Review Author: RandDtravellers, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Dec 2018

Review Body: We stayed two nights at Camp Leopard on the all-inclusive package that included four drives, having taking the view that we'd come along way I wanted to see as much as possible. And with everything included (except the park entrance fees) it worked out good value especially given the high quality of the organisation and drives. The setting is rural and blends well with the area, sitting right next to the Yala park boundary. Tents were comfortable, with a good bathroom and comfortable bed and linen. We didn't spend much time in it though, with two early morning starts and the lovely open reception area to sit in and have tea and a chat. Eating by the fire in the evening was special, with the a lovely setting created by the whole place being lit by candles and lanterns. Catherine and Mark have everything well organised and lead a charming and helpful staff team. The welcome drinks and briefing was great and all the food is tasty and well presented and Catherine aimed to adjust menus so that we enjoyed the local Sri Lankan fare we wanted. Mark led all our drives and the whole experience was AMAZING. We had our own jeep (with comfortable padded seats and seat belts) and refreshments were always available including special snacks made by Catherine's grandmother! Mark managed to share his awesome levels of knowledge with us and used his experience to get us to the right spots for various animal sightings - I even had some photography advice along the way! We had five leopard sightings on two drives and saw so much else besides on the other drives, including the lovely and very quiet northern park area (only two jeeps in the park our morning there) with it's atmospheric lake, crocodiles and fantastic bird life - and lots of evidence of leopards too. Mark was keen to enable us to get great photos, setting up good positions to get everything right for the shot. Tea by the lake at sunset, listening to the soft snorting of the elephants was also memorable. We were so grateful for the Camp Leopard experience after seeing the traffic jam of 100+ jeeps from the south arrive mid-morning to see one leopard - after it had gone! Once leopards are seen in the southern park area it became a bit of a scrum so we were lucky that with Mark's knowledge and expertise we were either there in the first group of one to three jeeps to sight leopards, or we stayed late to have the place almost to ourselves to follow the trails. I would absolutely recommend staying at Camp Leopard. It's a great way to visit Yala, to see the wild life and spend some time with two people who have made so much commitment to sharing this wonderful national park with their guests.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Scott N, Canada

Review Date: 10 Feb 2019

Review Body: My wife and I stayed here for two nights. Our overall thought is that this place is exactly what it markets itself as: a great experience for glamping and doing a Safari. It is not a five star resort with plush bath robes and a rainforest showerhead, but it is an incredibly comfortable and peaceful place with all of the amenities one would need, and a solid Safari experience. The grounds themselves are rustic yet maintained. You are greeted with cool towels and juices. Friendly dogs lie around lazily. Basic nescafe coffee, tea, and biscuits are available in the main structure. At night, kerosene lamps line the path to your tent. Four large tents house the guests. The tent itself was very clean and comfortable. The AC and hot water worked well. Lighting was a bit dim and the showerhead was a bit weak, but who cares because you're glamping. The three Safaris with Shermal and the driver were very informative. We noticed the majority of other Safaris did not have a guide like we did. Having Shermal explain everything was amazing. Although he has probably done a million of these things, he seemed just as enthusiastic as if it was his first. We did see a leopard stocking a samba deer that refused to leave the protection of a small pond. Shermal's English was perfect, and he became our defacto liason to anything we wanted to know about Sri Lanka. He called various taxis on our behalf to get us the best price to our next destination. The food was delicious. Don't expect fancy French food: they promote Sri Lankan cuisine, and their cook comes from one of the nearby towns. We had the most amazing curries and local dishes. They were happy to turn up the spice level for us. There were only one or two dishes that were a bit too fishy for us, and the owner' father Raj was politely receptive to this feedback. Our only critical feedback is minor. Some of the younger support staff seemed quite green. We don't expect everybody to have gone through Hospitality courses, but they seemed to need some pushing by Raj to take certain initiatives. As one small example, nobody offered tea or coffee with breakfast, which would be considered normal at any price level. Again, we don't really care since coffee was two steps away in the main tent. Otherwise, Raj, a former shipping Captain for a global company, was a wealth of knowledge. His English was perfect and we could rely on him for anything. Unfortunately, we did not meet Catharine or Mark. Overall, we enjoyed our experience here. The money you pay allows for a superior Safari experience, while allowing you many of the comforts of home. Thank you Camp Leopard!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Picton1, Canada

Review Date: 13 Nov 2019

Review Body: We visited the camp for an overnight stay combined with 2 Yala National Park safaris - one on the afternoon we arrived and one the following morning. Marlon, our safari ranger, was amazing and such wealth of knowledge about the park, it’s animals and the huge variety of bird life there. His enthusiasm for his job and his determination to get us to see as much as we could was very commendable. Although the weather started out poorly on our first drive, we saw a large array of bird life, including peacock displays everywhere, many varieties of deer and other animals and reptile life. This drive was topped off with a 10 minute display by a juvenile leopard just before we had to leave the Park for the night. What a magnificent animal! The following morning our dawn safari captured a very close and lengthy encounter with a young bull elephant, sightings later of a small female elephant herd with calves, wild boar, crocodile, mongoose, etc, etc. All in all 2 great trips and we feel very privileged to have seen what we saw. The camp bills itself as “glamping” and largely lives up to that description. The staff are wonderful, very pleasant and helpful. We were welcomed on arrival, provided with a Sri Lankan lunch and a short period of relaxation before the afternoon drive. Dinner that night was under the stars and was a BBQ created expertly by the camp chef Nima, who has a lengthy culinary resume prior to coming here. The sleeping tents are well furnished and very comfortable, equipped with en-suite facilities, mosquito nets and power. The staff have an obvious affinity with the outdoors and nature and they show it! Great job! Some small useful improvements would improve stays, such as letting guests know that wine and beer (or any alcohol for that matter) is not available on-site and advise guests if they wish to, to bring their own. It is not easy to obtain locally, but these are really small things when compared to the overall wonderful experience. We are on a world tour and this experience is one of the highlights of our trip. Well done Marc and your staff

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Chrischapman5

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: We had a fabulous 2 night stay at Camp Leopard and thoroughly everything about it. Marc and Catherine have lovingly created an amazing camp, intentionally keeping it small so they can get to know all their guests and create a genuinely personal experience for everyone. The team are all so friendly, including Catherine’s father/chef and nothing was too much trouble. The camp felt extremely safe, the tents were true glamping; rough canvas and hessian structure built on a stilted, wooden platform, with an ensuite that many hotels would be proud of. Hot water showers, flushing toilets, power and air con to suit even the most nervous of glamping beginners! Excellent food, wonderful night time bbq and outside eating (v few mosquitos’s), plentiful and generously provided cold beers, water and soft drinks The accommodation and camp aside, the main event of the safai’s was out of this world. Having been spoilt by the Kenyan Masai Mara many years ago I was nervous that I wouldn’t benefit as much as the rest of the family, but I shouldn’t have worried. From the first minutes we saw extraordinary birds, eagles, animals and so much more. We had a driver in the cabin below and a guide (Marc, the owner) up top with us in the raised rear platform. Marc shared with us his love for the national Parks and really enabled us to understand the ecology and so much about every individual species that we encountered. We were constantly astounded at both his and the drivers ability to spot animals with the naked eye that I couldn’t have seen if given an hour and a pair of binoculars. Marc created an informative yet entertaining tour and really engaged with us all, his passion and excitement as high as ours when we managed 3 up close and personal sightings of the elusive leopards. If a glamping, highly personal, slightly rustic, family run trip is what you’re looking for, then don’t waste any more time, you’ve found what you’re looking for.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tadaffee Taksen, China

Review Date: 10 Feb 2019

Review Body: Our family of 3 adults and 3 children (under 9) stayed in 2 glamping tents for 3 nights. First day, greeted with refreshing drinks and cold towels, the team of Catherine, Marc, Mahindu and Raj introduced us to the camp compound which sits on a nice 1 arce land. The tents were well aI rconditioned, WiFi works perfectly with a fast connection and everything is clean. All rooms fitted with mosquito nets, however there wasn’t any mosquitos to be spotted which is great. We did 2 afternoon safari rides and Marc was very attentive to our needs and we manage to discover wild elephants, hogs, the elusive leopard and other wildlife. He is truly a wildlife expert and patient with all the questions asked by my children. Lunches are authentic Sri Lankan dishes. We have a campfire every night for dinners (under the stars) and a nice BBQ, complete with toasted marshmallows for our children. The Sri Lankan cooking class with Catherine was nice, learning some interesting recipes that we can easily replicate back home. Overall, it was a pleasure to be in a comfortable environment surrounded by the wilderness and attended to by amazing hosts. Highly recommended!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: debandmartin535, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Oct 2018

Review Body: We stayed at Camp Leopard for 2 nights while touring Sri Lanka and had 2 game drives. Katherine and Mark had everything organised exceptionally well and were the perfect hosts. Mark took us on the first game drive on the afternoon we arrived and we saw plenty of wild life. The second day we had a full day and Mark did everything he possibly could to make it possible to see leopards which we did and it was amazing. He had a driver and an extra guy as an extra look out. Mark arranged a packed breakfast and at lunch time provided hammocks for all 4 of us before lunch which was prepared by Katherine and was a delicious curry.After lunch we saw the leopard but Mark stayed in the park until it closed showing us as much as possible, his knowledge was excellent. When we returned to camp on both nights Katherine and her staff had lit the entire camp site with lights and prepared a 3 course meal by a camp fire it was magical, they went to a lot of effort to make this an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend Camp Leopard if you are looking for an excellent safari experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: jcjlchapman, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: Thank you to Catherine and Marc for creating a perfect retreat for us to experience the wonderful Yala National Park. You have created a unique, personal camp putting comfort as a priority but still allowing the natural, rustic experience that we wished for. The care lavished on our rooms (rustic, canvas rooms, with amazing air con and a fabulous en-suite bathroom) plus the lovely open air lounge, dining area, fire pit and bbq was perfect, the many lamps lit at night just finished it off as picture perfect. And then for the main act, Marc and our driver were able to show us the unique beauty of this little slice of Sri Lanka. They found wildlife with ease through sight and smell(!), seeing 3 leopard sightings in our trip was very very special, along with the many other wildlife and bird life as well! What further made the experience was the incredible depth of knowledge and passion Marc has for the animals and park, thank you so much Marc! We look forward to hearing about your overnight jungle camps as we may well head back! Many thanks to all of your happy, charming team.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: TP_travellingbird, France

Review Date: 10 Aug 2019

Review Body: We spent 2 nights at Camp Leopard and did 4 safari drives with our 8 year-old son. From the very first second to the very last one everything was perfect and even beyond our expectations. Not only is the camp perfectly equipped (well-maintained recent jeeps, great beddings, hot water, A/C, wifi, multiple resting areas, self-service tea, coffee and snacks...) but it is also really charming. Candle-lit dinners, refreshments each time you enter the camp, 24-hours availability of the staff, devoted and excellent driver, passionate and experienced rangers (thanks to their professionalism we spotted 6 leopards!!!)... and so much more that you can find out only if you go there. Because Camp Leopard is not only a list of features and services, it is a global experience. There, people are willing to share a moment with you and to get to know you. You are not a client, you are a guest. So if you are looking for comfortable and rustic glamping, high quality food, great staff and you want to catch more than a glimpse of Sri Lanka’s wilderness, Camp Leopard is definitely the place.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gapyears

Review Date: 10 Sep 2019

Review Body: Firstly apologies for the delay in our review, no reflection at all on our stay. We absolutely loved Camp Lepoard. The camp was actually just closing for the end of the season, but we were accommodated as it was during our honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. We had the whole camp to ourselves, not only a beautiful location but peaceful too. Just the inquisitive elephants with us. I cannot express enough how welcomed & looked after we were, from the moment we arrived. A lovely well maintained camp with beautiful Sri Lankan food. The Safari was fantastic, exciting, informative & fun. Always first in the queue with our spotter & Marc doing his absolute best to ensure we saw as much as possible. His knowledge amazed us! Thankyou for such a memorable experience & wonderful memories of our stay in a Sri Lanka. A truly beautiful country with beautiful kind people. I would definitely recommend this Safari & you should book with confidence.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Shenali, Sri Lanka

Review Date: 10 Aug 2019

Review Body: Camp Leopard gave us the lowest expectations with regard to glamping and it’s accommodation facilities but it turned out to be the best experience ever. The team including Pramudith and his crew were amazing and they didn’t hesitate to amaze us until the end of the last hour or our stay. The food is great and authentic but fitted our taste buds just right. The accommodation was cozy and way beyond what should be expected in such rural areas. The tour is the most magnificent part of the journey and that experience is breathtaking. Their expert driver and guide did their job above and beyond. We were able to encounter 3 sightings of leopard, and 3 sloth bear sightings which is the hugest achievement for us as we were just amateurs at this safari experience. Great staff, great leadership and so much potential but we also hope that they maintain this same experience in the many years to come.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: djhanney, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Jan 2019

Review Body: The excellent reviews we had read when we booked meant we had high hopes, and Mark and his excellent team did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived to the warm send off when we left, we were made to feel at home. Super friendly and genuinely nice staff went out of their way to give us a fantastic experience. Peaceful camp location, set in nature, hammocks to relax and watch the birds, delicious food and very comfortable accommodation. As for the safari, Mark's knowledge and skills at finding animals are second to none (I have been on several safaris in Africa and he matches the best guides I've had there). We tracked down a leopard in our first hour then saw another one at the end of our first drive, and saw loads of other animals and birds during the two drives. Excellent value for money for the highest level of personal service and an experience we will treasure for ever!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mary B, Australia

Review Date: 10 Jan 2019

Review Body: We chose Camp Leopard because of its reputation for great safari guiding. We were fortunate to have Dinal guide us - he is an accomplished naturalist and wildlife researcher. Dinal worked with the driver and park guide to help us see so many wonderful animals- leopards (5)!, elephants, mongoose, crocodiles, monkeys etc and a huge number of bird species. Staying at Camp Leopard in the glamping tents was comfortable and fun with delicious Sri Lankan food and a fire each night. I had mistakenly put in the wrong dates when I booked online😑 - I was very appreciative of the staff from Camp Leopard phoning me in Australia to sort things out. The owners, Marc and Catherine, were always very helpful, booked our onward bus to Matara and arranged for us to be dropped to the bus station in Kataragama after we checked out. Our stay at Camp Leopard was the highlight of our trip to Sri Lanka🌟

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mike P, Canada

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: We really enjoyed our stay at camp leopard . The camp was spotless and the the lights and campfire at night and dining under the stars created a great atmosphere. The food was mostly authentic sri lankan with the spice adjusted to,taste of guests and was good and plentiful. The host was a lovely gentleman and was great to chat to. Our safari exceeded our expectation. We saw 74 different animals ( yes, we counted them and wrote them down) and birds and the scenery was really pretty.. Our guide , Noyel Wanniarachchi, was great . He was really good at spotting hidden wildlife and really knew his species and info about them. We especially liked his enthusiasm. He would get as excited as us when seeing an uncommon bird or mammal . He also genuinely wanted to be sure we enjoyed ourselves . He is a very special individual.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: HelenandAndy, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 May 2019

Review Body: We loved everything about Camp Leopard. The site itself is beautiful and is set right on the edge of Yala national park so that you are right in the heart of nature. The glamping tents are spacious, clean and comfortable and, as an added bonus they have air-conditioning! The service here was truly exceptional, we were looked after so well and made to feel like part of the family. The food was wonderful, freshly prepared and showcasing the best of Sri Lankan cuisine local to the region. Our three safaris were incredible, our guide Noyel was great and very knowledgable. He, our driver and animal spotter all worked together closely to ensure we were able to see a huge variety of wildlife including leopards and elephants. We cannot recommend this place highly enough, such a magical experience from start to finish.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mat C, Australia

Review Date: 10 Aug 2019

Review Body: What a place and what a wonderful group of people you will find at Camp Leopard. Accommodation was glamping style and comfortable considering the remote location. The campsite had hammocks and common areas to relax and unwind, along with a fantastic night time ambience. The meals were exceptional - some of the best food we have had whilst in Sri Lanka. All of the team would regularly go out of there way to make us comfortable, answer any questions and educate us on the safari pre and post. We did three drives and were fortunate to see a leopard. The team really did everything possible to help us secure the sighting which included some pretty exciting 4WDing to chase up a lead!! Can't thank the team enough for such an enjoyable experience and stay. Highly recommended!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Matthew W, Canada

Review Date: 10 Dec 2018

Review Body: Truly an experience. Tents are great, fully equipped, comfortable beds. Mark & Catherine take care to be as ecologically responsible as possible providing reusable water bottles and filtered water. Set in a national park, you’re blanketed by the stars at night, only the sounds of the wild, a perfect getaway. On top of it, only 4 tents, so a very intimate and enjoyable time. The hosts take great care of the guests and they provide amazing safaris. Definitely the highlight as the guides are highly knowledgeable and passionate about wildlife and ecology of Yala National Park. Food is delicious, and dinner is always served around the camp fire. We would definitely return without hesitation and cannot recommend it enough. Thank you for a truly memorable holiday!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Stox5, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Jul 2019

Review Body: As a group of 9, 5 adults 4 teenagers, we stayed at Camp Leopard for one night in 3 tents. We did an afternoon and morning safari. Marc and the team were totally fantastic. They were all so friendly, we felt completely looked after. The food was delicious, a mixture of Sri Lankan lunch and breakfast and bbq dinner. The two safaris were excellent fun and Marc was so knowledgable. We saw a leopard on both trips, block 1 and block 5. The highlight was watching the leopard cub playing in the tree for half an hour and listening to the distress calls of the other animals in the jungle indicating her mother was nearby too. We narrowly missed a bear but will save that for next time as would definitely come back. Highly recommend. Thank you for an incredible time.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: bronwyn-glen, Australia

Review Date: 10 Sep 2018

Review Body: Mark and Cath, the owners of camp leopard are a gorgeous educated English speaking couple who have put their heart and soul into camp leopard and it is evident when you stay here ! They were always in contact prior to arrival coordinating our arrival. Welcoming us with warmth the camp site has a lovely feel , the tents have been beautifully decorated , clean and comfortable . . Mark was a informative guide on safari sharing his knowledge with passion . Unfortunately we didn’t see as much wildlife as we had hoped due to the season now . The bbq dinner and breakfast was one of the best in Sri Lanka and overall camp leopard was a memorable occasion . Highly recommend staying here !

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gretasnn, Nevada

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: A huge shoot out to Katherine for the wonderful caring stay we experienced at the Leopard Camp. She really went above and beyond to be helpful and make our stay the very best it could be. We were fortunate to have seen a leopard and my husband got to see 2 and even luckier a PANGOLIN! We want to also thank Noyel for being such an amazing naturalist and guide for our safaris. He was very invested in us getting to see a leopard and his tenacity paid off! We had a wonderful animal sporting trip and he even kept us safe from a determined elephant! Three cheers for the leopard camp at Yala! We hope to get he privilege of returning one day!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alison H

Review Date: 10 Aug 2018

Review Body: We stayed for two nights in July and loved it! A welcome change from a hotel without having to compromise on comfort. Very helpful and friendly staff, delicious freshly prepared local food and in the evenings you dine under the stars. The safari guiding was excellent. Marc – owner and guide is very professional, extremely knowledgeable and a passionate conservationist. We explored two different zones of Yala and saw leopards, elephants, crocodiles plus so much more including a spectacular eagle snacking on a monitor lizard. Thank you Marc and Catherine for a fantastic experience which we will treasure forever.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will be going on a afternoon Game Drive in Yala Block 1

Itinerary Description: Ushered by our 4x4 Safari Jeep to the Camp. Welcome and Briefing 01.30 PM: Delicious Sri Lankan Lunch. Enjoy a short break in a hammock for the Dusk Drive 03.00 PM: Afternoon Game Drive in Yala Block 1 06.00 PM: Return to the Camp and Alfresco Dinner

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Today you will be going on a full day safari Game Drive in Yala Block 1, 3 and 5

Itinerary Description: 06.00 AM: Morning Game Drive in Yala Block 3 & 5 and Light Refreshments on the Drive 10.30 AM: Return to Camp for Sri Lankan Brunch 12.00 PM: Few hours of relaxing time to Nap or Read or Birdwatch at the Camp 01:20 PM: Afternoon Snacks & Refreshments 03:00 PM: Afternoon Game Drive to Yala Block 1 and Visit By Sithulpawwa Rock Temple at the End of the Drive 06:00 PM: Return to Camp for Another beautiful lantern and starlit dinner

Itinerary Day 3

Itinerary Summary: Morning walk with the nature

Itinerary Description: 06.00 AM: Morning Nature Walk or Sleep in or Learn how to make Sri Lankan food with the Chef. 10.00 AM: Breakfast (Traditional Sri Lankan or Western) 11.00 AM: Checkout