Kulu Safari Yala

Our tailor-made, mobile safaris feature customized tents that are finessed with thoughtful touches; we also run our own, modified, safari jeeps. Our guides are professional, trained naturalists who have spent years learning the nuances of our jungles. Our staff are driven by an energy to surpass every single guest’s expectations. In effect, we offer our guests the best game viewing experience on the island.

Kulu is the first operator to establish and practice of environmentally conscious camping. We have adopted a strict “no-plastic” policy, use renewable energy to as great an extent as possible, and have implemented an eco-friendly waste-management system.

Rooms

The spirit of Kulu is to tread lightly, leaving a minimal footprint on the natural ecology of our wilds. Across the island, Kulu operates several campsites that are non-permanent, yet we strive to offer the most comfortable accommodation with touches of luxury for the comfort of our guests. Our campsites are handpicked for their remoteness – most often our guests are the only dinner party for miles!

All tents have been custom-made in South Africa by one of the world’s leading safari outfitters. Our Base Camp in Yala offers large tents (each tent is over 200 sq. ft.) that are secured on raised wooden platforms. Each tent includes a small deck (or ‘veranda’ as we like to call it) for some private space to sip an evening drink, or to relax with a good book. The tents have en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold showers. The fly screens support excellent ventilation while keeping out pesky critters.

Kulu’s Yala camp is ideally situated to explore the multiple sectors (referred to locally as ‘blocks’) of Yala National Park, and we run the majority of our safaris in Block 1. However, for guests staying 3 or more nights, we can run full-day excursions (with a packed, bush-lunch included!) to Block 3, 4, 5, and Lunugamvehera National Park.

We also offer a mobile safari option, for tailor-made camping experiences to suit specific client requests. Although these tents are smaller, they are comfortable, cool, and well equipped. Often, we deploy these tents to host our Wildlife Documentary clients, who need to be more agile when filming wildlife in remote parts of the island. The mobile option is also popular among adventurous groups seeking a unique and customized ‘off the beaten track’ experience.

For Wilpattu National Park, we offer clients the opportunity to stay in our bungalow, built within the buffer zone of the park. It is a great option for a family or single group to spend time exploring the treasures of Wilpattu. The bungalow is situated on an elephant corridor near a popular waterhole for game, so guests are treated to the company of nocturnal wildlife in the dry season.

Dining

Facilities

Our love affair with the wilds birthed the name “Kulu”, which means “untamed” in reference to Sri Lanka’s Wild Buffalo (hence our logo!) in our native Sinhala language. It symbolizes the paradigm that would guide the evolution of the ‘Kulu Experience’ – to present the untamed Sri Lankan jungle in the safest, most comfortable, and responsible way to fellow lovers of the wild.

Our safari thesis is translated through the Kulu team who brings this experience to life. They are likeminded individuals who live and breathe the pillars of conservation, value and service. They share our founders’ passion for constantly learning about the nuances of wildlife, the jungle, and our proud history. Their passion is to show off the best Sri Lanka has to offer with innate warmth, sincerity, and efficiency; this is what transcends the expectations of our clients to establish a stay with Kulu Safaris as the highlight of their visit to Sri Lanka.

We cater to clients with varying interests and passions. We host professional photographers on long stays, who depend on our local knowledge and guiding expertise to capture the best of our jungles through their lens.

We love hosting families – our guides are adept at translating their knowledge of the jungle into a fun, learning experience for children. Also, our kitchen is well geared for their discerning tastes!

And for the honeymooners – we eagerly await the chance to spoil you. While the jungle weaves its own unique spell of romance and charm, we love curating tailor-made surprises to make your honeymoon stay with us all the more special. But we won’t share all our tricks on here – do write to us, and we’ll come up with some creative ways to indulge your whims!

Activities:

Just in case the lure of safari isn’t enough, Kulu has several activities on offer to keep you busy. We have kayaks at our Yala Camp, so guests can get out on the water for a couple of hours of solitude, exercise and experience a different aspect of nature.

For more experienced guests, we invite them on a ‘jungle walk’ led by our guides. The walk provides a rare opportunity to learn interesting tips on the art of tracking, animal behaviour, and offers a unique perspective for birding as well as photography.

We also enjoy taking our guests to explore sites of historic and cultural significance in the vicinity of camp. Kataragama is one of the most sacred and symbolic places of worship for all religions, but especially for Buddhists, Hindus and indigenous communities. Sithulpawwa (which is believed to translate broadly to “Hill of the Quiet Mind”) is an ancient jungle monastery that dates back to the 2nd century B.C. Both locations attract many devotees, especially during times of religious festivities.

And what safari is complete without a sun downer at a scenic location, to mark the end of a perfect day in the jungle? But we like to keep the details a secret – you’ll just have to stay with us to experience it!

The Vehicles

We challenge you to find a jungle addict who doesn’t share a passion for great off-road vehicles, and Kulu’s portfolio of vehicles reflects that passion. Our fascination with Toyota and Land Cruisers goes back to our childhood adventures. Our jeeps are modified for comfort, reliability and photography. Because our adventures take us to the back of beyond, we have fitted our jeeps with the best recovery equipment and accessories for superior terrain handling, comfort and safety. Our fully retractable canvas canopies allow for a 360 viewing and photography opportunity, and our jeeps are well stocked with refreshments and safety gear.

As much as our drivers and guides are adept in the art of tracking animals and reading their behaviour, their driving skills in the toughest of terrains are the best in the business. But in the same token, safety is paramount; drivers are trained rigorously before they take on the responsibility of game drives with guests.

We pride ourselves in offering our guests the best opportunity to view and photograph wildlife without compromising on safety and comfort.

Ecological Footprint

Keeping true to our pioneering spirit, Kulu Safaris has strived to be the most ecologically conscious safari operator in Sri Lanka. Our ‘No Plastic’ policy saved approximately 5,000 plastic, single-use water bottles in 2015. We offer our guests unlimited, purified water in reusable glass bottles.

We generate most of our power from solar and rechargeable batteries, and have deployed a fully organic waste management system.

Our campsites are constructed in a manner that will allow us to return it to the hands of its owners – the animals – leaving behind nothing but our footprints, and taking with us priceless memories of encounters with its wildlife.

Our conduct in national parks is unobtrusive and respectful of the animals that we enjoy watching; are guides are trained to achieve the best balance between viewing opportunity to our guests while not crowding around a sighting.