Gal Oya Lodge

Gal Oya Lodge was a fantastic start to our trip. The Lodge is truly in the wilderness, situated at the base of monkey mountain and surrounded by lakes, forest and farmland. From the lodge, nature walks (mostly birds but occasionally elephants too) can be taken, or a steep hike up the Monkey Mountain for the fitter (took us roughly 1hr 20 and was not easy). You will need a guide for both of these, and we recommend Raji, a softly spoken, incredibly knowledgeable naturist who clearly loves the area and the wildlife. The water safari is their most famous activity and it was fantastic, and very safe. He also arranged for a fantastic 'jungle cooking class', where a local villager showed us how to cook and eat without anything other than local ingredients from the area, some clay and some cow dung. All the staff for that matter were fantastic; nothing was too much trouble, and the lodge was very safe and secure from wildlife. The staff were all knowledge, attentive and charming - a delight to be around. The lodge is exceptionally peaceful with a picturesque pool as it's centrepiece, making it a great escape from the busier beach resorts. There are not many rooms, only two other couples were there with us. The rooms and central building are beautifully crafted from local wood and thatched grass. The food is outstanding, all grown on site. Particularly recommend the breakfast granola and house curries. 2 days enough to experience the place.