Review Author: AndyMurphy73, Bearsden, United Kingdom

Review Date: 26 Feb 2019

Review Body: We had a fantastic stay with Leopard Trails for two nights / 3 days. Can’t recommend these guys enough, we were truly spoiled from the moment we arrived until we had to leave. We originally had 3 classic tents booked but two pairs of our party were upgraded, one to premium and one to super premium. We lost the the coin toss and got the classic but have to say this is camping on another level, the set up is so good even a classic makes the experience easy going. The food is home cooked and delicious, with everything explained not only what it was but also the benefits of each ingredient used. Again the team cannot do enough for you, both nights we dined alfresco under a million stars, and doing what we do best, enjoying great food, good drinks and fantastic company. We arrived in the afternoon, introduced to our guide, Malmi, and then a quick freshen up and out for our 1st safari of our stay. It didn’t disappoint. Our animal count started with a huge fish eagle casting its eyes over the lake, next up was a mongoose, then one of our party spotted a logodile (sorry private joke) only for Malmi to point out the real crocodile just along the bank. Also here were great and small egrets before we headed along the track to be confronted by a huge bull elephant in must. He was quite agitated and not for giving way and then started to walk towards our jeep to challenge us. Malmi was brilliant in keeping our party calm (and telling the driver to reverse quickly - which by the way these guys can really drive so please do not underestimate them). We kept going on another track seeing water buffalo, hundreds of bird life and monitors. Again Malmi pulled it out the bag by spotting not one but two sloth bears, brilliant! The day was rounded off with a golden jackal running across our path before we headed back to camp for the night. Our next days safari was again filled with an abundance of wildlife accompanied to the excellent knowledge of our guide. On our last day and drive we hit the jackpot spotting not one but two leopards and just as we were about to leave the park, two elephants again almost blocked our path, thankfully they stepped into the jungle to oblige us with a small wrestle before disappearing into the undergrowth within metres of our jeep, a fantastic farewell for us. I can’t thank all at Leopard Trails enough, especially Malmi. His knowledge coupled with his sense of humour was exceptional and has made our holiday one we won’t ever forget. Thank you so much

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 759lindsey

Review Date: 18 Jan 2019

Review Body: My husband, mother-in-law, and I stayed at Leopard Trails for a night while visiting Sri Lanka. From the very start, when working with their customer team, everyone went above and beyond to be accommodating and make sure we had the perfect plan for our stay! We customized a lot of our time, doing a full day safari instead of two half days, which I would definitely recommend!! Charith, who was our contact person before we got there, answered every email within a day or two and was happy to help plan different options for us. Once arriving we were lucky enough to have Dhanu as our guide, and he was amazing!! He and Giva, our driver, were welcoming, fun to spend time with, and incredibly knowledgeable about all of the animals of this beautiful country. We were lucky enough to see three gorgeous leopards among countless other animals, and each time I’d ask details about the animal, Dhanu without hesitation explained anything I was interested in. He could tell the birds apart by their songs! I’d recommend this place solely on my experience with them during the safari, but Leopard Trails offers so much more beyond the safari experience. Our “tent” if you could call it that, was better than any of the hotels we stayed at while in Sri Lanka, they’re just beautiful! Temperature controlled and very comfortable, it’s “glamping” to a whole new level. Then there was the amazing food, which was just stellar, and getting to eat under the stars on a warm night was a perfect end to the day. What really blew me away, though was the attention to detail and how much the whole staff worked to cater to anything we might need. Extra coffee? They sent a whole platter with coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks. We had to go straight from our safari to the airport, so Dhanu arranged it so that we didn't need to check out until after the safari so we could freshen up. There was just such a feeling of being cared for and attended to that made all your worries melt away. It’s an investment, but if you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience, this is definitely the place to go!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lindsey

Review Date: 10 Jan 2019

Review Body: My husband, mother-in-law, and I stayed at Leopard Trails for a night while visiting Sri Lanka. From the very start, when working with their customer team, everyone went above and beyond to be accommodating and make sure we had the perfect plan for our stay! We customized a lot of our time, doing a full day safari instead of two half days, which I would definitely recommend!! Charith, who was our contact person before we got there, answered every email within a day or two and was happy to help plan different options for us. Once arriving we were lucky enough to have Dhanu as our guide, and he was amazing!! He and Giva, our driver, were welcoming, fun to spend time with, and incredibly knowledgeable about all of the animals of this beautiful country. We were lucky enough to see three gorgeous leopards among countless other animals, and each time I’d ask details about the animal, Dhanu without hesitation explained anything I was interested in. He could tell the birds apart by their songs! I’d recommend this place solely on my experience with them during the safari, but Leopard Trails offers so much more beyond the safari experience. Our “tent” if you could call it that, was better than any of the hotels we stayed at while in Sri Lanka, they’re just beautiful! Temperature controlled and very comfortable, it’s “glamping” to a whole new level. Then there was the amazing food, which was just stellar, and getting to eat under the stars on a warm night was a perfect end to the day. What really blew me away, though was the attention to detail and how much the whole staff worked to cater to anything we might need. Extra coffee? They sent a whole platter with coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks. We had to go straight from our safari to the airport, so Dhanu arranged it so that we didn't need to check out until after the safari so we could freshen up. There was just such a feeling of being cared for and attended to that made all your worries melt away. It’s an investment, but if you’re looking for an all-inclusive experience, this is definitely the place to go!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: katrinamarie, England

Review Date: 16 Mar 2019

Review Body: So I will start by saying that this safari experience is nothing like a safari in Africa - obviously there are no where near as many large game animals and the vehicles and tents are not as luxurious as the camps we’ve experienced there. However we didn’t manage to see a leopard in Africa and once I knew there were many in Yala it was a no brainer for us to visit here. Leopard Trails is a tented camp just outside Yala National Park but within 20-30 minutes drive to the gates. We booked one of the luxury tents with an indoor shower, air conditioning, proper flushing toilet and a comfortable bed, bean bag, electric points, toiletries- everything we needed. We stayed for 2 nights - 4 game drives and paid extra for a private vehicle. The guides and drivers are brilliant.we were front of the queues to get into the park when it opened and the camp uses quieter entrances than the day trippers. The vehicles have to stay to the roads within the park, unlike Africa but even so we saw 2 leopards, and many leopard tracks in the sandy roads, the second sighting was a female who was sunbathing, rolling around, getting washed and generally relaxing on an open rocky area straight in front of us. We were the vehicle who spotted her so got amazing photos and time alone with her before the other vehicles arrived. We saw a sloth bear and also wild elephants, an abundance of bird life and really enjoyed the drives. We visited three different zones. The food at the camp was excellent- varied and plentiful and we had some very interesting conversations about conservation over our meals. All inclusive Alcohol was also flowing in the evenings- our glass was never empty........ The camp staff are great! We also got to test out a very interesting and beautiful possible new dining area at the camp which was huge success. We came here to see a leopard, a sloth bear and wild elephants so our guide totally achieved this for us. We had a blast.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: katrinmarie, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: So I will start by saying that this safari experience is nothing like a safari in Africa - obviously there are no where near as many large game animals and the vehicles and tents are not as luxurious as the camps we’ve experienced there. However we didn’t manage to see a leopard in Africa and once I knew there were many in Yala it was a no brainer for us to visit here. Leopard Trails is a tented camp just outside Yala National Park but within 20-30 minutes drive to the gates. We booked one of the luxury tents with an indoor shower, air conditioning, proper flushing toilet and a comfortable bed, bean bag, electric points, toiletries- everything we needed. We stayed for 2 nights - 4 game drives and paid extra for a private vehicle. The guides and drivers are brilliant.we were front of the queues to get into the park when it opened and the camp uses quieter entrances than the day trippers. The vehicles have to stay to the roads within the park, unlike Africa but even so we saw 2 leopards, and many leopard tracks in the sandy roads, the second sighting was a female who was sunbathing, rolling around, getting washed and generally relaxing on an open rocky area straight in front of us. We were the vehicle who spotted her so got amazing photos and time alone with her before the other vehicles arrived. We saw a sloth bear and also wild elephants, an abundance of bird life and really enjoyed the drives. We visited three different zones. The food at the camp was excellent- varied and plentiful and we had some very interesting conversations about conservation over our meals. All inclusive Alcohol was also flowing in the evenings- our glass was never empty........ The camp staff are great! We also got to test out a very interesting and beautiful possible new dining area at the camp which was huge success. We came here to see a leopard, a sloth bear and wild elephants so our guide totally achieved this for us. We had a blast.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: FarFrontiers19

Review Date: 31 Mar 2019

Review Body: Leopard Trails provide a lovely environment for which to visit Wilpattu; there are three levels of tented accommodation, the more expensive providing more luxury but the basic tents are still very comfortable and the food is of good quality and more than sufficient. Our Gide Malmi was extremely knowledgeable, very helpful and ensured we were well looked after. The entrance to Wilpattu is approx 20 mins drive from Leopard Trails and from there another 25 mins of driving before the route opens out providing various different trails. However, there are not an enormous choice of different trails to follow and excepting one route you always have the same initial 25 mins drive in. The park opens at 6am or soon after, no vehicle headlights are allowed in the park so it must be deemed sufficiently light before vehicles are allowed in. The park shuts at 18.30 and there are consequences for being late so all vehicles leave on time. During the week Leopard Trails guides like to be first into the park in the morning to avoid the dust of other vehicles and provide the best opportunity of seeing wildlife, this typically means leaving camp at 5am. At weekends because of the influx of professional photographers from Colombo this is not possible so the morning drive starts later. The vehicles are well suited for the purpose but are not a soft ride. They are typically long wheelbase trucks with seats welded onto a frame with a fixed rood giving a raised vantage for seeing wildlife. The wildlife in the area of the park where vehicles can go are generally accepting of them and the people inside but they are still wild and particularly the Leopard are very elusive so sightings are usually short lived although deer and water buffalo are usually around and elephant, sloth bear, wild boar and golden jackal are not uncommon. There are also a great variety of birds which are easily seen.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: SuzieBells

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: Leopard Trails provide a lovely environment for which to visit Wilpattu; there are three levels of tented accommodation, the more expensive providing more luxury but the basic tents are still very comfortable and the food is of good quality and more than sufficient. Our Gide Malmi was extremely knowledgeable, very helpful and ensured we were well looked after. The entrance to Wilpattu is approx 20 mins drive from Leopard Trails and from there another 25 mins of driving before the route opens out providing various different trails. However, there are not an enormous choice of different trails to follow and excepting one route you always have the same initial 25 mins drive in. The park opens at 6am or soon after, no vehicle headlights are allowed in the park so it must be deemed sufficiently light before vehicles are allowed in. The park shuts at 18.30 and there are consequences for being late so all vehicles leave on time. During the week Leopard Trails guides like to be first into the park in the morning to avoid the dust of other vehicles and provide the best opportunity of seeing wildlife, this typically means leaving camp at 5am. At weekends because of the influx of professional photographers from Colombo this is not possible so the morning drive starts later. The vehicles are well suited for the purpose but are not a soft ride. They are typically long wheelbase trucks with seats welded onto a frame with a fixed rood giving a raised vantage for seeing wildlife. The wildlife in the area of the park where vehicles can go are generally accepting of them and the people inside but they are still wild and particularly the Leopard are very elusive so sightings are usually short lived although deer and water buffalo are usually around and elephant, sloth bear, wild boar and golden jackal are not uncommon. There are also a great variety of birds which are easily seen.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Luke H, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Aug 2019

Review Body: Myself and my wife were on our honeymoon in Sri Lanka. We had booked an overnight safari with Leopard trails and had the most amazing experience. We were greeted by a very welcoming team lead by Dhanu. Dhanu explained what the itinerary for the next 24 hours would be, in the most spectacular camp setting, before showing us to our beautiful luxury tent. We set off, for our first evening safari with Dhanu and our experienced driver/guide. Dhanu is a credit to Leopard trails, his passion and knowledge shines through and is infectious, drawing you into the surroundings and new environment. That evening we saw elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo lots of spotted deer as well as an array of other wildlife.. but not the elusive leopard! The evening at camp was good conversation with a gorgeous feast of traditional Sri Lankan curries. The standard of food was amazing, hats off to the chef and his team. The next morning we set off early to be one of the first vehicles into the national park, myself and my wife, very excited. Within 30 mins our experienced driver pulled away from the pack of other guides and vehicles from other resorts and took us around our own route and his instinct was outstanding as a beautiful female leopard was spotted by Dhanu and driver which then proceeded to walk out in front of our path, stop and take a look at us all sat there. It was unbelievable. We then set off again only to spot a sloth bear minutes later, followed then by a huge male leopard in the bushes. We had the most spectacular time with leopard trails and obviously recommend them if looking at doing a safari in this location. Seeing leopards and other animals in their habitat is obviously not guaranteed, but being guided by this experienced and friendly team, we were lucky to have, definitely made that difference.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: NinandHugh

Review Date: 27 Nov 2018

Review Body: If you’re going to do safari in Sri Lanka and are keen to embrace the experience, go with Leopard Trails. This is glamping at its finest. The tents are well maintained, clean and spacious. In each tent there is purified water, electricity, AC as well as a running toilet, water and shower. This is a boutique hotel experience, offering only a handful of individual tents. The touring jeeps are top notch and comfortable. Meals are served family style, endless and delicious. I appreciated how the evenings were handled, as there was a cocktail hour in a special setting and served around a fire pit. Afterwards, we were escorted to candlelit dinners at large rustic tables in the open air. You can elect to engage or not engage with others in the camp. As for the game, we had exceptional drives… we saw it all including the highly sought-after sloth bear, leopard and noted 31 species of birds. Others at Leopard Trails had similar experiences. Perhaps it was some luck but I would attribute it to our savvy guides who were incredibly knowledgeable, patient, studied, adventurous, open minded and fun. We lucked out with Keith who made the experience. He is a world class conservationist, biologist as well as student, teacher and lover of our shared surrounding world. As my husband summed it up, “Keith is an all around legend.” Keith imparted his knowledge, curiosity and thrill of the search on us. His energy is infectious and he had us laughing hysterically throughout with his clever and fun-loving sense of humor and disposition. Something that cannot be overlooked is his proficiency in English as we had consistent and fluid conversation and banter the whole time. We also were graced with Chumy, who was behind the wheel, fearless but safe and also with a great spirit and ability to sense the game.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nina & Hugh

Review Date: 10 Nov 2018

Review Body: If you’re going to do safari in Sri Lanka and are keen to embrace the experience, go with Leopard Trails. This is glamping at its finest. The tents are well maintained, clean and spacious. In each tent there is purified water, electricity, AC as well as a running toilet, water and shower. This is a boutique hotel experience, offering only a handful of individual tents. The touring jeeps are top notch and comfortable. Meals are served family style, endless and delicious. I appreciated how the evenings were handled, as there was a cocktail hour in a special setting and served around a fire pit. Afterwards, we were escorted to candlelit dinners at large rustic tables in the open air. You can elect to engage or not engage with others in the camp. As for the game, we had exceptional drives… we saw it all including the highly sought-after sloth bear, leopard and noted 31 species of birds. Others at Leopard Trails had similar experiences. Perhaps it was some luck but I would attribute it to our savvy guides who were incredibly knowledgeable, patient, studied, adventurous, open minded and fun. We lucked out with Keith who made the experience. He is a world class conservationist, biologist as well as student, teacher and lover of our shared surrounding world. As my husband summed it up, “Keith is an all around legend.” Keith imparted his knowledge, curiosity and thrill of the search on us. His energy is infectious and he had us laughing hysterically throughout with his clever and fun-loving sense of humor and disposition. Something that cannot be overlooked is his proficiency in English as we had consistent and fluid conversation and banter the whole time. We also were graced with Chumy, who was behind the wheel, fearless but safe and also with a great spirit and ability to sense the game.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: yyzwhit, Toronto, Canada

Review Date: 25 Mar 2019

Review Body: My husband and I started our Honeymoon with a safari at Leopard Trails Wilpattu and it was an unbelievable experience. Leopard Trails was a perfect mix of rustic meets luxury. We stayed in the newest luxury tent at Wilpattu with air conditioning, an indoor shower, bathroom with 2 large sinks, and a very large room with a seating area. It was perfect and we felt safe and happy the entire time. We stayed for 2 nights - which meant we went on 4 game drives - which was the perfect amount of time. We didn’t realize that we leave for drives at 4:30am but it was well worth it once you’re up! On the drives we saw leopards, elephants, sloth bears, monkeys, deer, water buffalo, crocodiles, etc. The first ride we got super lucky and came across an elephant off the main road. Our guide, Varun, heard key sounds and was the one who knew to stop. Moments later the elephant emerged from the brush and crossed in front of our jeep, it was incredible that he knew the subtle cues and we got that experience. We also had an amazing experience with 2 leopard cubs on our last ride and got to spend almost 30min watching them play. Our guide Varun was knowledgeable about the animals, the park, very attentive to us, and just great to be around. He really made it a lovely experience! The food and the attention to detail was also superb. The staff was kind and always ready to meet us with fresh hand towels when we were arrived. The Happy Hour cocktails at the pop-up bar were a real treat after a long day and the food was authentic Sri Lankan food and there was a diverse mix for lunch and dinner. The common area was nice and clean and they treated us to a private surprise honeymoon dinner under the stars on our last night!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: yyzwhit, Canada

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: My husband and I started our Honeymoon with a safari at Leopard Trails Wilpattu and it was an unbelievable experience. Leopard Trails was a perfect mix of rustic meets luxury. We stayed in the newest luxury tent at Wilpattu with air conditioning, an indoor shower, bathroom with 2 large sinks, and a very large room with a seating area. It was perfect and we felt safe and happy the entire time. We stayed for 2 nights - which meant we went on 4 game drives - which was the perfect amount of time. We didn’t realize that we leave for drives at 4:30am but it was well worth it once you’re up! On the drives we saw leopards, elephants, sloth bears, monkeys, deer, water buffalo, crocodiles, etc. The first ride we got super lucky and came across an elephant off the main road. Our guide, Varun, heard key sounds and was the one who knew to stop. Moments later the elephant emerged from the brush and crossed in front of our jeep, it was incredible that he knew the subtle cues and we got that experience. We also had an amazing experience with 2 leopard cubs on our last ride and got to spend almost 30min watching them play. Our guide Varun was knowledgeable about the animals, the park, very attentive to us, and just great to be around. He really made it a lovely experience! The food and the attention to detail was also superb. The staff was kind and always ready to meet us with fresh hand towels when we were arrived. The Happy Hour cocktails at the pop-up bar were a real treat after a long day and the food was authentic Sri Lankan food and there was a diverse mix for lunch and dinner. The common area was nice and clean and they treated us to a private surprise honeymoon dinner under the stars on our last night!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lizzycam

Review Date: 30 Nov 2018

Review Body: We came into the experience not really knowing what to expect, but we'd heard great things! I thought the cost was a bit high for the facilities - although we didn't have any problems with our accommodation, we got the luxury tent and it was quite amazing. But around the campsite was a little less 'polished'. This was made up for by the impeccable service from all staff- chef, waiters, and most importantly our amazing guide Dhanu and the best driver- Suranga. We were so impressed on our game drives we saw such an array of animals (5 leopards and over 30 elephants, as well as so many others) Dhanu always took the time to impart some of his knowledge and I loved how much they respected all of the animals- both big and small. They went out of their way to get the best sightings for us. Dhanu is so knowledgable and is completely obsessed with wildlife (in a good way), his enthusiasm is infectious. The FOOD! Endless and amazing.we even experienced a bush dinner under the stars with so much delicious food. Egg hoppers is incredible!! And we had unlimited drinks. The attention to detail here should be commended- cold towels when off the jeep, morning tea on the early morning safari. So overall a wonderful experience I would recommend and leopard trails looked like one of the more professional companies on the safaris (it was sad to see jeeps with no guide, and sometimes miserable looking passengers...). My only hope is that the money we invested (not cheap) is used to pay the people on the ground (chef, staff, guide, driver) properly as they are working hard and care so much about the service they provide (there is a tip jar left out at the end of the safari which made me wonder...)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Liz C

Review Date: 10 Nov 2018

Review Body: We came into the experience not really knowing what to expect, but we'd heard great things! I thought the cost was a bit high for the facilities - although we didn't have any problems with our accommodation, we got the luxury tent and it was quite amazing. But around the campsite was a little less 'polished'. This was made up for by the impeccable service from all staff- chef, waiters, and most importantly our amazing guide Dhanu and the best driver- Suranga. We were so impressed on our game drives we saw such an array of animals (5 leopards and over 30 elephants, as well as so many others) Dhanu always took the time to impart some of his knowledge and I loved how much they respected all of the animals- both big and small. They went out of their way to get the best sightings for us. Dhanu is so knowledgable and is completely obsessed with wildlife (in a good way), his enthusiasm is infectious. The FOOD! Endless and amazing.we even experienced a bush dinner under the stars with so much delicious food. Egg hoppers is incredible!! And we had unlimited drinks. The attention to detail here should be commended- cold towels when off the jeep, morning tea on the early morning safari. So overall a wonderful experience I would recommend and leopard trails looked like one of the more professional companies on the safaris (it was sad to see jeeps with no guide, and sometimes miserable looking passengers...). My only hope is that the money we invested (not cheap) is used to pay the people on the ground (chef, staff, guide, driver) properly as they are working hard and care so much about the service they provide (there is a tip jar left out at the end of the safari which made me wonder...)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Dilesh Diaz

Review Date: 22 Jun 2014

Review Body: What a fabulous experience it was!!! Was with the team from Leopard Trails for two days, and right from the word "go" it was hospitality at its best. We arrived at the Katagamuwa pick-up point midday and was greeted by Arshad, Arran and the rest of the team - All Smiles! We were escorted back to the campsite, given a thorough briefing, escorted to our tents (which were very spacious and comfortable) and was treated to an absolute gem of a Sri Lankan lunch. Could've definitely had more if I wasn't about to burst! Our first game drive was really great, and we loved listening to the many stories our rangers Arran and Jerome shared with us. Their wealth of knowledge on the park, the enthusiasm they have for their job, and the care they took in ensuring a great overall experience was a refreshing way of experiencing Yala - and Yala too did not disappoint. We were treated to a rare sighting of a bear just inches away from the jeep. The campsite at night was cool and relaxing. Our group of friends and the entire team from Leopard Trails shared stories, lessons on survival skills and many laughs for hours in to the night. The spirits flowed freely, the food (again) was out-of-this-world Excellent (I will steal your cook away from you one day Amrith!!!), and team LT turned it in to a great final night!!! Thank you Amrith, Arshad, Arran, Jerome and the whole team at Leopard Trails for making this experience a GREAT one for us. The best memories I will take back with me is the food, the team's passion for excellence, and most importantly... that we felt like we were in the company of our own family!!! Cheers, Dilesh Dias

Review rating: 5

Review Author: laurend314, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Review Date: 14 Feb 2019

Review Body: We stayed for 2 nights at Leopard Trails in one of their luxury tents and we had the best couple of days. From the moment we were met at the gate and driven just the short drive to the camp we were treated like royalty. Every little thing has been thought of to make your stay comfortable and really special. Neither of us had been on safari before so we weren’t too sure what to expect but we loved every minute of it. I cannot speak highly enough of Dhanu. His expert knowledge of the animals and eyes for spotting things were amazing. His professionalism and passion for his work is really inspiring. Our tent was very comfortable and a really fun way to spend a couple of nights. The food in the camp was excellent, with a great variety over the few days that we stayed. All of the staff were very friendly and looked after us so well. We really enjoyed the drives and meals with other guests, it was such a fun way to meet other people and share such magical safari experiences with. Chatting about what you’d seen that day over a drink by the camp fire in the evening was always the perfect end to the day (as well as the ice cold drink brought to your tent whilst you get ready for dinner!). And tea/coffee and biscuits in the jeep as you wait to get into the park makes the early start much easier. We really couldn’t recommend a stay at Leopard trails enough and it really was the highlight of our honeymoon.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Lauren Fraser, United Kingdom

Review Date: 10 Feb 2019

Review Body: We stayed for 2 nights at Leopard Trails in one of their luxury tents and we had the best couple of days. From the moment we were met at the gate and driven just the short drive to the camp we were treated like royalty. Every little thing has been thought of to make your stay comfortable and really special. Neither of us had been on safari before so we weren’t too sure what to expect but we loved every minute of it. I cannot speak highly enough of Dhanu. His expert knowledge of the animals and eyes for spotting things were amazing. His professionalism and passion for his work is really inspiring. Our tent was very comfortable and a really fun way to spend a couple of nights. The food in the camp was excellent, with a great variety over the few days that we stayed. All of the staff were very friendly and looked after us so well. We really enjoyed the drives and meals with other guests, it was such a fun way to meet other people and share such magical safari experiences with. Chatting about what you’d seen that day over a drink by the camp fire in the evening was always the perfect end to the day (as well as the ice cold drink brought to your tent whilst you get ready for dinner!). And tea/coffee and biscuits in the jeep as you wait to get into the park makes the early start much easier. We really couldn’t recommend a stay at Leopard trails enough and it really was the highlight of our honeymoon.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: foxyflan, Balmain, Australia

Review Date: 06 Jan 2019

Review Body: We just left the wonderful Leopard Trails in Wilpattu after a 2 night stay. We were nervous taking our 2 girls (4 and 7) on safari but the amazing Dharula, our ‘ranger guide’, took them under his wing and made the experience sensational. His knowledge and enthusiasm for nature made their trip so special, not just his patience at keeping them excited through 10 hours of searching for animals but his evening entertainment of searching for frogs, telling stories about the constellations and so on. My 7 year old is now sobbing in the car to our next hotel as she already misses him so much. The kids had to learn and do a quiz to get their Junior Ranger certificates which they will treasure. The four of us easily fit in one of the larger luxury tents, which was lovely, and the food was plentiful and delicious. They also went out of their way to find things our fussy kids would eat. Dinner and drinks were under the stars each night, sitting with the other guests who were all very interesting. Dhavalu and our feisty driver Jiva also made sure we sure all the animals on our ‘list’, and seemed to genuinely care that we got to see everything. A wonderful experience that I would recommend highly- though I probably wouldn’t take a kid under 4 as it is so hard for them to sit still and be quiet in the Jeep while you wait for the animals to appear. Also a warning that the roads are very bumpy!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: foxyflan, Australia

Review Date: 10 Jan 2019

Review Body: We just left the wonderful Leopard Trails in Wilpattu after a 2 night stay. We were nervous taking our 2 girls (4 and 7) on safari but the amazing Dharula, our ‘ranger guide’, took them under his wing and made the experience sensational. His knowledge and enthusiasm for nature made their trip so special, not just his patience at keeping them excited through 10 hours of searching for animals but his evening entertainment of searching for frogs, telling stories about the constellations and so on. My 7 year old is now sobbing in the car to our next hotel as she already misses him so much. The kids had to learn and do a quiz to get their Junior Ranger certificates which they will treasure. The four of us easily fit in one of the larger luxury tents, which was lovely, and the food was plentiful and delicious. They also went out of their way to find things our fussy kids would eat. Dinner and drinks were under the stars each night, sitting with the other guests who were all very interesting. Dhavalu and our feisty driver Jiva also made sure we sure all the animals on our ‘list’, and seemed to genuinely care that we got to see everything. A wonderful experience that I would recommend highly- though I probably wouldn’t take a kid under 4 as it is so hard for them to sit still and be quiet in the Jeep while you wait for the animals to appear. Also a warning that the roads are very bumpy!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Prav d

Review Date: 24 Feb 2019

Review Body: Upon arriving at this tented resort you feel taken care off. We were greeted by the team and taken into the beautiful aircon reception room for a briefing on safari schedules, meals and the campfire dinners. The next moment involves being accompanied to the air conditioned tent, it’s funiture and finishings leave a lasting impression and then we are ready to slip into safari mode. A few beers with a traditional rice and curry followed by an jungle tour through the safari park and we are excited to have made the decision to be at Lepoard trails. A sundowner in the safari vehicle is also greatly appreciated. Will we see a leopard tomorrow is the big question? Meanwhile we are educated about the wild life from elephant tusker behaviour to sloth bear season. Dinner time around the campfire is special, it’s the very best of Sri Lankan food combined into a degustation dinner. 8 courses later and we are ready for a night of fire side laughter and stories by their general manager Pilla. And yes we did see a leopard the next morning. In conclusion, we felt that it was the quality of the guided experience that really sets Leopard Trails apart. When I returned home I watched a video about their guide training program which explained the detailed process of how a Leopard Trails guide is trained. It all makes sense now. A great adventure!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will get to experience a luxury safari experience and a game drive

Itinerary Description: Lunch 3:30pm: Afternoon game drive for the chance to spot leopards and elephants if you're lucky 6pm: Dinner Overnight stay

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Today you might get to spot different animals as you will embark on a morning game drive!

Itinerary Description: 5:30am: Set off morning game drive