Gal Oya Lodge is set on the outskirts of Gal Oya National Park towards Sri Lanka's east coast. Built from locally-sourced natural materials with furniture made by local craftsmen, the nine-bedroom lodge really gives guests a sense of its surroundings.
Highlights
A 9-room wildlife lodge in Gal Oya national park, one of Sri Lanka's least visited parks
See the wildlife by boat safari, rather than from a car
The best place to see elephants swimming in Sri Lanka
The lodge fits in beautifully with its surroundings, with grass roofs and use of wood in the construction
Built from local materials, including woods of teak and mara, and 'illuk' grass roofs, Gal Oya Lodge brings ecological luxury to Sri Lanka's little-visited Gal Oya National Park. With nine spacious bungalows, and a two-bedroom villa, this is the ideal accommodation option for guests looking to relax in a spectacular setting, while feeling secluded.
The bungalows measure 800 square foot in size, and have spacious bedrooms with king-size beds, as well as a sitting room and en-suite bathrooms including indoor and outdoor showers. The huge windows give the bungalows spectacular views, and they also have a private veranda. The two-bedroom villa is ideal for families or friends travelling together, with a spacious sitting room connecting the two bedrooms.
Enabling guests to get back to nature, Gal Oya Lodge is simple in design and amenities, and facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant with an a la carte menu and a bar. The lodge also has its own vegetable garden
Gal Oya National Park boasts Sri Lanka's largest inland body of water, the Senanayake Samudraya Lake, meaning that wildlife safaris can be taken by boat rather than solely by jeep, which is unique for a Sri Lankan national park. Covered by jungle, with a beautiful mountain backdrop, the scenery is breath-taking and the wildlife experience completely different to any other throughout the country. The national park is home to plenty of Asian elephants, which can be seen swimming in the lake; a marvellous spectacle. Among the species of animals that can be seen in the park are deer, water buffalo, Sri Lankan leopard and monkeys, as well as a whole host of birdlife.
Guests can also spend their time walking in the national park with a naturalist, going for picnics, or even meeting the Veddas, Sri Lanka's indegenous people. Please note due to the unique location in the heart of the jungle, Gal Oya does not have wifi nor mobile phone service, which we think really allows you to immerse in your incredible surroundings. However, due to this aspect of the property we recommend that you bring cash with you for your stay in case there are any connection issues for credit card machines.
When to visit
Don't miss a safari by boat as you will have the opportunity to see the elephants swimming.
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Gal Oya Lodge is located close to Gal Oya National Park on Sri Lanka's central east coast, to the east of the hill country.
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