Flameback Eco Lodge

We only stayed one night in this fabulous place but wish we had longer - it really excelled in all areas especially warmth and hospitality! The food was the best we tasted in 6 different 5-star accommodations in Sri Lanka, and they arranged a special cake for us as it was our honeymoon! We also really liked the ambiance of the Skylark restaurant where we ate - there was beautiful lighting and soft music in the evening which was lacking from other hotels. The lodges were beautifully appointed (great air con, comfy bed, shower and toilet facilities), very luxurious and the view over the lake in the morning was stunning. We took the opportunity for an early morning swim in the lovely pool and just listening to the birds over the lake was magical. Thank you to all the staff for making it one of the best places we’ve stayed!

The Flameback Eco Lodge is a small resort at the lake. A lot of beautiful birds you see already at the hotel. The staff is really friendly. It is a perfect location for some calm days. With the camping feeling and the tents you feel no need to hurry or reserve anything. If you come late from the safari and the breakfast time is over they serve you a proper breakfast. And the Entrance for the Yala West National Park is only an hour drive away and professional ranger from the hotel show you everything in the park.

A very enjoyable stay. The staff were extremely pleasant and very accommodating. Food was fantastic too. I would certainly recommend staying there but it is a distance from Yala National Park. Staying in a luxury tent was quite an experience and not to be missed.

This was excellent accommodation. I was a little worried when we booked as I have Crohn's and bathroom facilities and a fridge for medication was important. They we brilliant from start to finish. Service was great staff very friendly and happy. Food was excellent. Tents had everything you need from robes to hairdryers. Location was also stunning lots of birds. Large pool.

Wonderful location full of wildlife. Excellent staff who couldn’t be any more helpful. Did the bird walk on the first evening which was excellent - the guide provided binoculars and was very knowledgeable. Tents were extremely comfortable - excellent aircon, very comfortable bed. Good shower and toilet area at the back of the tent, all tiled. Pool extremely clean and fresh. Food good and reasonably priced. Couple of ******* - the coffee was dreadful and was basic instant unlike all the other places we’ve stayed in Sri Lanka where they had good fresh coffee in the restaurants at least; also it would have been nice to have a small fridge in the tent - there was plenty of room for one; quite a few stray dogs wandering about the ecolodge and on the tent decking when you wake up in the morning - they were fine nature wise but if you are nervous of dogs they are always there and tend to follow you around rather. There was quite a lot of loud music from the hotel next door on one night but it ended about 11pm so not too bad. Other than that an excellent location for a couple of miles nights and really good location for Yala Safari Park.

What can I say other than truly excellent! We stayed for two nights towards the end of February and we were sad to leave. I would not hesitate to recommend or return to Flameback. We chose Flameback as it was a smaller hotel, and felt more local than the big hotel complexes nearby. We also wanted to experience the Safari/tent accommodation. The resort has three wild dogs there, who mainly slept under the trees in the shade, but came and greeted guests with a friendly face, wagging their tails. They were very friendly and we really enjoyed having them there, one even snoozed on our porch one morning. Staff and Service The team at Flameback made our staff memorable. With only a small team we felt like we were part of the Flameback Family and they could not have done anything more for us. Ahead of our trip, correspondents with the hotel receptionist was quick and easy, she arranged transportation to and from the hotel plus our itinerary for the 2.5 days we were there ; this included two half day safari’s and a cooking demonstration with lunch. Upon our arrival we received a warm welcome, with a cool towel and welcome drink. After a short initial look around the reserve we were taken to out tent, our bags were already there when we arrived. The hotel staff were just fabulous, each team member did their job exceptionally well and make us feel like special guests. No requests was too much and the chef even kindly made me their Sri Lankan Prawn dish for dinner one even, which was outside of the set dinner menu. Our waiters were extremely personable and we looked forward to seeing them for breakfast and dinner. Our safari guide and driver were fabulous, incredible knowledgeable and also very respectful to the animals, not crowding around like other jeeps did! I can honestly say, the service we received and how the team treat their guests is exceptional! You can tell they have so much pride in their jobs. Food We ate at the resort each evening; there was a set menu for $20 and it was delicious! Breakfast was included and we received fresh fruit, fruit juice, coffee, pastries and a cooked opinion (many choices on offer). All was cooked well and tasted very good. The chef came to introduce himself and check all was well, which was a nice touch. The food was excellent! The setting for dinner was also lovely, lots of candles and soft music. The perfect way to unwind at the end a busy day. Accommodation and amenities We stayed in one of the deluxe tents, which we really enjoyed. It was the perfect size and decorated tasteful, in keeping with the surroundings. -Each tent had a working toilet, air-con and shower with both hot and cold water! -The bed was very comfortable with nice pillows and lovely soft linen. -Towels, robes, hairdryer and toiletries were provided -there was amble space to hang or fold your clothes. -the tent also came with a secure safety deposit box and a lock and key. -Drinking water was provide

Flameback Eco Lodge was a wonderful experience. The luxury rented accommodations are set on the edge of a very scenic and tranquil lake and the grounds are very serene and well tended. The staff was extremely attentive and friendly and we felt well taken care of. It’s a short drive to the main gate of Yala National Park and also a short tuk tuk ride away to lively local markets where we saw no tourists and got to interact with local stall holders and sellers as well as curious shoppers. Highly recommend.

A truly incredible experience The „tents“ are so well equipped with flush toilet shower and air conditioning Sited right on a lake. We did a brilliant village tour learning about how locals live, learnt how curd is made and enjoyed a safari with a knowledgeable guide Food and atmosphere wonderful

Small tented ecolodge near causeway but we were not troubled by traffic noise. Comfortable beds, effective air con and powerful shower. A number of easily rectified issues. 1. Service hit and miss 2. Broken chairs on verandah 3. Broken sun loungers of which there are only four 4. On return from safari would be good to be met with cold wet towel 5. Inadequate lighting in bedroom 6. No offer of Towels being replaced 7. More charging points e.g an extension lead 8. Dinner menu choice ordered at lunchtime on one occasion they had forgotten and served wrong meal. Sri Lankan food good Good location for Bundala and Katharagama