Elegant Lake Yala Safari House

This was the best hotel I've had in Sri Lanka! Randy and his wife welcomed us with a really nice drink and some local snacks. After that he showed us our room Which was really big and really really clean. After freshing up randy showed us the surrounding area in his tuktuk and he even gave me his scooter for free. He explained a lot about the area and it's history and also showed us the bats that where leaving at night. All in all I can only repeat myself: this was the best hotel I had in Sri lanka !

Our stay at Elegant Lake House in Sri Lanka was truly unforgettable, without a doubt the highlight of our entire trip. From the moment we arrived, Randy and his family welcomed us with such warmth that it immediately felt like coming home. Their hospitality goes far beyond what you would normally expect. Randy does everything he can to make sure his guests feel comfortable, relaxed, and part of the family. One of the most special experiences was the free tour Randy gave us. For nearly two hours, he showed us around the area, sharing fascinating stories, local insights, and special things we would never have discovered on our own. It was both fun and enriching. He even arranged transportation in the most memorable way. My wife and I rode with him in his tuk-tuk, while our son and his girlfriend followed on his scooter. It made the whole experience feel adventurous and personal. Randy also drove us to a restaurant about 15 minutes away and picked us up afterwards, completely free of charge. That level of care and generosity is rare. The most touching moment came on the second day, which happened to be our son’s 24th birthday. We had brought some balloons, and the family decorated everything early in the morning. But they went even furthe. Randy’s wife baked a beautiful and delicious birthday cake with his name and age on it. It was such a heartfelt surprise, and we will never forget it. The rooms themselves are perfect, very spacious, clean, and comfortable, with a amazing bathroom that feels luxurious. If you are visiting Sri Lanka, this is more than just a place to stay. It’s an experience filled with kindness, authenticity, and unforgettable memories. We can seriously say this was the best stop of our entire journey.

I stayed at this accommodation, a small inn built on the grounds of a private home just outside of Tissamaharama, fronting Lake Debarawewa. The inn is run by Randy and his wife Teshara. They have 4 guest rooms- 2 with a bit of a lake view and the other two facing the back and have a garden view. As I was a bit late in booking, I had a garden view room. This was one of my nicest stays in Sri Lanka, not because of the room but because of the fantastic hospitality of the host family. I was lucky enough to arrive before sunset and Randy took me and two other guests on a tour along the lake, padi fields and to see the bats. Before we even got to the bats, we got to see so many kinds of birds and learnt about the village. Even got to see fishermen and buffaloes. Then we reached the bat tree and waited for sunset, for them to start flying. What an amazing spectacle! I saw more in 1 hr than on the safari!! In the front garden, there are two bird feeder tables where Randy puts fruit to attract the animals. I was again lucky and saw a huge hornbill enjoying the fruit as well as green parrots and squirrels. A lovely sight. The next day after my safari, I was served some Sri Lankan treats and later, because I was curious, Teshara showed me the private section of their garden with various spice trees. Ha, ha, I got my spice garden tour which I had decided against doing in Matale cos of hard sell tactics. Unfortunately, my driver came too early to take me to dinner and I had to cut short my “tour”. The grandmothers were in the midst of making fish curry and wanted to show me how it was being prepared. Oh well. The whole family works very hard to ensure guests have a great stay. Randy even drives you to Tissa for dinner at no cost. It is very rare to find this kind of hospitality. And this is what makes this place stand out. If you get a chance and would like this experience, I would recommend staying at least two nights. One is just too rushed if you do a safari- which is the intention of most visitors. I gave the little 3 year old daughter some OS. bears and she was over the moon!

Amazing family, they where absolutely so kindful and the food was an amazing experience. Our best stay in Sri Lanka and i truly recommend this stay for everyone !! We felt like home :) // Spanish family from Malaga

The host was incredibly genuine and helpful. Took us on a tour of the surrounding area, pointing out the local wildlife to us. We encountered 17 new species of birds in that afternoon alone. It was a birdwatcher’s paradise. The lake is across from the main entrance to the property, housed with frog, birds and other wildlife. Breakfast was a nice mix of local and western dishes tailored to dietary requirements. Fresh buffalo curd was a highlight as well as red rice. Close to Yala National Park, and the village of Debarawewa was close enough to explore by Uber/tuk tuk.

We stayed to nights here great location on a lake The room was very comftable and clean The owners make you very welcome and brought us fruit and and food Can not fault the hospitality relaxing and quite . They have a bird feeding table if your a bird watcher we saw woodpeckers come parakeets lots the highlight was a hornbill no need to go to bird watching n p to see many birds and lots of waterbirds Great place to stay .

We had an amazing stay!! Randy was the best host we had in our 5 month trip to Asia. He welcome us with a drink and snack, helped us with booking a safari, brought breakfast, lunch and snack for the safari. We could do our laundry and he showed us his town with a free tour! We highly recommend Elegant Lake House!

The elegant lake house by Randy and his family is a very cosy place to stay. It’s clean and has got everything you need to feel comfortable. Randy is a great host with an eye for the details e.g. the welcome drink+snack or the little walk he did with us to show us his hometown. There’s even a fruit table for the animals, wich makes gorgeous peacocks, squirrels and even toucans appear in the garden. Right outside the window! Randy arranged two great safari tours to Yala and Udawalawe national parks and provided tasty breakfast, lunch and snacks for the whole trip. The dinner is also very tasty. We definitely enjoyed every second of our stay.

We did a 12 day trip to Sri Lanka, and this was the best accomodation we stayed at, period. Randy and his wonderful family really take the overall experience to a level that is beyond exceptional. I won't repeat all the wonderful things the other reviews state about the location, the wildlife, the food etc. We stayed there for 3 nights, and left wanting to stay there for much longer. There is a sense of peace and calmness that comes over you at the Elegant Lake house from the moment you wake up, go through the day with your ativities, and get to bed in the evening. All of us being avid photographers as well, this was a wonderful location for birding, just sitting in the lawn and taking a small stroll nearby, gives one countless opportunites to spot unique wildlife doing in some unique situations. Do yourself and your near and dear ones a favour and stay here if you ever plan to visit this region including the Yala National Park (about 45 mins drive away). The value is unbeatable, the food is beyond scrumtuous, and Randy and his family will make you want to become better people to the world around you.