbers limit and is over run with vehicles all chasing to see not a lot. Perhaps animals scared off. We saw more outside the park on the road
Location
We stayed one night at Big Game Camp Yala, and it was a huge disappointment. From the start, staff pressured us to take their breakfast and dinner package — even though we explicitly said we didn’t want them. When we declined, the treatment changed completely: they became brusque, spoke to us abruptly, and seemed annoyed. Their “rustic charm” felt more like poor hospitality than authentic adventure. The limited food options were bad, and the constant pressure made us feel uncomfortable. Because we refused, we were treated differently — less friendly, more distant. The tents themselves are uncomfortable, full of mosquitoes, and very humid. The “village” area is poorly maintained and frankly unacceptable. Considering the price, it’s absolutely not worth it. I strongly do not recommend staying in these tents — the experience is far from relaxing or enjoyable. Overall, the location might be okay, but everything else — service, accommodation, and hygiene — is terrible
Наличие душа, туалета и горячей воды, вкуснейший ужин, приготовили завтрак с собой на сафари, единение с природой и при этом элементы цивилизации
Не обнаружено
L’accueil, le calme, le service de nettoyage, nous avons également eu droit à une visite d’une heure des environs de l’hôtel à la découverte des plantes et des petites espèces d’animaux.
C’est dommage que les tables soient sous la tante lors des repas, nous aurions aimé mangé sous les étoiles
Als je een glamping wil doen is het leuk om een x gedaan te hebben verwacht geen game zoals in andere landen (zuid afrika) dit is een afgesloten verblijf waar je geen dieren zult aantreffen behalve geckos en apen
Diner stelt niet veel voor leuk dat kampvuur maar het eten was niet wat ik had gehoopt van een bbq. Douchebak lek waardoor elke x onze tent onderwater stond
The glamping experience was overall very nice. The tent was well prepared and organized, and the staff were friendly. The bush walk guide was very knowledgeable and a genuinely nice person. The location perfect to start the safari.
The bush walk was nice, but not really a must. You can already spot some insects and rabbits around the glamping area, so I’d mainly recommend it for children. The dinner set was very nice, but the food could use some improvement: it was quite standard and not particularly special. The price remains rather high, mostly because of the location.
Wir haben die Zeit in Yala sehr genossen. Das Personal ist sehr freundlich und das Buchen von Safaris war sehr unkompliziert. Das Abendessen am Lagerfeuer ist ein einzigartiges Erlebnis und für den Preis total in Ordnung, wenn man es nicht mit sri lankesischen Preisen vergleicht. Auf jeden Fall weiterzuempfehlen.
From the day of booking the customer service team & Mr.Anuththara was in constant touch and answered my queries,very helpful.Before a day itself got clear instructions & directions to the place from Mr.Chamika and very cordial.Mr.Hiran welcomed with a juice and gave full details abt the place and always available in need.Also the service rendered & conversation I had with Mr.Ziwon can't be forgotten. The place is clean,maintained well, loved the evening walk guided by Mr.Viyan and the details about yala park,night walk by Mr.Sameera.Both of them esp M.Sameera is knowledgeable about the forest & animals,worth to this hotel.had a good convo with Mr.Sameera. The team was ready with morning breakfast and it was tasty and heavy. Thanks to the chef & his team for quality,hygienic food throughout. Thanks to all the caretakers and hope I didnt missed anyone to thank. The whole team,management of big game yala by eco camp deserves so much love & applause.I would like to visit sometime later with family to this camp,worth every penny Kudos team
NA
Nothing was too much, after a minor leak in the bathroom they were quick to help is relocate. Everything was clean and maintained. Food was well prepared and plenty. Very friendly staff
Maybe not enough cold drinks available, price for drinks was up there
La experiencia es inmersiva total, la ubicación y la cena alrededor de la hoguera.
La comunicación con los camareros y la ducha de la tienda bastante dañada.
The most amazing stay! The place was right by the park, food was incredible - amazing curry, tents super comfy. The staff did everything they could to make sure we had a brilliant stay. They organised our safari which was perfect ! Really highly recommend,
The facilities were great. The tents are very well set up. We really enjoyed the tea buffet and the BBQ dinner too.
There needs to be more light at the bbq, only one candle on each table is not enough. The packed breakfast for the safari was not good at all.
Wir haben zwei Nächte hier verbracht und unseren Aufenthalt sehr genossen. Neben unserem gemütlichen Zelt und einem Pool, der für eine erfrischende Abkühlung sorgte, war die ganztägige Safari ein absolutes Highlight. Mit den Kindern konnten wir beeindruckende Momente erleben – darunter die Sichtung eines Leoparden, verschiedener Wildtiere und majestätischer Elefanten. Das gesamte Team war durchweg freundlich, zuvorkommend und hilfsbereit, was unseren Aufenthalt besonders angenehm machte. Ein wunderbarer Ort für Familien und Naturfreunde!
De tent is echt heel erg leuk opgezet, een familiekamer met twee eenpersoons bedden en een tweepersoonsbed. De kamer is ruim en heeft volwaardig sanitair. Echt een safari vibe
Geen airco, maar twee grote ventilatoren maakten dat goed
This is a great adventure. We were here for one night. We took a family package (half-day safari in a personal car, four-person tent (with a toilet, shower, two rooms)). At safari in three hours we saw all the animals including cats. The guide tried very hard. In the evening there was dinner by the fire and then a walking tour with a guide through the nearby bushes. The lack of air conditioning was scary, but in practice it was comfortable (the tents are well ventilated and there are fans inside).The four-person tents are big inside, very big.I recommend this place to anyone who wants to have a safari experience and the experience of staying in a luxury tent.
Breakfast is very leisurely. Having sat down at the table at 7:30 we received breakfast at 7:50. We waited and drank coffee. There was no one else there, the others were sleeping. This is not a big minus, but when traveling around the entire island, 20 minutes make a difference. There is no accommodation for personal drivers. This is not a big minus, we understand that this is not a hotel. I just wanted to point this out for others.
Our stay in the jungle was one of the most fun and memorable experiences we've ever had! From the moment we arrived, we were completely surrounded by the sounds of nature—right in the heart of the jungle, where every rustle and chirp reminded us just how alive everything around us was. The hosts were incredibly welcoming and made us feel right at home in this wild paradise. Dinner was a beautiful experience—candlelit and cosy. And then came the complimentary night walk... definitely not for the faint-hearted! We spotted a snake, lizards, frogs—you name it. I’m actually pretty scared of these animals (haha), but it was so much fun and I felt completely safe thanks to our fantastic guide, who led us with calm confidence and so much knowledge. The highlight of our stay, without a doubt, was the early morning safari with the BEST safari guide ever—Aruna! From the very first moment we met him, Aruna’s kindness and passion for wildlife absolutely shone through. He made us feel like we were part of something truly special. It was my first safari, and what an introduction—we were incredibly lucky to spot a leopard right in front of us. It was emotional, breathtaking, and something I’ll carry with me forever. Aruna made sure every minute of our safari was unforgettable. They even prepared a takeaway breakfast for us, which we enjoyed in the shade, listening to Aruna share stories about his deep love for animals—especially snakes! His knowledge and passion were inspiring, and chatting with him was such a joy. We’re so grateful for this wild, beautiful, and heartwarming experience. Thank you to everyone who made it so special—we already miss the nature of Sri Lanka and all the animals. We can’t wait to come back! From Marta & Sam
This place is beautiful. It is located right next to the national park and small wildlife can be seen all around. From monkeys to hares! The tents are very spacious. Their safari guides where amazing, particularly Aruna. We did breakfast and dinner and the service was great. Breakfast was particularly yummy.
It was a bit hard for our driver to find the place when we got there, as it is away from the main road and there are no signs or address prior to getting quite close. Our driver had to call the property for instructions on how to get there.
We had an amazing stay at Big Game Camp Yala! The tents were clean and comfy, with just the right mix of adventure and comfort. The staff were super friendly, and the food was delicious. The safari was unforgettable — we saw elephants, birds, and so much more all organised through Big game camp Yala. A perfect way to enjoy Yala’s wildlife. Highly recommend!
Awesome place
Nothing
The tent was great - it looked like in the photos. The bathroom is basic but everything worked and I had a warm shower after a hot day. The location is quite remote which is what you want for glamping. At night you hear nothing but the sound of the animals, wind etc. very peaceful. But beware it‘s very very hot, there’s a fan in the tent to keep things bearable. I opted for the 3 course dinner, a bit pricey but a nice experience. Everyone sat at tables around a bonfire. I’m a vegetarian and was served a meat free option. (I had a veggie fritter, orange and ginger soup, rice with tofu, veggies and egg plus a chocolate cake dessert. I was happy with my meal. I also did the complimentary night walk which I enjoyed. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Reception staff were also lovely to deal with. There was complimentary water (icecold!!) and tea and coffee. They must have taken other reviews about theft seriously, there are safety boxes for valuables as an option. Nothing went missing during my stay and you get a lock for your tent. I found the atmosphere at camp a bit lacking and was happy I only stayed one night. I booked my own safari and didn’t use the one they organise. There was one staff member I found a bit rude and quite grumpy which slightly tainted my stay.
Tents were a bit cramped for 3 people, we were effectively sleeping in one bed as there was no space between them, but we all slept really well despite the squeeze. Was not expecting dinner to be a 3 course affair at a candle lit table or to be waited on by staff! Unfortunately the food was cold when it arrived and wasn’t the best, but there was plenty of it and we hadn’t eaten since breakfast, so we ate it without complaint. This was definitely a no frills, rustic experience, but that’s what we were after as we thought it would be more exciting for our daughter than staying in a hotel. The guided walk after dinner was a bonus and there was a nice ambience in the camp at supper with lit torches all around which children could toast marshmallows on. The staff were incredibly nice and accommodating, couldn’t fault them.
Unfortunately we saw very little on the safari. A lot of deer and peacocks but nothing exciting. We were told there was a leopard on top of some rocks about a mile away, but even with binoculars we couldn’t see it. It’s not a safari park so of course you can’t guarantee seeing particular animals, but we were quite disappointed having been to Minneriya a couple of years ago where there was an abundance of elephants and wildlife, so we were expecting to see more. It would be great if there was tea and coffee available at all times in the camp rather than just after the safari. There’s a board with a schedule of events in the reception area such as crafts and cooking classes, but none took place. There are board games and books advertised too but there was only one old chess set and a library of battered and faded old books, mostly in German, so bring your own entertainment!
This was a tented ecological camp stay which we very much enjoyed the concept. Our room had every facility we simply needed. The food was delicious. The staff were helpful and nice. The only downfall was the safari we booked from the hotel. Unfortunately, our driver was unexperienced and rushed us during the jeep safari. The jeep itself was really comfortable though compared to other safaris we went.
The camp ground has a nice setup with a dining tent and lounge area. The food was pretty good overall but vegan options were limited for dinner. The safari was the best part with well maintained jeeps and a guide. Not a fan of the bathroom in the tent, it is hard to ignore the smells in a small tent
The grounds were great, the staff were great and overall we had a great experience.
The cost. It did feel a little bit expensive for what we got. Paying $130 for 2 nights in a tent and then being charged $260 for extras felt a bit much.
Most staff are friendly and welcoming..
They really need to improve their billing process. Instead of constantly asking for payment, they could simply handle all bills at checkout. It felt unnecessary and intrusive—did they really think customers would run off, especially when we're in the middle of nowhere? At one point, a staff member even asked if we had settled all our bills. Surely, they have a record, so why put that responsibility on customers? It felt disorganised and unnecessary.
Feedback themes are sourced from guest reviews provided by our data provider.
What guests love
Areas to consider
Cleanliness
8.8/10Tents and bedding repeatedly described as clean; guests note basic but well-maintained camp hygiene.
Service
9.3/10Staff and guides praised as very polite, hardworking and helpful across reception, kitchen and safari guides; some minor front-office organisation issues noted.
Location
9.3/10Excellent location very close to the national park; ideal for safaris and wildlife viewing, frequently highlighted as a major positive.
Room Quality
7.6/10Glamping tents are comfortable and clean but basic; guests mention dim lighting, heat issues (fan sometimes inadequate) and curtain coverage concerns.
Amenities
8.9/10Strong activity offering (safaris, nature walks, cooking class), eco-friendly setup and camp atmosphere are praised as unique and well run.
Value for Money
6.9/10Mixed feedback on value: accommodation and activities are appreciated, but several guests feel food quality and takeaway breakfasts do not match the price.
Food and Beverage
7.5/10Food reviews are mixed: some guests praise generous, delicious portions and BBQ dinners, while others criticise meal quality, timing (late dinners) and safari takeaway breakfasts.
Overall Experience
8.9/10Many guests describe a unique, highly recommended glamping experience with memorable safaris and friendly staff; overall very positive despite a few service/food caveats.
Nestled on the fringes of Yala National Park, the camp offers a mini nature reserve atmosphere just a short drive from Katagamuwa park entrance.
Spacious family tents with private bathrooms provide a comfy base for groups seeking adventure and relaxation in a wild setting.
Tailored safari packages with expert guides promise immersive wildlife experiences right from your doorstep.