Set deep within the wilds of Kumana National Park, Kumana Under Canvas offers an intimate, off-grid safari experience, combining expert guiding, simple comforts and rare seclusion in one of Sri Lanka’s least-visited reserves.
Highlights
A quieter, more exclusive alternative to Yala, with significantly fewer visitors.
Exceptional birdwatching, particularly during migratory seasons.
Diverse landscapes of lagoons, wetlands, and forest creating varied safari experiences.
A truly off-the-beaten-track destination for adventurous and repeat travellers.
Hidden on the remote eastern edge of Sri Lanka, Kumana Under Canvas is not a lodge in the traditional sense, but a beautifully executed mobile safari camp that moves lightly through the landscape. Positioned deep within the wilds of Kumana National Park, this is a place where the rhythm of nature dictates your stay, far removed from the crowds and constraints of more commercial safari destinations.
Accommodation is deliberately understated yet thoughtfully curated, with spacious canvas tents featuring proper beds, solar-powered lighting and simple en suite facilities. Lanterns flicker as night falls, and the sounds of the jungle, cicadas, bird calls and distant wildlife, create an atmospheric backdrop that no luxury hotel could replicate. Days unfold at a gentle safari pace, with early morning and late afternoon game drives led by expert guides who bring the landscape to life. Kumana is renowned for its rich biodiversity, from elephant and crocodile to elusive leopard, alongside extraordinary birdlife drawn to its lagoons and wetlands. With far fewer visitors than neighbouring parks, sightings here feel intimate, unhurried and deeply rewarding. Back at camp, dining is a highlight, whether it’s Sri Lankan curries cooked over open flames or barbecue dinners under a canopy of stars. Evenings are spent around the fire, sharing stories of the day’s sightings, before retreating to your tent for a night immersed in the wild. Kumana Under Canvas is best suited to those seeking a raw yet refined safari experience, where the luxury lies not in excess, but in exclusivity, authenticity and a genuine connection to nature.When to visit
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Enquire NowLocated on Sri Lanka’s remote southeast coast, Kumana National Park sits adjacent to Yala but offers a far more peaceful and untouched safari setting.
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