The
Ibis
Lodge Wilpattu
“Where your feet may leave but not your heart…”
The Ibis, a tranquil exclusive private property envelops you in the absolute peace and serenity of rural Sri Lanka. Overlooking a beautiful lake, cosily nestled amidst lush greenery, The Ibis will awaken all your senses to an experience like no other. The twittering of the birds by day, chirping crickets at night, combined with starry skies will make you feel at one with nature bringing inner peace and serenity
“Where your feet may leave but not your heart…”
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stay here! - Another remarkable labor of love. Great setting, lovely meals outside, first rate service, fun tractor pull tour, excellent day spent in park on safari. Owners and staff are wonderful. ... read more Very personal and special. Highly recommend!
March 30, 2023 -
A Fabulous place to stay - We stayed at the Ibis whilst visiting Wilpattu game park. What a fabulous location. The staff couldn't have been more attentive and the food was wonderful to - don't hesitate... read more to book it really is a wonderful place.
January 18, 2023 -
Patricia y Mateo - It was our first destination on our honeymoon and it couldn't have been better. I am writing this after 8 days in Sri Lanka and I can assure you that... read more it oozed peace, that it is the best place we have eaten as it was excellently prepared local food and that the warmth with which we have been treated is incomparable to any other hotel we have been to.
We can only be grateful to the establishment and can assure that on our next visit to Sri Lanka, which we are sure will happen, this hotel will be our first choice. Total disconnection and familiar treatment. What can I say: 100% recommendable.
Thank you so much!
August 30, 2022 -
Wilpattu - The lovely ibis is my favourite place to stay when visiting the wilpattu National park. Setting is awesome and the staff are excellent looking after your every need and very... read more knowledgable. The food is all local produce much of it grown on the property and was delicious. The birds are all around you and you feel very close to nature in this eco lodge. This was my 3rd time staying here and the friends I took also loved it would highly recommend.
February 15, 2023 -
Fabulous eco lodge, like a family - We loved every minute of our stay at this gem of a place. The setting is beautiful and peaceful, the eco pool was so relaxing, and evenings sat on the... read more verandah gazing into the distance, on the edge of Wilpattu Park, were spectacular. But what made this stay really special was the warm, family atmosphere. We felt welcomed into the heart of the family in this eco lodge. Everyone was so welcoming. So many thoughtful touches to make us feel at home. This was our favourite place to stay on our whole trip and I would love to return one day. Thank you for making our stay with you so special.
January 15, 2023 -
Great wildlife, food and welcome - What a great place this is! We went there as a base for visiting Wilpattu Park but really it is a special venue in itself and worth spending time there... read more as well as Wilpattu. Its location by its own water lily lake is magical. The wildlife is great with a different range of water and woodland birds to Wilpattu. The staff are lovely and very welcoming. The owner is passionate about both the wildlife and the local ecology of his hotel. He also aims to get his food supplies locally and conjured up the best meals we ate during our three week trip to Sri Lanka. We will return.
Jo & Steve S
March 21, 2022 -
An unforgettable stay - There simply aren't enough words to describe how perfect our stay with Jeeves and Shervonne was. We spent 2 nights here during our honeymoon and wish we could have stayed... read more longer!
The setting is absolutely stunning - we stayed in the treehouse, which we would wholly recommend for a truly unique experience. Waking up in the treetops with views over the lake was just magical - and yet you still have all the comforts you need (including a very comfortable bed). We loved enjoying a cold beer on our balcony, or in the organic swimming pool after a hot day on safari.
The food is incredible - so fresh and authentic, without doubt the best food we had during our whole trip. No two meals were ever the same! We really appreciated Jeeves taking the time to explain the different dishes to us, and how to eat them.
But what made our stay really unforgettable is the warmth and hospitality of our hosts and the whole Ibis team. Shervonne was so helpful in the run up to our trip, giving us lots of tips and advice. She arranged a safari jeep and naturalist for us to visit Wilpattu national park. We were lucky enough to see 4 leopards, as well as elephants, buffalo, deer, and many other birds and wildlife. We have heard really mixed reviews about some of the other national parks in Sri Lanka so we were really glad we made the decision to come to Wilpattu.
And Jeeves was the most gracious host, taking excellent care of us throughout our stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our conversations - and it was such a happy surprise to see you both again in Galle!
Finally, we loved the whole ethos at the Ibis - employing people from the local village, and investing profits back into the community as much as possible.
The Ibis Wilpattu was one of the highlights of our trip and we will definitely be back one day. If you are considering this place, just book it - you will not regret it!
May 22, 2022 -
We've spent 2 nights in this lodge. It was really à heaven on Earth ! Very near to the town but when you are there you have the feeling that... read more you are in the middle of nowhere. Nature is preserved and we did 2 night walks trying to see the loris. No loris unfortunately but our stay was very peaceful. Shervonne and all the stuff were so kind and friendly. Food very good as well. I can only recommend this lodge.
April 16, 2023 -
Loved it! - Fabulous place. Small, relatively simple, comfortable and in the most idyllic spot. Absolutely delicious food served under the stars with a fire blazing nearby. Shuvonne is fabulous hostess. We had... read more a fascinating tour of the "gardens" - more like a smallholding with visiting elephants. Loved it. A very special place.
April 10, 2023 -
An Absolute Dream - We stayed here in January, 2021.
An absolute dream of a place, in the most wonderful location. Set in extensive grounds right by its own lake surrounded with... read more fabulous flora and fauna.
Nothing is too much trouble for Shervonne and her always smiling, helpful and efficient team, from welcome drinks, really fabulous home cooked Sri Lankan food with spice levels adjusted to our taste and very welcome snacks and drinks supplied picnic style for Wilpattu safaris.
Rooms and bathrooms are huge, spotless, air conditioned and minimally furnished which is absolutely ideal. We slept like babies on the massive, comfortable bed without any fears at all of uninvited guests!!!
The Ibis is under 30 mins from Wilpattu gates which makes it absolutely the best place to stay for visiting the best wildlife park in Sri Lanka. In hindsight, I wish we’d spent at least one more night here to explore the grounds and the nature around it more, rather than just using it as a hotel from which to visit Wilpattu because it really is an absolute haven for birdlife particularly.
Shervonne is hugely knowledgeable and has fluent English. We wish we’d also met her apparently avuncular husband Jeevika but he was reluctantly having to spend a short time in Colombo whilst we were there - maybe next time
February 12, 2022