Explorer by Mahoora Camps -
Sinharaja
Welcome to the most authentic “roughing-it in great style” experience Sri Lanka has to offer. Your private camp in the wilderness of the borders of the Sinharaja Rain Forest, is a return to the simplicity and authenticity of rainforest 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 is 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 3 guests per campout.
With a private naturalist, chef, and camp staff, excursions can be arranged at any time, guided nature walks may be as long or as short as you choose, and adventurous experiences await.
Return to real rainforest camping
Camp on the borders of a magical 11,200 hectare rainforest that is world-famous for its bird wave, explore picturesque walking paths filled with all kinds of wildlife in Sri Lanka, cross rocky sunlit streams on afternoon excursions, get lost in dense and moody forest patches, bathe in secret waterfalls after an adventurous expedition, and explore caves while on the trail to Singhagala (Lion's Rock).
Your rainforest adventure awaits.
Living Experience
Explorer by Mahoora Safari Camp Sri Lanka is a highly unique and immersive experience of living with untamed Sri Lankan wildlife inside National Parks and Nature Reserves, or on its borders, across the country.
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve has been designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and also a Biodiversity Hotspot by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This is due to the fact that the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is not only known for bird watching in Sri Lanka; see over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees, mammals, butterflies, reptiles, insects and rare amphibian species – all in one forest!
Wake up to mornings of animated trees singing with birds, as you venture out to tick off your birder bucket list after a hot cup of tea or coffee. Enjoy evenings of brisk sunsets sped up by dense rain forest trees, and a moonlit BBQ at nightfall while you relax by the campfire with a glass of wine or local beer.
Your once-in-a-lifetime wild campout awaits.
Accommodation
The Explorer by Mahoora Living Experience combines rustic with modern. Enjoy a spacious, tented safari camp 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, a standby generator is available for charging laptops and cameras on request. There is no electricity in the tent.
Your stay with us will always be eco-friendly and carbon neutral.
Dining Experience
Fine dining on the borders of an exotic rainforest is something of a dream; tuck into bespoke fusion meals, which are deliciously local, prepared by our chef on-site, while your surroundings move, rustle, shake and sing all around you. Enjoy drinks at your very own forest BBQ dinner by the campfire, as owls hoot in the treetops surrounding you. It isn’t until you’re halfway through your meal… and you look up to watch frightened birds suddenly somersault off the treetops… that you realise you’re in the middle of an adventure.
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 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 rainforest adventure.
Walking Trails
The Ultimate Sinharaja Forest Trek: North to South
Weddagala to Lankagama via Singhagala
Total Distance: 18 – 22 km
Duration: Approx. 7 hours with overnight stay at local lodge
We take a journey through the picturesque paths and sparkling streams of Sinharaja, where placid underbrush lie in wait for the appreciation of all who wish to pander in a voyage to the serene and lush wilderness of Sri Lanka’s legendary rainforest
Dining Experience
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 Nature Reserve fees, tracker's fees, taxes and service charges.
A unique lunch and dinner setting within the camp area.
Atmospheric lighting with a campfire, traditional oil lamps, and hurricane lamps.
Sinharaja Rainforest Sri Lanka
Ideal for Bird Watching Tours Sri Lanka, there is no better place on the island for a bird enthusiast than the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. This virgin rainforest is a designated UNSECO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, due to the high degree of endemism found in the plant, bird and reptilian life that call it home. The Sinharaja Forest will leave a nature enthusiast quite bedazzled. Birders particularly will have an astonishing range of avifauna to observe.
The rare birds are the Red-faced Malkoha, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler and the White-headed Starling. The Green-billed Coucal is considered the rarest. Another interesting display is the presence of mixed species of foraging bird flocks, which is a phenomenon commonly found in rainforests. 100 flocks have been systematically observed, and studies have revealed that some flocks contained 48 species including 12 endemics.
Herpetologically, Sinharaja will not disappoint. The Green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in Sinharaja and are endemic. Other endemics include the Torrent Toad and the Common House Toad. The Wrinkled Frog and the Sri Lankan Reed Frog are also found here. Green Garden Lizards are commonly observed on nature treks. Calotes Liolepis is an arboreal species and the rarest of all agamids found on the island.
The flora of Sinharaja displays a high degree of endemism. Of the 211 woody trees and lianas identified, a staggering 139 (66 percent) are endemic to Sri Lanka. Out of the 25 ferns which are endemic to the island, 13 have been recorded in the Sinharaja Rainforest. The total vegetation density has been estimated to be around 240,000 plants per hectare.
The Sambar Deer, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Brown Mongoose and Golden Palm Civet are the mammalian species most commonly seen. The Purple-faced Leaf Monkey is virtually omnipresent as well. It is estimated that 15 Sri Lankan Leopards and a small herd of Sri Lankan Elephants also inhabit the forest, but sightings are exceedingly rare.
History & Geography
Designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and then a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Sinharaja is one of the best biodiversity hotspots in Sri Lanka. It is a frequently visited nature reserve that has a colorful mythological past.
This rainforest is intrinsically linked to the legends of the first Sri Lankans; in fact the name Sinharaja derives from the Sinhalese ‘kingdom of the lion’. It is said that the Sinhalese race was born out of the union of the princess and the lion king and it is believed that they had lived in Sinharaja itself.
The forest covers an area of approximately 11,200 hectares, measuring 21 kilometres from east to west, and from north to south is just less than four kilometres. The Sinharaja Rainforest is situated in the Southwest Lowland Wet Zone of Sri Lanka and the elevation ranges from 200 to 1,300 metres. It is noted for being a habitat for 95 percent of the endemic birds found in Sri Lanka.
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:
Colombo - 171.9 km - travel time: 4 hrs 20 minutes
Galle - 93.4 km - travel time: 2 hrs 33 mins
Kataragama - 128.5 km - travel time: 3 hrs 35 mins
Ella - 156.6 km - travel time: 4 hrs 30 mins
Udawalawe - 72.5 km - travel time: 2 hrs 14 mins
