Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe

Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe descritpion

Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe provides a relaxing stay in Udawalawe. The property boasts 5 acres of beautifully manicured gardens and provides facilities like an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant and an in-house library.
The hotel is located about 24.9 miles from the Mattala International Airport and 6.2 miles from Pallebedda Sri Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya. Udawalawe National Park and Ath Athuru Sevana (Elephant Transit Home) are located within 1.9 miles of the hotel. Udawalawe Bus Station is located about 3.7 miles away.
Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe provides beautiful accommodation, all offering a private balcony. They are well equipped with comfortable beds, private bathroom facilities and spacious interiors. Some rooms have a separate seating area. The hotel provides a wellness centre and offers massage services at an extra charge. Younger guests can enjoy the playground.
Guests can sample a selection of Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine at the restaurant. There are also barbecue facilities on site. Room service is available.

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Facilities of Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe

Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Outdoor Pool | Grounds | Terrace | Sun Deck

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Food & Drink ：Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu | Buffet-Style Restaurant | Snack Bar | Special Diet Meals (upon request)

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).

Reviews for Kalu's Hideaway Udawalawe

Review 1：Very warm welcome, drink and lighting of candle Very easy to arrange safari package and any required drivers Friendly staff, great room, great food Luxury hotel

Review 2：When booking taxis and services with the front desk, just ensure you reconfirm everything. We wanted to rent bikes and unfortunately they needed to be repaired

Review 3：Excellent hotel not far from Udawalawe national park, very comfortable and very clean rooms, spotless bathroom with very hot water and pressure, beautiful surroundings, pool in the sun! As guessed by the name, this wonderful hotel is tucked away meaning you are far from the main road and it is therefore quiet, which is not always the case in the other hotels nearby. Food is amazing and thank you to all the staff who cooked us these amazing western and local meals for a reasonable price. Special thanks as well to the waiters and staff who cleaned our rooms. Everyone was so helpful and friendly!!! Most people seem to stay just one night, to do the safari the next morning and head to the next destination, but we were very happy to stay 3 nights and relax in this beautiful hotel! Would definitely recommend staying more than 1 night!!

Review 4：Nothing

Review 5：Staff particularly helpful in organising driver/guide for the nature reserve with little notice. Also arranged a driver for the next leg of our journey. Rooms very comfortable as was the hotel, super location, good food, everything you could want.

Review 6：There were a large number of insects floating in the pool when I went for a swim in the evening. It was expected due to the location of hotel being in a very rural area.

Review 7：The staff were very attentive, and the manager came to introduce himself to us personally. We arrived fairly late and wanted to get a massage in before dinner, so the masseuse was called to come back to the hotel. We then arrived slightly late for dinner, but they kept the kitchen open for us. The rooms were very comfortable and due to the location of the hotel, the staff came round to spray for mosquitoes in the rooms and plug in repellants. There isn't much around the hotel, but it's in a perfect location if you come straight from Udawalawe National Park like we did.

Review 8：Great place and very helpful and friendly staff. If we get to Uda Walawe safari once again, will certainly stay at this place. There is beautiful garden with great pool, ideal for refreshement after safari at the national park. And if you are a cricket fan, you will be in paradise.

Review 9：There was no wifi signal in our room. Wifi was available only in the restaurant but it was extremely slow - basically useless...

Review 10：spacious room, great food, they provided packed breakfast for early morning safari and also suggested to join regular breakfast when we get back.

Review 11：Although the staff are eager to please, it is clear that they have NOT received training which caters to an international standard. Service was friendly but erratic at best. The staff can't be blamed. Ultimately it's the responsibility of the upper management or owners to train their local staff on what international visitors expect from their service. The wifi, as in all the places I stayed at in Sri Lanka, was pitiful.

Review 12：Good facilities with decent pool and gardens. A good bedroom apart from ancient, noisy ac!

Review 13：Mosquitos....

Review 14：Nice location, room are good and staff are nice. The only thing is there are too many mosequitos in the open areas, and maybe the hotel should think about some ways

Review 15：Mosquitos are everywhere, and the room will be full of them. But it should be expected as this hotel is in the middle of the jungle.

Review 16：Beautiful hotel with a large area including swimming pool, organic garden and a nice restaurant with reasonable prices and very good sri lankan cuisine.

Review 17：Awesome second innings to our Lankan adventure. Arrived at Ex International Wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana's Eco Guest House on the outskirts of Udawalawe National Park where we were graciously upgraded to the Penthouse Suite. Really appreciated the epic view of the surroundings where we encountered a friendly bunch of Elephants, Buffalo, Tucans, Monkeys, Spotted Deer, Iguanas and more on Safari. This is a place where eco tourism is done right. Nature welcomed, food farmed on site, energy conserved, and friendly folk. Amazing massages. A little off bit of this has a large effect on the soul.

Review 18：Just overpriced for Sri Lanka and for the service. For this price, we'd expect it to be a level above. The room was not 100% clean (the floor had not been done) and the AC was not working in the first room we got, and extremely noisy in the second room we got. Also I didn't like the mosquito nest. It was unpleasant to install and get in and out of the bed.

Review 19：Beautiful place in the middle of the forest. Nicely arranged garden with pleasant swimming pool. Lots of animals and birds to be seen! The staff is helpful - not necessarily efficient - but always smiling and willing.

Review 20：I personally found the bed not so comfortable (although my wife did). The Wifi was not great although people are there usually to enjoy the wildlife and disconnect for a while

Review 21：Staff was friendly and helpful. The Sri Lankan food was also amazing

Review 22：Expensive. The manager had a bad attitude and was not friendly at all.Everything seemed to be a bother to him. They also don't tell youwhat they charge you for until checkout (bottled water in the roomisn't free)

Review 23：The food was amazing and the wait staff were phenomenal. Lots of kidsstuff to do for a hotel out in the middle of the jungle.

Review 24：WIFI was not good but I had mobile data so it did Not bother me very much.

Review 25：Lovely property.Nice room,good Ac.Very well maintained ground. Very friendly and helpful staff. We were extremely happy with the stay.

Review 26：If they really intend to "save the planet" as they say, they should serve mineral water in large 1,5 liter bottles instead of the 0,5 liter bottles they use.

Review 27：Small luxury boutique hotel.

Review 28：We weren't too keen on the buffet style food.

Review 29：Location was a real hideaway. A perfect place to relax and explore the park. The addition of a spa was most welcome and the member of staff who ran it was the best we have ever experienced

Review 30：Breakfast could have been better... it is not the taste which bothered us, but the combination. But after all it didn't matter. :-)

Review 31：Location, staff, service and the list goes on... The room was impeccable. Surrounding was very calm and blended with nature very nicely. Has a great swimming pool too.

Review 32：Not keen of the TV in the dining area and by their own admission it was a quiet time of year so it did feel sometimes you were being watched over a bit as we were practically the only people there. Confusion about extra bed for child but they were very quick to solve and very helpful.

Review 33：The pool, organic vegetable garden, general lay out is just so pretty. The Sri Lankan breakfast was probably the best we had all holiday!

Review 34：Nothing we love it all

Review 35：The staff couldn't do enough for us. The food was amazing and abroader selection than we thought (we don't like spicy food!!!) allin all the hospitality was way above our expectation

Review 36：The wifi didn't work in the rooms - only the communal area.

Review 37：The hotel is very near the national park and so it made it easy to do a safari. We only booked one night and that was perfect - we managed to do an early morning safari, swim in the hotel's lovely pool and eat lots of their delicious food. Their Sri Lankan curry was outstanding. The rooms are all new and modern; they're well furnished and the beds are really comfy! It was pretty hot and humid when we stayed there so the air con in the room was very welcome! The staff were also really friendly and helpful and gave us a very warm welcome.

Review 38：Given the experience of 10 days around the island and 8 different hotels i thought it was a little expensive given little things like, very difficult to make tea coffee (kettle was on the floor) very noisy late and no TV ( not that i wanted it but if you charge top dollar you expect top dollar).

Review 39：Location This is what your paying for. The fish chips were great aswell as the breakfast. Ethan the manager was extremely helpful.

Review 40：our room was in center of the resort (near reception) so we had some noise a bit expensive wifi only in public areas

Review 41：mostly everything the looks location - proxmity to Uda Walawe furniture swimming pool playground for kids dinner and breakfast

Review 42：If you plan on seeing the elephants in Udwalawe park I definitely recommend you stay here. The dinner and breakfast was some of the best we've had. And the staff go above and beyond to accommodate you. The pool and garden area are absolutely stunning. You can walk down the bottom of the garden to a river. Absolutely beautiful.

Review 43：No internet in room

Review 44：Lovely hotel. Staff were extremely helpful. Nice grounds. Suite was beautiful. Nice view from balcony. Food was great. Very comfortable.

Review 45：Nice modern interior decoration. Rooms in the new wing are extremely spacious with a nice balcony. Nicely kept garden. Friendly staff. Menu not very elaborate but everything was freshly cooked and tasty. Friendly staff. 15 rooms only provide a quiet and intimate setting

Review 46：Having to leave

Review 47：Everything. comfortable room, magnificent view of garden and potager. Good meal and breakfast. Atmosphere lovely and great ambience.discrete and attentive staff. Lady at front over and above exceptionally professional, beautiful and charming. Heavenly, peaceful adn a happy place to be. Great cricket memorabilia and a pleasure to be ale to enjoy everyting about Kalu's Hideaway. Hope we will be able to return to enjoy everything again.

Review 48：Staff very welcoming, polite and helpful. Tranquil garden setting included fruit trees and vegetables for in-house food prep. Buffet breakfast and dinner a feast of dishes and chef prepared options.

Review 49：it was very noisy in the nighttime and morning (they prepared something for the next day), so we woke up in the night very often

Review 50：Beautiful garden and landscape, nice and big rooms, near to the nationalpark

Review 51：Beautiful hotel in the middle of stunning nature, spacious and comfortable rooms, nice outside restaurant with good breakfast and dinner buffet, small but beautiful pool, table tennis, playground, massage facilities and big garden. Very friendly management and staff.

Review 52：wifi didn't work flawless, but then again we're on vacation so it didn't really bother us and wifi is generally very poor throughout the whole country

Review 53：The staff were great, helpful, happy and they put a lot of effort to make our stay pleasant.

Review 54：The hotel has some serious problems with bugs that are literally everywhere (room, pool area, restaurant etc.). I can understand that we are talking "wild" here, but hey - some disinsectation would really help

Review 55：Everything from the location to hotel amenities. It is really a pearl amongst resorts nearby Udawalawe Park.

Review 56：I don't think there is anything to dislike about this great little haven of peace and tranquility.

Review 57：the Hotel has been beautifully constructed out of local materials and is in a great quiet location and yet very close for a trip to Uduwalawa national park. The staff are very attentive and really could not be better. It was lovely to be able to enjoy the large interesting grounds of the hotel and look at all the cricket memorabilia associated with the owner Kalu.

Review 58：Very disappointed about the food. The menu for eating in had little variety for high prices. Worst was breakfast when we would have expected fresh fruit juice but got caned one. Also the jam was packed and tasted like sugar

Review 59：Very nice, clean rooms. Staff very friendly and helpful. They do Gin Tonic

Review 60：Our family were only here for one night but we really enjoyed the gardens, the pool, food, dining area, facilities such as table tennis and general feel of the place. The staff were very helpful and worked things well around our early morning safari at Uda walawe nat park

Review 61：Several power outages, a/c in room dripping water all night, too many bugs during dinner (dining area completely open), on second day of stay a big group of guys arrived for a loud pool party :-( To be fair they gave us 10% off for the inconvenience.

Review 62：Nicely designed with local materials, friendly staff, good food, close to seeing wild elephants.

Review 63：The room felt a bit dirty and, although it's to be expected to see insects here, a little insect control would go a long way! There was little choice for food and what we did have was quite disappointing.

Review 64：The swimming pool and grounds of the hotel are lovely. It's a peaceful location, convenient for Uda Walawe park.

Review 65：- The rooms in the Main building are very poor (dark, moscitos), you have to get one in the side building (which are Great)

Review 66：- Perfect residence for visiting the national Park - Fantastic Food and attentive service

Review 67：The restaurant was so-so and the wait staff is mostly new.

Review 68：The pool and the grounds were very nice and included a playground for the kids. The early morning safari to the Udawalawe Park is the best time to see wild elephants

Review 69：Nothing to mention.

Review 70：Amazing location and facilities. Well integrated in the surrounding nature with very elegant details. They run a self-sustained kitchen and business: a nice little organic farm is set around the pool area where the fruits and veggies are grown for the meals. The pool area as well as the bedrooms are excellent not only in comfort but in also in cleaningness and design. Free activities for self entertainment and a cosy spa area for full relaxation in the 'jungle' hideaway.

Review 71：We are a family of 5 and all of us had a wonderful time at Kalu's Hideway. The staff were amazing and did everything they could to make our stay a very enjoyable and memorable one. The Hotel is very conveniently located to Uda Walawe National Park and The Elephant Transit Home. We spent a whole day just relaxing at the Hotel swimming, fishing in the river, using the wonderful spa, and sleeping in the hammocks. The grounds are beautifully kept. 10 out of 10 for everything at Kalu's

Review 72：Our room had no working a/c and was therefore too warm

Review 73：The best hotel we have stayed in during our vacation in Sri Lanka

Review 74：The staff were extremely helpful and welcoming. It was a very special place; off the beaten track, like a hidden paradise!

Review 75：Great location, very peaceful and close to the national park. Excellent attentive service, nice pool and they serve a great curry.

Review 76：Excellent Thank you manager

Review 77：Mosquitos very prevalent. Not hotels fault.

Review 78：Room was big, clean and pleasant with big Balcony.

Review 79：Excellent location for the near by national park for a safari

Review 80：Great location near the NP. Tranquil with nice pool. Staff were super friendly, especially to the kids.

Review 81：Good rooms, good and service

Review 82：Beautiful property

Review 83：Very friendly staff, nice appartment, nice gardens, good facilities

Review 84：Very special welcoming ceremony, much appreciated. Great hotel in the middle of the jungle with everything you need.

Review 85：Lovely staff and location Beautifull garden Lovely gamedrive

Review 86：Push bikes need replacing/throwing in a skip. No WiFi in rooms.

Review 87：Calm. Relaxed. Fabulous food. Staff helpful.

Review 88：No wifi in bedroom.

Review 89：Location, nice facilities and activities. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

Review 90：All amazing

Review 91：Amazing place Will not disappoint

Review 92：Staff and service were excellent. They really wanted to please their guests

Review 93：I had trouble paying with my internet card though my internet card is working and i used it in other hotels.

Review 94：Close to safary site.

Review 95：Staff, breakfast, resort

Review 96：wifi didn't really work

Review 97：amazing place? A paradise for children and parents!

Review 98：Everything about this place we loved. Will be back here thats for sure. Liked everything

Review 99：The staff, food and hotel room were excellent.The pool and nature around was just great and the play area for our daughter as well.

Review 100：Quality of food , attentive staff , relaxed atmosphere and environment .

Review 101：Wifi limited Nothing to do (therefore stay only 1 night)

Review 102：Service levels were good Exclusivity Room was fantastic

Review 103：Peaceful, beautifully landscaped and maintained surrounds. Stylish room with private outdoor seating area.

Review 104：Perfect place to relax, not far from the National Park.

Review 105：The setting, stunning. Rooms in the block next to the main hotel building were of a very good standard. The food was brilliant especially the breakfast. The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful. The massage at the spa was awesome! A super hotel and I am looking forward to returning.

Review 106：Obviously not a cheap place for Sri Lankan standards, but worth it!

Review 107：A fantastic hotel, nice pool, charming rooms, friendly + helpful staff. Their young guide Manuj (sorry if I misspell) is the best + most enthusiastic safari guide I ever experienced! The hotel is 7 km from the entrance of the National Park, but I was pleasantly surprised they didn't abuse their isolation: the dinner was excellent value, and they charge exactly the same for the safaris as you would pay at the park entrance.

Review 108：Dirty pool, average food

Review 109：Very well located near Udalawe Park - very convenient for an early morning safari in the park - confortable room - no mosquitos

Review 110：Kalu's Hideaway was very attractive and artistically decorated. The room was well furnished and very comfortable. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the food was very well prepared and delicious. It was the perfect place to stay for my visit to Udawalawe National Park.

Review 111：Nothing.

Review 112：Excellent hidden little place within short distance of entrance to Udawalawe National Park for Safaris. We booked the Suite which is large and very nicely appointed. - Spa treatments were very cheap and excellent. - Nice pool area. - Nice food. - Excellent staff. All in all an excellent spot for a stopover when doing a safari in Udawalawe.

Review 113：The air-conditioning system in the room was noisy and leaking: we had to move the bed to avoid water from dripping on our heads during the night (however, the noise of water dripping on the floor was also quite irritating). The food quality could be improved. It would be good to have free wifi access also in the rooms.

Review 114：Kindness of the staff, the place is quiet, good massages

Review 115：We had a glorious stay at Kalu's. We arrived from Mirissa and were greeted with a welcome juice and towels, then told we had been upgraded from a superior room to a deluxe, which was lovely. The owner, @kalu' himself the cricket world champion was in residence for the same weekend that we stayed so not sure whether that made a difference to the attitude of the staff but we were treated with complete care and attention! Great environment, beautiful surroundings and spotless facilities. The pool is lovely, such a relaxing place. They arranged for us to go on 2 x safaris to Uda Walawe which was only 10 minutes or so up the road. Food was very good and drinks too - dining area was a little dark at night time. Lots of wildlife, and Kalu was a fantastic host too - really friendly and chatty. We loved it here :)

Review 116：We had a room just off the lobby & restaurant which meant lots of noise and no way to really look out at the garden or pool. Food was average (buffet was the only option at dinner) with a restaurant manager who seemed to take himself a little too seriously. We agreed to his insistence on us having a glass of wine with dinner, and were surprised to find that even though it was pretty average table stuff that it cost as much as the buffet!

Review 117：If you want to do the afternoon safari and not have a long drive back to your hotel this is an ok place to spend the night, but it doesn't seem to have much else going for it.

Review 118：This hotel is a real oasis. The pool is amazing, the rooms spacious and clean and the food delicious. The tour organised to Udawalawa national park was amazing and well priced. much better than our Yala experience. We would highly recommend this hotel.

Review 119：nothing!

Review 120：A great location just adjacent to Udawalawe National park, ideal for a safari base. we stayed in the main building and were steps away from the dining area, very quite and peaceful, fantastic food, quality evening dinner buffet choices, the swimming pool was welcome due to the heat in early January,, just sit and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you. Kalu himself introduced himself and was an enthusiastic host with a great vision and enthusiasm for his 'hideaway'