Cinnamon Wild Yala is a 4-star lodge accommodation located in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Sitting amidst the lush jungle and with easy access to the beach, it’s a natural haven for those wanting the explore Yala National Park.
Personally, this is the destination in Sri Lanka that I was most looking forward to, and it didn’t disappoint.
The resort’s unspoiled beauty spans 10 acres of forest and coastline, where comfortable chalet lodgings are located, and where wildlife roams freely – from monkeys to elephants and exotic birds.
Cinnamon Wild Yala was designed to blend with its surroundings and showcase a rustic splendor, resembling a game lodge. Indigenous artwork and locally-made furnishings adorn the reception and the chalets, providing a warm and cozy atmosphere.
The hotel features a variety of amenities, such as a swimming pool with incredible views and a rooftop bar. The resort also prides itself in the sheer number of adventures it offers, which range from safaris to exotic dining experiences.
In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive Cinnamon Wild Yala Review, complete with my personal opinion on the stay and the facilities provided.
Book your stay at Cinnamon Wild Yala on THEIR WEBSITE
THE LOCATION
Cinnamon Wild Tala is located in the Southern Province, on the shores of the Indian Ocean. It sits just on the outskirts of the Yala National Park, merely a 10-minute drive from the entrance.
Trust me, this is a huge plus when you’re going on a sunrise safari! Most other hotels are located in the closest town, a 40-minute drive to the park.
From Colombo International Airport, where you’ll probably land, it’s a 4.5-hour drive if you’re coming straight from the airport (although I suggest stopping at least in Galle, a fortified seaside city built by the Portuguese). You can book a transfer online or ask the resort to book one for you.
THE ROOMS
There are 68 rooms at Cinnamon Wild Yala, designed rustically by a local artist to blend with the natural, wild surroundings. They cover an area of 355 ft² and are divided into two categories: Jungle Chalets and Beach Chalets.
We stayed in a Jungle Chalet, which is completely immersed in nature. It features a king-sized bed with a mosquito net, although twin beds can be requested instead. There’s a seating area, a working desk, and a fully-equipped bathroom with toiletries, a hair dryer, and a huge shower.
The accommodation offers a good range of amenities, including a tea and coffee-maker, a safety box, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a minibar, and a closet.
There’s also a veranda with outdoor furniture that overlooks the lush jungle, from where wild animal sightings can be enjoyed. I really felt like I was in a safari lodge.
The Beach Chalets sit on stilts in an elevated position, overlooking the sea. They’re accessed via a wooden stairway and have a private balcony with furnishings where guests can relax and enjoy the views. This seems the perfect accommodation for couples and honeymooners.
The chalets are equipped with a spacious wooden bedroom, fitted with a king-sized bed, a desk, a TV, and seating furniture. They also feature a full bathroom with complimentary toiletries.
It boasts the same amenities as the Jungle Chalet, complete with laundry services, and ironing facilities upon request. Free wifi is available in all the lodgings, and there’s the option to add an extra bed if needed.
Book your stay at Cinnamon Wild Yala on THEIR WEBSITE or on BOOKING.COM
AMENITIES & ACTIVITIES
My favorite amenity at Cinnamon Wild Yala is a large outdoor swimming pool with great views. It features shallow areas to make it kid-friendly, and it’s surrounded by sun loungers.
The coolest part about this pool is that it’s located in front of a lake where you can often spot crocodiles, elephants, and buffaloes. Imagine being on your lounger, sipping on a fresh coconut, and spotting elephants right there!
You’re really in the wild when you stay at Cinnamon Wild Yala, which is what makes it so special in my experience. Once in a while, wild animals will come to the resort itself, which is why after dark you’re required to call for an escort if you want to go to the bar or the restaurants.
The hotel also features a great range of adventures that can be booked at the reception, including safaris and nature walks, which will introduce you to the local flora and fauna with an expert. I’ll talk more in-depth about this below.
On top of safaris, diving enthusiasts might enjoy diving at the Great Basses Reef Lighthouse, swimming among lost ships and treasures from the Mughal Empire. There are a few other activities to immerse yourself in local life, such as spending a morning with a dairy farmer and learning about their livelihood.
Furthermore, the resort can be booked for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and bridal showers.
THE SAFARI EXPERIENCE
Cinnamon Wild Yala is home to incredible wildlife, but one of its major draws is its closeness to the actual Yala National Park. The park is a protected area, covering close to 130 thousand hectares of land, grasslands, and lagoons.
Yala is best known for having the largest density of leopards in the world, so seeing one – or a few – during your visit is not guaranteed, but it’s quite common.
Over two days, we spotted two leopards, although they were on a tree and too far away for me to photograph. My friend Dylan, though, who went the previous week, managed to see and capture some incredible images of the leopards much closer!
Aside from leopards, you’ll have the opportunity to come across some of the 44 other mammals that inhabit Yala National Park, as well as over 200 species of birds. Elephants, wild boars, deer, crocodiles, sloth bears, monitor lizards, wild peacocks, buffalos, and monkeys are just a few of them.
The resort organizes private safaris to explore the National Park and get up close to its creatures responsibly, and safely. The park is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM, and you can book a safari for an entire day, or opt for a half-day experience, either at sunrise or in the afternoon.
We were lucky enought to experience both the morning and the afternoon safari, and I wouldn’t be able to say which one is “better”. I personally loved the experience of driving through the park at sunrise, but it’s also true that we managed to spot more animals during our afternoon safari, including the very rare sloth bear.
However, that is a matter of luck! You could be lucky and see everything there is to see in one time, or you could enjoy multiple safaris without ever spotting a leopard. But you’ll still see plenty of elephants and other beautiful animals. Remember that this is a park where wildlife roam freely, not a zoo!
The safari sets off from the hotel, and is led by an expert who’ll help you spot and learn about the birds, vegetation, and animals you encounter.
Here for multiple nights? Bird lovers might also enjoy an excursion to the Bundala National Park, where large flocks of hundreds of bird species migrate in the winter.
And if you haven’t had enough of elaphants at Yala, Cinnamon Wild Yala can organize an excursion to Udawalawe National Park where 600 to 700 elephants live.
I didn’t have time to get to Udawalawe (although I visited Minneriya National Park in north central Sri Lanka, which is also famous for the elephants), but I did see the bottle feeding at the Elephant Transit Home by Udawalawe and it was so cute!
This center takes care of orphaned elephants and visitors can see baby and toddler elephants being fed milk a few times every day. You can’t get too close to them, but seeing them from the bleachers was lots of fun.
NATURE WALKS
On top of the typical safari by jeep, guests can go on a nature walk around the resort area accompanied by a naturalist guide. This is a very affordable experience (12 USD per person at the time of writing) and I highly recommend every guest to take advantage of it.
Since the resort is so close to the national park, it’s possible to encounter plenty of wildlife just outside the resort gates. We encountered crocodiles and a wild elephant while walking around. Remember, it’s very important to follow the naturalist’s directions as these are wild animals!
Gayan, our guide, also showed us the coastal area behind the resort. Here you’ll find sand dunes directly by the sea, a breathtaking landscape at golden hour. We played like kids running down the dunes, it was so much fun!
THE FOOD
Tuskers is the main restaurant at the resort, surrounded by lush vegetation as it stands on an elevated position, above the reception area.
It features a deck for al fresco dining, and it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a buffet style, offering both Sri Lankan and international cuisine. We were on a full-board basis and we had our meals here.
There are also two bars where you can go for cocktails and nibbles: Peacock Bar, located on the rooftop, and Pugmarks, the à la carte bar and restaurant right by the reception.
The staff will be happy to organize a special dining experience to treat your loved one, such as a champagne breakfast. In a beautiful setting by the property’s lake, sip champagne and enjoy a delectable breakfast prepared just for you.
You could otherwise have dinner in the wild, overlooking the lagoon and the animals that reach its shores for a drink. The team organized such a dinner for us and Saman, the dinner experience manager, went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the setup, the food and the drinks.
We had a 3-course dinner which included appetizer, main, and dessert, but guests can also opt for 4- and 5-course meals.
This experience is called dinner in the wild for a reason. We dined by the shores of the lagoon, where three crocodiles were laying just a few meters from us!
SUSTAINABILITY
Cinnamon is a corporate entity brand with several hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, including Cinnamon Wild Yala. The brand is committed to sustainable practices that positively impact the community, guests, and employees, as well as caring for the environment:
- Its major initiatives focus on effective waste management, water conservation, energy efficiency, and the protection of biodiversity.
- Among the eco efforts of Cinnamon Wild Yala is the use of a bio-gas digester to convert food waste into a source of renewable energy, reducing the hotel’s carbon footprint.
- There are control systems in place to prevent the wastage of water during power cuts, and wastewater is recycled and reused for gardening and washing.
The Cinnamon Brand also carries out various projects to preserve the local wildlife, supporting conservation research on species such as sperm whales, elephants, and leopards:
- The Elephant Project aims to develop better elephant tourism practices that are sustainable and actually beneficial for the animals.
- Project Leopard is a dual program that protects the farmers’ cattle from the leopards, ensuring their livelihood, while safeguarding the big cats that live in the boundaries of the parks.
- The launch of Cinnamon Nature Trails, which are guided experiences led by expert naturalists, ensure that guests at the resort get to know about the land’s bio-diversity and flora & fauna.
Cinnamon Hotels is also committed to child protection and human rights and engaging the local community to provide them with better opportunities.
RATES
Rates for Cinnamon Wild Yala start at 253 USD per night for two adults. Prices depend on the season and availability so they can vary depending on the dates of your trip.
Breakfast, half board, and full board can be included when booking your stay.
Book your stay at Cinnamon Wild Yala on THEIR WEBSITE or on BOOKING.COM
I received a complimentary stay in exchange for this review, but if you know me, you’ll know that I say it as it is!
