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Balcony

Queen Bed

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Backwaters Lodge - Double Room

Our top picks for wildlife day trips from Anuradhapura to nearby national parks for elephant sightings, leopard safaris, and birdwatching.

Wildlife Safaris in Anuradhapura: The Best Day Trips for Elephants, Leopards & Birds

Wildlife Safaris in Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka's largest national park, and the least-known. Famous for leopards and birdlife

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Wilpattu National Park

Our handpicked Wilpattu National Park experiences for leopard spotting and birdwatching in Sri Lanka's largest, lesser-known national park.

Wilpattu National Park Experiences: Our Top Picks for Leopards & Birdlife

Wilpattu National Park Experiences

1 pm - Start afternoon safari game drive at Wilpattu National Park
5 pm - Finish game drive and return to lodge
Relax, dinner and overnight 

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Today you'll arrive at Backwaters Lodge and do an afternoon Safari

Backwaters Lodge - Wilpattu National Park - Backwaters Lodge

6am: Pick-up from Backwaters Lodge, drive to Wilpattu National Park
8am: Breakfast
1pm: Lunch

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This is a 2D1N option which includes a stay at Backwaters Lodge and 2 four-hour safari game drives with an experienced guide. 

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Wildlife Safaris

Spend 2 days on safari with a stay at an eco-lodge and 2 four-hour game drives. A good pick if you want more time in the wild with an experienced guide.

2D1N Safari & Eco-lodge Stay (2 Game Drives)

We chose this lodge as we like the idea of an eco lodge which tries to make a difference for the environment. We were not disappointed. The container bungalows were very nice with all the necessary equipment for a back to nature experience with the necessary comfort. Staff and the owner were very friendly. Food was very good( please note that in Sri Lanka mild is not the same as not spicy - no chili should normally do the trick ). We loved the fact that you could swim in the river and we saw elephants near the river during our boat trip. Location of the lodge is very good , only a couple of minutes foto the entrance to Wilpattu NP which made it easy to be there first thing in the morning. Very good price- quality stay !

We chose this lodge as we like the idea of an eco lodge which tries to make a difference for the environment. We were not disappointed. The container bungalows were very nice with all the necessary equipment for a back to nature experience with the necessary comfort. Staff and the owner were very friendly. Food was very good( please note that in Sri Lanka mild is not the same as not spicy - no chili should normally do the trick ). We loved the fact that you could swim in the river and we saw elephants near the river during our boat trip. Location of the lodge is very good , only a couple of minutes foto the entrance to Wilpattu NP which made it easy to be there first thing in the morning. Very good price- quality stay !

Stayed here for 2 days and it is easily one of the best places to immerse yourself in nature and relax. Lounging by the river on a hammock with a book in hand is highly recommend. 

Also recommend is the food! Sri Lankan food done right and even improved. 
 Rooms were cozy and comfortable.
 The staff was great! Helpful and friendly.

Plenty of great activities, we did the morning bird watching boat ride with a guide who was super knowledgeable and highly recommended.
 Entrance to the Willattu national park is just 10 minutes away as well and that’s superb to get an early start into the park.

Can highly recommend

Stayed here for 2 days and it is easily one of the best places to immerse yourself in nature and relax. Lounging by the river on a hammock with a book in hand is highly recommend. 

Also recommend is the food! Sri Lankan food done right and even improved. 
Rooms were cozy and comfortable.
The staff was great! Helpful and friendly.

Plenty of great activities, we did the morning bird watching boat ride with a guide who was super knowledgeable and highly recommended.
Entrance to the Willattu national park is just 10 minutes away as well and that’s superb to get an early start into the park.

Can highly recommend

A must visit place! Discounted rates for now!

A must visit place! Discounted rates for now!

A well planned and well run resort on an amazing piece of land. It is not only a place to stay, but an experience.
 Good room service · Quiet rooms · Family-friendly · Thoughtful amenities · Large suites · Helpful concierge · Spacious rooms

A well planned and well run resort on an amazing piece of land. It is not only a place to stay, but an experience.
Good room service · Quiet rooms · Family-friendly · Thoughtful amenities · Large suites · Helpful concierge · Spacious rooms

It's like my second home... Love the wild life and definitely love service and the hospitality at this place ❤️

It's like my second home... Love the wild life and definitely love service and the hospitality at this place ❤️

Stayed two nights either side of a days safari in Wilpattu Nature Reserve. Accommodation very naturally set in trees alongside the river. Had a very enjoyable river trip being poked along with no engine. Lots of bird life to see. Staff very friendly and attentive. Highly recommended.

Stayed two nights either side of a days safari in Wilpattu Nature Reserve. Accommodation very naturally set in trees alongside the river. Had a very enjoyable river trip being poked along with no engine. Lots of bird life to see. Staff very friendly and attentive. Highly recommended.

A great escape for nature lovers. Friendly service by the staff and management. Great Sri Lankan food. No Wi-Fi in the cabin (only at the reception area) meant no screen time for our kids which they did not like but as parents it is just what we wanted. It was a relief to see our kids reading books (not PDF... Real books for a change) resting on the hammocks by the serene lake. Although we could not spot any Leopard, the safari at Wilpattu forest arranged by the hotel was fascinating. Also recommend the village trek by Tuk Tuk and the evening boat ride in the lake.

A great escape for nature lovers. Friendly service by the staff and management. Great Sri Lankan food. No Wi-Fi in the cabin (only at the reception area) meant no screen time for our kids which they did not like but as parents it is just what we wanted. It was a relief to see our kids reading books (not PDF... Real books for a change) resting on the hammocks by the serene lake. Although we could not spot any Leopard, the safari at Wilpattu forest arranged by the hotel was fascinating. Also recommend the village trek by Tuk Tuk and the evening boat ride in the lake.

Lovely stay, excellent staff, tasty food, close to Wilpattu National Park.

Lovely stay, excellent staff, tasty food, close to Wilpattu National Park.

This hotel is very lovely, peaceful, clean and modern with spirit of recycle and friendly staff. National park Wilpattu is very close, entry about 10 minutes away. They can provide you day/ or full day safaris to National Park Wilpattu, boat trip to river(lovely for bird watching). Very helpful staff, all wishes were to delivered. I can highly recommend this hotel.

This hotel is very lovely, peaceful, clean and modern with spirit of recycle and friendly staff. National park Wilpattu is very close, entry about 10 minutes away. They can provide you day/ or full day safaris to National Park Wilpattu, boat trip to river(lovely for bird watching). Very helpful staff, all wishes were to delivered. I can highly recommend this hotel.

An amazing experience in the wilderness, just 4kms away from Wilpattu! The best thing about the lodge is their concept of up-cycling - shipping containers as elevated rooms, cut-out barrels for seating, pallets transformed into beds and more. Friendly, very attentive staff, and the food was just superb. Try their kulam pittu and crab curry 👌 Planning to do another visit super soon.

An amazing experience in the wilderness, just 4kms away from Wilpattu! The best thing about the lodge is their concept of up-cycling - shipping containers as elevated rooms, cut-out barrels for seating, pallets transformed into beds and more. Friendly, very attentive staff, and the food was just superb. Try their kulam pittu and crab curry 👌 Planning to do another visit super soon.

We stayed at Backwaters for two nights as a jumping off point for a safari in Wilpattu National Park. The hotel is situated in its own mini reserve with acres of woodland to explore and a beautiful river nearby. We opted for the early evening boat ride up and down the river at sunset which was tranquil (its not motorised) and full of birdlife.
 We went full board and the food was excellent and varied. In fact it was probably some of the best eating we had in the whole 3 week stay. As for the safari. The hotel is only 5 minutes from the park entrance and most people use the other park entrance in the north. So for a lot of the safari we did not see anyone else. We would stay again.

We stayed at Backwaters for two nights as a jumping off point for a safari in Wilpattu National Park. The hotel is situated in its own mini reserve with acres of woodland to explore and a beautiful river nearby. We opted for the early evening boat ride up and down the river at sunset which was tranquil (its not motorised) and full of birdlife.
We went full board and the food was excellent and varied. In fact it was probably some of the best eating we had in the whole 3 week stay. As for the safari. The hotel is only 5 minutes from the park entrance and most people use the other park entrance in the north. So for a lot of the safari we did not see anyone else. We would stay again.

The Backwaters is a little bit of paradise. On arrival we were warmly welcomed and given a cool, damp hand towel and delicious chilled fruit juice. This is how it goes, thoughtful touches, great food, comfort and wonderful jungle surroundings. Our simple but stylish room felt like a tree house with palm squirrels, lizards and birds.chirping and hopping about on our balcony! Don't miss the sunset river safari, it's beautiful and very interesting - even if you aren't a birder. On returning I felt like I had been meditating for a week!
 Backwaters' great staff organised a wonderful safari to Willpattu and our transfer to Dambulla.
 Most amazing of all they found my missing Panama hat and posted it on to me free of charge!
 Thank you for a wonderful stay Backwaters, I wish it had been longer.

The Backwaters is a little bit of paradise. On arrival we were warmly welcomed and given a cool, damp hand towel and delicious chilled fruit juice. This is how it goes, thoughtful touches, great food, comfort and wonderful jungle surroundings. Our simple but stylish room felt like a tree house with palm squirrels, lizards and birds.chirping and hopping about on our balcony! Don't miss the sunset river safari, it's beautiful and very interesting - even if you aren't a birder. On returning I felt like I had been meditating for a week!
Backwaters' great staff organised a wonderful safari to Willpattu and our transfer to Dambulla.
Most amazing of all they found my missing Panama hat and posted it on to me free of charge!
Thank you for a wonderful stay Backwaters, I wish it had been longer.

Backwaters ,Absolutely 5 star concept. The setting is a superb stress buster located in the jungle in Eluwankulam bordering Wilpattu jungle. Comfortable unique concept rooms ,excellent service and lovely meals.Shall recommend this property highly.

Backwaters ,Absolutely 5 star concept. The setting is a superb stress buster located in the jungle in Eluwankulam bordering Wilpattu jungle. Comfortable unique concept rooms ,excellent service and lovely meals.Shall recommend this property highly.

We had an enjoyable getaway at the Backwaters and indeed was a great way to start off our travel diaries for 2019. A big thank you to Tarique, his beautiful wife and the team for making our stay so homely and special...we will definitely be back soon, and its just for the fabulous food!!!! 😊

With best wishes,
 Johnpillai family...
 Family-friendly · Thoughtful amenities · Helpful concierge

We had an enjoyable getaway at the Backwaters and indeed was a great way to start off our travel diaries for 2019. A big thank you to Tarique, his beautiful wife and the team for making our stay so homely and special...we will definitely be back soon, and its just for the fabulous food!!!! 😊

With best wishes,
Johnpillai family...
Family-friendly · Thoughtful amenities · Helpful concierge

A fantastic eco hotel on the edge of Wilipatu National Park, great location for wildlife enthusiasts with very attentive staff.
 Family-friendly · Quiet rooms

A fantastic eco hotel on the edge of Wilipatu National Park, great location for wildlife enthusiasts with very attentive staff.
Family-friendly · Quiet rooms

Dear Backwaters Team, many thanks for these wonderful and unforgettable days with you.

Your family atmosphere and your philosophy of sustainability convinced us.

We took home many beautiful memories and will definitely come back.

Dear Backwaters Team, many thanks for these wonderful and unforgettable days with you.

Your family atmosphere and your philosophy of sustainability convinced us.

We took home many beautiful memories and will definitely come back.

everything as it's an amazing experience

Amazing little jungle hideout... wonderfully cozy &amp; fascinatingly luxurious! Excellent food &amp; service! What more can one ask for!

Amazing little jungle hideout... wonderfully cozy &amp; fascinatingly luxurious! Excellent food &amp; service! What more can one ask for!

Backwaters Lodge have fused urban&nbsp;living concepts with untamed wilderness. The peaceful location is a perfect spot to delve into nature as well as experience a truly unique place to stay - in rooms housed in refurbished shipping containers. The furniture here is upcycled and they also avoid single-use plastics as much as possible at the lodge. Let your host, Tarique, introduce you to the area and share the stories of Sri Lanka!

Backwaters Lodge

Backwaters Lodge have fused urban&nbsp;living concepts with untamed wilderness. The peaceful location is a perfect spot to delve into nature as well as experience a truly unique place to stay - in rooms housed in refurbished shipping containers. The furniture here is upcycled and they also avoid single-use plastics as much as possible at the lodge. Let your host, Tarique, introduce you to the area and share the stories of Sri Lanka!

2D1N Safari & Eco-lodge Stay (2 Game Drives)

What You’ll be Doing

Day 1:

Day 2:

What’s Included

Who you’re supporting

Community Champion

Plastic Waste Warrior

Wildlife Protector

Where You’ll Sleep

Backwaters Lodge - Double Room

Where we'll meet

Start Point

End Point

Start & Ends

Suitability / Accessibility

Cancellation & other policies

Cancellation

What to Pack

Meet your host

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