Explorer by Mahoora Camps -
Kumana
Welcome to the most authentic “roughing-it in great style” experience Sri Lanka has to offer. Your private camp in the wilderness of the Kumana National Park, is a return to the simplicity and authenticity of safari life, save for a few 21st century comforts.
It’s camping but without having to let go of the creature comforts or attentive service that are intrinsic to a Mahoora Experience. Explorer by Mahoora is particularly appealing to those in search of an opportunity to connect up-close with the earth and wildlife in a way they have never done before, in wonderful seclusion.
Isolation lends itself to privacy for an intimate experience with nature, making it really just you and nature, with no traces of civilisation. Only 3 tents can be constructed for guests, with a maximum occupancy of 2 guests per tent… per National Park and Nature Reserve.
With a private naturalist, chef, camp manager and camp staff, excursions can be arranged at any time, safaris may be as long or as short as you choose, and adventurous experiences await.
Return to real safari camping
Experience life in a 35,664 hectare National Park and Bird Sanctuary. An incredible 255 species of birds have been recorded in the Kumana swamp area alone! Go ahead and enjoy a river bath before tucking into an authentic Sri Lankan hot meal, explore mysterious caves riddled with myth and folklore, and watch the stars christen the night sky as you wait for your private chef to grill up a fork-tender BBQ dinner in the wilderness.
Dining Experience
Dining, too, is an adventure with Explorer by Mahoora; a picnic breakfast as you watch wild buffalos roam the plains, lunch by the river after a refreshing swim, high tea at sundown with an audience of water birds, and dinner under the stars. The silent wilderness at night however is an experience on its own; traditional flame torches roar to the tune of the wind, as the campfire dances under an almost panoramic night sky.
Your wild dining is set up within the campsite, and meals are freshly prepared on-site by our executive chef using the freshest fruits and vegetables from the local community. Fish and meat items are purchased from local fishermen and a reputable food supplier respectively. A BBQ Dinner takes place on one night while basic à la carte meals – both Sri Lankan and Western – are served at other times.
The camp has a fully-equipped kitchen complete with modern cooling and freezing facilities. Special dietary requirements can be catered to upon prior notice. Menus are deliciously local and carefully designed for your palate, so your culinary journey complements the rest of your safari vacation adventure.
Living Experience
Explorer by Mahoora is a highly unique and immersive experience of living with untamed Sri Lankan wildlife inside National Parks and Nature Reserves across the country. Our Private Tented Safari Camp Experience in Kumana isolates you in the wetlands surrounded by a dry, tropical thorn forest.
Surrounded by 20 plus lagoons and tanks contributing to fascinating bird life, you are likely to find yourself smitten by the beauty of the park and its diversity, including safari tours for sighting the elusive leopard, the sloth bear and the elephants who roam the lands.
Your living experience within the campsite will be as exciting as your wildlife safari, as a river bath adventure in natural waters that flow through the camp itself, is part of your living space!
Accommodation
The Explorer by Mahoora Living Experience combines rustic with modern. Enjoy a spacious, safari camp tented accommodation which includes:
A fully-sealed tent (15.6”x 8”) with ventilation nets for added comfort
A cosy bedroom with mattresses and raised double beds
En-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, showering facilities using pipe-borne cold running water, and a flushable toilet
Freshly laundered bed linens and towels
Private veranda / porch outside the tent
Flashlight / torch, slippers and an umbrella
A shoe rack, 2 foldable arm-chairs and a coffee table
Unlimited glass-bottled water
Due to the nature of the jungle environment, electricity is run off the camp generator which means laptops and cameras may be charged on request in the campsite in the evenings only. There is no electricity in the tent.
Your stay with us will always be eco-friendly and carbon neutral.
Game Drives
There are 2 Sri Lanka Wildlife Safaris available each day. The early morning safari starts at 6am and ends at approximately 10am, whilst the late afternoon / sunset safari takes place from 3pm until approximately 6pm. Unlimited safaris can be arranged upon prior request for special photography / filming purposes. The aforementioned Sri Lanka safari tour times are the best viewing times for wildlife in the parks, as most animals retreat inside the forests from mid-morning until mid-afternoon.
We use special customised Mahoora jeeps with front facing, cushioned seats on three different levels* for maximum animal viewing and photography opportunities. A complimentary picnic basket with sandwiches and hot & cold beverages is provided on the morning safari, and complimentary hot & cold beverages are provided on the afternoon safari.
Ready for the best safari in Sri Lanka? Game Drives are truly unique in Kumana National Park. The mornings are filled by adrenaline-drenched jeep safaris, in which you may get an exclusive viewing of the elusive leopard or the alert sloth bear mom with her cubs – human activity in this National Park may just amount to you! There is absolutely no rush, you can relax and take ample time to enjoy the wilderness.
* A range of Mahoora Jeeps, both 2WD and 4WD are available. Depending on the National Park / Reserve and the safari routes used, the appropriate vehicle is chosen; it is not always necessary to use a 4WD vehicle. If guests require certain kinds of jeeps on special occasions such as a honeymoon safari or photography safari, prior notice must be given before confirmation of booking.
Included in your package:
A personal chef and naturalist.
All meals; breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner. This includes snacks and juices.
Experienced, uniformed, professional and discreet staff.
A wealth of knowledge backed by over 20 years of experience as pioneers in the field of operating mobile camping.
All National Park / Nature Reserve fees, trekker's fees, taxes and service charges.
A unique lunch and dinner setting within the camp area i.e. beside a river or lake, under a canopy of jungle trees, on sand islands with floating candles etc.
Atmospheric lighting with a campfire, traditional oil lamps, and hurricane lamps.
Kumana National Park Bird Sanctuary and Birdwatching in Sri Lanka
Kumana National Park spans over an area of 35,664 hectares. In the west, the park is bordered by River Kumubukkan Oya. A mangrove swamp spanning 200 hectares called “Kumana Villu” within the Park, is subject to occasional inundation with sea water. It is at this swamp that many water birds are seen nesting.
A total of 255 species of birds have been recorded in Kumana – ideal for bird watching in Sri Lanka. Besides the prolific birdlife, Kumana is also home to some of the mammals found in the neighbouring Yala National Park such as elephants and leopards. Other wildlife in Sri Lanka which reside inside the Kumana National Park include the Golden Jackal and the European Otter. It is also reported that approximately 30 to 40 Sri Lankan Elephants reside in the Park, although they do crossover to Yala.
The Park's wetland areas are surrounded by a dry zone tropical thorn forest. The inland forest's flora is dominated by Manilkara hexandra, which is known as Palu in Sinhala. There is also a range of aquatic plants, trees and reeds.
History and Geography
Kumana National Park Sri Lanka originally known as the Yala East National Park, was renamed Kumana National Park in 2006. Birders who visit the Park are usually amazed at the sheer diversity of species that call Kumana home, a fact which can be attested to by the presence of 20 lagoons and tanks. These tanks are generally less than 2 metres deep and are often flooded by seawater and frequently dot the landscape of the Park. The Kumana Bird Sanctuary, within the boundaries of the Kumana National Park, was declared a protected area in 1938, and is rated as one of the most important breeding grounds in Sri Lanka.
There are a number of places that are of interest in Kumana, including old caves and rocks that show many signs of human civilizations that are referred to in Sri Lankan History, together with folktales which have been passed down from generation to generation. The ancient cave inscriptions that have been discovered here date back to the 1st and 2nd Centuries BC.
Starting from USD 490 per person
per night (minimum 2 persons.Need to book for 2 nights minimum )
All- inclusive with 4 safaris. Special rates are available for 3 to 6 persons.
Distance from cities - by road:
Arugambay - 28.3 km - travel time: 54 minutes
Passikudah - 173.8 km - travel time:
Batticaloa - 124 km - travel time: 3 hrs 30 min
Kataragama - 166 km - travel time: 3 hrs 50 min
Ella - 161 km - travel time: 3 hrs 50 min
Udawalawe - 208 km - travel time: 4 hrs 20 min
