Accommodation
Cinnamon Wild Yala
Overview
Named as a tribute to the surrounding milieu of the Yala National Park which houses the highest density of leopards in Asia, Cinnamon Wild Yala sits adjacent to the park boundary and could very rightfully be positioned as an extension of the park. A property that was first established in 2002 as an eco-friendly resort for wildlife enthusiasts visiting the Yala National Park, Cinnamon Wild Yala opened its doors after an extensive re-construction and refurbishment as a world-class game lodge, conceptualizing the unique architectural features of the ‘Wild’ into its rustic exteriors and luxurious interiors.
Location
Cinnamon Wild Yala sits adjacent to the park boundary and could very rightfully be positioned as an extension of the park. A property that was first established in 2002 as an eco-friendly resort for wildlife enthusiasts visiting the Yala National Park, Cinnamon Wild Yala opened its doors after an extensive re-construction and refurbishment as a world-class game lodge, conceptualizing the unique architectural features of the ‘Wild’ into its rustic exteriors and luxurious interiors.
Available services
The main restaurant offers a variety of both Eastern and Western delicacies. The main bar faces the villu, where guests could enjoy their favorite local or international beverage over a friendly conversation and also offers a range of snacks and fresh fruit juices. The observation deck bar situated on the top floor of the hotel not only offers drinks to quench one’s thirst, it also offers a 360° view of the forest and the Indian Ocean.
Designed to four star accommodation standards, the chalets are spacious and enjoy an almost 360 degree view of scrub jungle, located well away from the public spaces to give ample privacy but nevertheless in close proximity for fellowship and gatherings if needed. The rustic luxury of the well-appointed rooms will surely transcend your expectations and many lucky visitors have seen leopards on the rocks which border the hotel
Activities & Highlights
THREE LAKES
Take an early morning walk along the bund of the Yoda Wewa , a vast expanse of dry zone low land which was converted into a water retention facility by the Ruhuna Royalty in the past. The tank supports a diverse eco system which includes a variety of birds such as Cottage Pygmy Geese, Cormorants, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Egrets and Kingfishers.
Next, visit the TissaWewa to peek into the livelihoods of the fruit sellers and the fishermen followed by a visit to a pottery house. Flying Foxes, Reed Birds are among the feathered friends you may encounter.
The final stop will be the DebaraWewa , where you can experience more birds, butterflies and dragonflies after which this awakening journey with the birds, village life and history comes to an end.
Your packed breakfast will be ready at the time of departure from the hotel in order to be at the lake as its inhabitants awaken screeching and celebrating the dawn of a new day. Indulge in the freshly cooked breakfast by the wayside in the cool shade of a Margosa tree, whiffing in the aroma of village life by the paddy fields.
NATURE WALKS
Meet our naturalists to help you walk through a nature trail along the hotel premises to discover all the mystical creatures and breathtaking views that is available just around you. You can trek the unpaved gravel paths around the lake and scrub forest to come across a variety of birds and animals and even climb down the great dunes to head towards the beach that protected this location from the Tsunami and meet some sea crabs that scurry along near your feet.
A variety of birds, Mammals and Reptiles are among the many species you will cross paths with during this nature trek. If you are one of the few lucky guests, you may even be able to spot a leopard on the hotel rock which is about 400m away from the hotel.
REDISCOVER YALA NIGHTS
Our team at Cinnamon Nature Trails has created a ground-breaking excursion in Sri Lanka to offer you a jeep safari even late at night. The experience of conducting night safaris have been acquired by the work carried out by our team together with National Geographic in the recent past. We have worked on documentaries conducted by National Geographic on leopards of Yala.
This includes a mini night safari along the forest roads outside the National Park, using infrared technology. Night vision goggles are used to look in to the wild at night like a Leopard, with true night vision ability. The use of special infrared vision is to ensure that the wildlife will not be disturbed by the use of artificial lights, hence reducing our environmental footprint.
Discover what walks by your room at night and freeze the nocturnal intruders on camera with the help of our naturalists.
REDISCOVER WILDLIFE – JEEP SAFARI
It is said that Yala Block I could be home to the densest population of Leopards in the world while it is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka.
Yala is also a great destination to observe over 215 species of dry zone birds including the migrant waders. Among Yala’s 44 plus mammals, the Prince of Cats still steals the limelight as the star attraction. Track these sleek cats with the unmatched skills of Cinnamon Nature Trails naturalists and photograph what is truly wild ad free.
Along with the leopards, the jungle offers other wildlife such as the Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Jackals, and Mugger Crocodiles among many other mammals and over 220 bird species. A safari to Yala National Park is a memorable and exciting experience as majestic as its star attraction; The Leopard.
