Location

Aanawila is a simple wildlife bungalow with a prime position barely 1km from the entrance to Wilpattu National Park. Set amidst lush tropical wilderness in a sparsely-populated and beautiful part of the island, this is a nature lovers’ dream. Wilpattuis slightly more than 2 hours from the airport, with Anuradhapura a further 1.5 hours.

Why you should book with us

Aanawila has been designed by Sri Lanka’s iconic landscape artist and architect, LakiSenanayake, as an eco-friendly bungalow. The bungalow is constructed out of old wooden railway sleepers and has half walls throughout allowing the tropical breeze to flow through. Guests can choose to sleep in one of two bedrooms or in the upstairs lounge area which is fitted with mattresses and mosquito nets. Nature lovers will be thrilled with the open-sided lounge where the sound of crickets lull you to sleep and bird chatter wakes you up at dawn in time for your safari into the Wilpattu park. The picturesque woodlands of Wilpattu are at the doorstep here and be prepared for the occasional frog indoors or even a wild elephant roaming about in the gardens. Aanawila can accommodate upto eight guests comfortably and is rented on a bungalow only or full-board basis.

There is a double room on the ground floor furnished with a double bed and a twin room on the upper floor. Both have attached bathrooms with outdoor showers. The upstairs lounge is fitted with a large L shaped polished cement platform that can be arranged with eight single mattresses and mosquito nets. Red Dot recommends sleeping in the lounge area where it is much cooler.

The ground floor has a living area furnished with comfortable recliners and planters’ chairs; dining area with a 10-seater dining table; and a small pantry. Upstairs consists of a lounge and open air terrace. Anawila has a cook who will prepare traditional Sri Lankan rice and curries, simple western dishes, or a BBQ. Meals are prepared with village vegetables and locally purchased produce. Aanawila does not have grid electricity, but ample solar powered lights and a gas refrigerator are available. A man made waterhole in the gardens attracts plenty of wildlife including deer, wild boar and the occasional elephant. Aanawila is a bird watchers paradise with over 100 species that have been recorded in the surrounding area.

The best time for a jeep safari into the Wilpattu park is at dawn when the birds and animals are more visible. A game safari can also be done in the afternoon starting at about 3.00pm. Red Dot can pre-arrange a safari jeep to pick you up at Aanawila and be at the park entrance by 6.00 am. The excursion will normally take upto three hours, accompanied by a wildlife tracker. Wilpattu is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka and covers an area of about 130,000 hectares that stretches from the north-west coast to the north-central province. The park consists of many lakes called ‘villu’ surrounded by grassy plains and scrub jungle. The wilderness here is home to the elusive leopard, sloth bear, water buffalo, spotted deer and numerous species of birds.

• General
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• Food
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• Service
  65%
• Room
  81%
• Location
  69%

Important note on prices : Red Dot prices include all government taxes and service charges. Some properties and websites exclude these charges from their direct quotes, which adds 24-26 per cent to your bill, so please check carefully before booking. Red Dot also guarantees to beat any lower published prices from other agents. Some property owners also request that we do not display our prices online. Please ask us for a quote - and tell us if we do not offer the best value.

Why you should book with us