Budget Sri Lanka safari holiday with Wild Camping in Kumana for Leopards

Because it is a much longer drive to get to the quieter eastern side of Yala National park, we take our time and make a stop at a beautiful hotel in Kataragama; which is a famous temple town located on the northern edge of Yala. You will stay in a lake view room at the Grand Tamarind Lake Kataragama

Aurugum Bay is such a funky and friendly town and has way more wildlife than you would expect and for our small group is the ‘launching pad’ for our final destination of Kumana National Park. Afternoon sunset boat ‘paddle’ in Pottuvil Lagoon for birds and elephants. Overnight at Oruwa Boutique Villas

Hold onto your hats, because you ain’t never done a Tuk Tuk ride like this one and I can promise you that from personal experience. One moment you might be looking at a local man planting rice amongst hundreds of Egrets and the next thing you are passing just a few metres past a group of elephants.

As well as simply relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views of the estuary, you could choose to be more active and try your hand at surfing, or canoeing. It’s a lovely vibrant community to simply walk through and find a nice spot to swim, watch the fisherman bring their catch in and then enjoy some nice food at a beach shack with a good vibe.

Again, you will have a very beatiful coastal drive from Arugum to the entrance to Kumana, where we will do the neccessary formalities before driving to our beautiful campsite inside the park. This is a full service campsite but showers and toilets are shared and this is not for people used to luxury camps! First afternoon Leopard Safari in Kumana National Park.

Because Yala national park, which ajoins Kumana to the west, has a strict zone system, it is not possible for people on that side of the park to come across to Kumana on a safari. So, basically this means that the vehicles you see in Kumana are mainly day trips from Arugum Bay, or people camping or staying in the bungalows. All this means far less vehicle traffic and a more peaceful and holistic wildlife experience.

We drive out of the park and around Yala to pick up the main road and drive to the fascinating historic port of Galle. Lots to do here to fill an afternoon and some amazing restaurants in the heart of the historic district. Check in at The Merchant Hotel

Sadly, we have come to the end of our Sri Lanka small group camping safari; although there are plenty of options to add a private extension for you, including whale watching from Mirissa, head up into the hills to visit Kandy and Hortons Plains, or for bird lovers, the Sinharaja forest reserve is an absolute must for a glimpse of the spectacular Blue Magpie.