Tekanda Experiences
Just over 2 hours from Tekanda Lodge Udawalawe is a famous for its wild elephant herds. It is worth keeping in mind that if you have done the great safaris of south and east Africa then Sri Lanka can't really compete with the big game but the elephant and bird life are world class across the island. For those wanting to see Leopard - Yala National Park is the most reliable destination.
Cost for trip to Udawelwe - allow approx. £70 a head including transport, entrance to the National Park, safari jeep tour, visit to elephant transit home at feeding time.
Leave early in the morning to take a boat out from Mirissa (about 30 mins from Tekanda). While there are several species of Whale frequenting the Sri Lankan southern shores between November and April the most prized is the Blue Whale. No whale sighting is guaranteed but Dolpins are Turtles are also commonly seen. http://rajaandthewhales.com (Cost approx LKR 20,000 per person)
Our absolute favourite is our closest at Kabalana - less than 10 minutes tuk tuk from the Lodge or a brisk 25 minute walk! But there are several great options within 20 minutes of Tekanda.
Please be advised, it is always worth checking with the Tekanda staff or the locals at the beach about the safety of swimming anywhere along the coast. Conditions can change quickly and one spot may be safe one day and dangerous the next.
A number of the beaches are reef protected with excellent snorkelling where you can often see turtles. (Tuk Tuk – approx. LKR 1,800 (£5) return to Kabalana; LKR 3,600 (£10) return to Weligama).
Surfing Lessons.
Ahangama and our south coast reef and beach breaks are the centre of the surf scene in Sri Lanka. The big sandy bay at Weligama is excellent for beginners and surf instructors are cheap and plentiful.
Surf lessons range from approx. LKR 20,000 (£50) per person for a 2-hour session with an expat globally qualified coach – but can be significantly cheaper with a local instructor.
We have the biggest freshwater lake in Sri Lanka (Koggala) on our doorstep. But it's actually connected to the sea at the southern end so it's possible to catch Barracuda, Shad, Snapper and a range of other sea fish because the water is very brackish. You take a little boat out (with skipper) and chug around the lake either throwing or trawling a prawn or spinner. We have all the fishing gear at the Lodge. (LKR 10,000 (approx. £25) for 2 hours)
The other alternative is straight to the sea where there are numerous spots off the rocks - again all range of fish including Trevally.
For the more ambitious there are a number of deep-sea options such as https://lk.lakpura.com/collections/fishing-from-mirissa (typically around £200-350 for an all day trip).
For the non-fisherman a boat tour of Koggala lake is a great morning or afternoon activity. Not only will you see the great bird-life in this region - the sea eagles are a particular highlight - but there is also a chance of spotting crocodile early in the morning or early evening. If you go with Dilum (one of our Tekanda Tuk Tuk drivers) you will also be taken to ancient temples on hidden islands inaccessible to many of the tour guides. (Cost approx. LKR 10,000 (£25) for up to 5 people).
We are only 30 mins from Galle International Cricket Ground - without question a top three most special cricket grounds in the world. Depending on playing schedules it may well be possible to catch either an international or provincial match. The other more local option is to potentially join the Tekanda Cricket Team for one of our regular softball matches against local teams!
Golf at Eagles Catalina.
Our local golf course is less than 10 minutes from the Lodge. St Andrews it is not, but a fun little nine hole around the runway of a military airbase finished off by a beer overlooking Koggala Lake is a unique experience (Cost is approx £20 per person for 9 holes – clubs and caddy included!) For those wanting a slightly higher class of course see overnight options.
Just a few miles inland and the country becomes lush with rice fields and jungle. Gently undulating lanes wind through the paddy fields and villages and the only way to truly take in the rhythms of rural life is by bicycle. Guided tours are available and whatever length you wish. https://www.idlebikes.com (Costs depends on trail/tour chosen - see website). Good fun for all the family without any unpleasant hills.
Galle Fort is one of Sri Lanka's absolute gems. This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the best examples of a 16th Century Portuguese fortified town which was then further fortified by the Dutch in the 17th Century and extended again by the British in the 19th Century.
True to its rich history, Galle Fort is still primarily home to the ancestors of the myriad of Indian Ocean traders and seafarers that operated the spice and trade routes between the Far East and Europe.
(Return car to Galle from Tekanda – approx £30) though we recommend getting the train from our local station at Kathaluwa - cost LKR 100 (25p) - and rattling along the coast perched on the steps of an open door. Heaven!
In our local village of Kathaluwa we are lucky enough to have one of the oldest and most famous temples in Sri Lanka.
Kathaluwa Ancient Temple is in fact two temples built at the same time only separated by an wall. The temples were built around 1820 on a land belonging to the same family. They were known as the “Kathaluwa Ranwella Purana Viharaya” and “Kathaluwa Giniwella Purana Viharaya”. The temple has 13th Century foundations and is famous for its beautiful frescoes but also its Victorian Printing Press that was used to print the first Buddhist newspaper in Sri Lanka having been unloaded in Galle in 1862.
There is a myriad of other beautiful temples in the area (including Degaviri Viharaya, Koggala and Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya, in Unawatuna) for those who love a bit of culture.
Book a yoga lesson with one of our hand-picked teachers - all from the comfort of Tekanda Lodge (Single session £45; 5 sessions £200)
We have a range of wonderful therapies delivered by one of our hand-picked therapists from the comfort of the Lodge. (Cost varies depending on type and length of massage)
Run by our head chef at Tekanda Lodge. Learn how to cook traditional Sri Lankan dishes. (There may be a very small per-person charge)
We love Colombo and you can get a decent feel for the place in one afternoon and one night. Our recommended three stop strategy for those on a first time whirlwind tour is the unofficial Tuk Tuk tour of Pettah Market (Tuk it Easy) in the afternoon, a walk on Galle Face Green watching the families fly kites and play cricket in the late afternoon, sundowner drinks at Cinammon Red’s roof-top bar and then dinner at Paradise Cafe.
About 5 hours from Tekanda but broadly en route if you are coming down from the Cultural Triangle or the East Coast. We think this is the absolute pearl of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Dramatic mountain ranges surround soft fertile valleys teeming with elephant and bidlife. Gal Oya is far less frequented than the more accessible Yala which means guests can often get a magically private experience.
About 2.5 hours from Tekanda, this is the primary National Park of Sri Lanka and the best place to spot leopard. There are a number of overnight options within the park including some very upmarket tented camps. We would suggest getting there for an afternoon drive, dinner and overnight in a tented camp followed by an early safari and then back to Tekanda in the afternoon.