Big Game - Wilpattu by Eco Team

Exceptional staff offer first-class service. Luxurious, spacious tents with ensuite facilities. Delicious Sri Lankan breakfast. Convenient for national park safaris.

Unfortunately, our stay was a major disappointment. The location itself is not bad, but I was expecting something more immersed in nature. Apart from the tents, it’s not very different from other small hotels or eco-resorts we have visited in Sri Lanka. The tents are old and poorly maintained, although the bed sheets were reasonably clean. I suspect that those staying in the luxury tents have a completely different experience. I hadn’t even realised there was the option of a different type of tent, as they are listed under another name, Mahoora. We weren’t looking for luxury, but at least for tents in decent condition. Instead, ours had holes and gaps everywhere, allowing animals to get in. When I pulled down the bathroom curtain to take a shower, a mouse fell on me. We like being in nature—we have slept in tents in the jungle with no comforts before—but those were not called “glamping” and, while simple, they were in good condition. Here, despite a kind staff member closing some of the holes, the mouse must have stayed inside, as we kept finding fresh droppings on the toilet each day. The managers seemed utterly uninterested—if you don’t have a luxury tent, you are treated like a second-class guest. Still, for what is meant to be a 3-star experience, the bare minimum should be simple but well-kept tents. The food was also of poor quality. The morning tour to Wilpattu was another disappointment. Some guests had an excellent guide, but ours was far from it—he spoke very little, limiting himself to a couple of facts such as the park’s surface area and the number of animals, occasionally naming a few birds. Perhaps with a higher-category tent and a bit of luck on the tour, the experience would have been different. However, we could not overlook the indifference of the management—though I must say that some members of the staff were kind and helpful.

11/10 hands down the most amazing experience of our Sri Lanka trip. Cannot recommend enough Big Game. The staff were out of this world kind and constantly making sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. The food was fantastic and they easily accommodated for vegetarian. Safari was full of information as were the daily nature and night walks around camp. Big thanks to Thalina, Tharaka, Indunil, Kesara, Chanaka and to everyone else who made our stay so memorable.