Nil Diya Mankada Safari Resort

Nil Diya Mankada Safari Resort descritpion

Nil Diya Mankada Safari Lodge is situated in Udawalawe, 5.6 miles from Udawalawe National Park. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Free WiFi is featured throughout the property and free private parking is available on site.
All air-conditioned rooms include a seating area to relax in after a busy day. Each room has a private bathroom fitted with a shower. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hair dryer.
You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property. The area is popular for cycling and fishing. The hotel also offers bike hire and car hire.
The nearest airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, 30.3 miles from Nil Diya Mankada Safari Lodge.

Recommand

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Facilities of Nil Diya Mankada Safari Resort

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

Kitchen ：Shared Kitchen

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

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

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

Reviews for Nil Diya Mankada Safari Resort

Review 1：Did not like the stray dogs and cats around the property and those coming in to the dining area

Review 2：Beds comfy, food great, lovely and very peaceful setting - loved the trees around the site, lovely pool.

Review 3：Only problem here were the flies in the restaurant

Review 4：Very comfortable, friendly staff, great pool and good food - a welcome break following our fantastic safari.

Review 5：Very attentive, kind staff. Manager, receptionist, room service and restaurant waiter were all caring and on top of things. Procured fresh coconuts and catered to our vegetarian needs.

Review 6：Friendly and accomodating staff, good location close to safari park, room was clean and comfortable, pool and grounds were lovely...a hit with our boys!

Review 7：The music at meal times was terrible!! Would be good to have some umbrellas around the pool area. Too many flies in the eating area. Maybe Kitchen staff can wipe down tables and change table linen after each meal. Pillows were also quite hard in the rooms.

Review 8：The pool area was lovely. Rooms were clean and a/c was great. We went on an early morning safari and the hotel could arrange a breakfast box for us for an extra 200rs. Close to the National Park and Elephant Transit Home.

Review 9：Management is the big problem here. Haughty guy greeted us and was really rude to our driver, who needed a place to stay and eat since it's backwoods Udawalawe. After we accepted an offer of tea, he gave us enough chairs and cups for only our family -- really???? -- until my wife forced the issue.We offered to pay for the driver's dinner with us, which the guy said would be ok despite his evasiveness. (We learned later he quoted the driver 1,500 lrk and us 1,000 for the buffet.) And the room finally offered to him for 3,000 was a fan-less dorm -- our guy ultimately found his own place because he didn't want to give Nil Diya our money. Strong move. This attitude trickled down: waiter tried to bulldog us into eating a scary looking buffet dinner and when we cheerily said we'd like to see the menu, he started grousing that it could take 45 minutes to make us food. So we just ordered chicken sandwiches and sure enough they came in 15 minutes. Problem was they were inedible, a wad of mashed chicken salad with Miracle Whip in the middle of white bread. Absolutely inedible (and we're pretty omnivorous people). Oh, and the air conditioning didn't really work. One waiter happily came to fix it but just pushed around the remote buttons as I had done, to no avail. Ant trails in the room probably not their fault, as it's in safari country and after a spritz of bug repellent they never came back. Lots of potential here, but change has to start at the top.

Review 10：Nice grounds with a decent pool -- although there didn't appear to be any towels or an attendant.Breakfast was quite good (and quite a surprise after a horrendous dinner the night before). Big room and bathroom. Pretty close to Udawalawe.

Review 11：There was no mosquito net over the bed and nowhere to hang one from - we improvised with one that we had brought with us. Although the room was A/C and well kept, we still found a few bugs in there.

Review 12：The resort is about 5 minutes drive from the main town, right in the middle of the forest. I saw a monitor lizard chilling near the pool (perfectly safe) and the noise at night was brilliant (although not intrusive). The staff were constantly patrolling and cleaning up the grounds - it was very well kept and felt safe. Facilities were great - good food, nice pool and the staff organised a safari and trip to the Elephant Transit Home for us, which were both excellent. Our room was well equipped, clean and cool (thanks to the air conditioner and fan). We only stayed one night, but were comfortable and happy with the (slightly high) price.

Review 13：- staff is not always understanding properly clients' requests which can create some frustations - swimming pool amenities could be improved (new long chairs, mattresses, towels for guests...) - we were very lucky to have nice and quiet rooms with garden / river view (rooms 105 -> 108) but they are building some new ones that may be not as good (in between the street and the back of the restaurant) -> Check this out before booking

Review 14：- very well positionned, a few minutes from Udawalawe National Park, in a very quiet area, near a charming river - the Manager is really willing to help and provide customers high quality of service - the place is really nice (even better than on the pictures of Booking.com which don't give it justice)

Review 15：The location is very nice and well finished. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Good staff and position if you are going to arrange a safari. Excellent the breakfast.

Review 16：There probably should have been more staff on in the restaurant, because during the dinner service, they seemed to be quite frazzled and under pressure. Still some tweaking to do too in terms of certain menu items etc.

Review 17：It was literally like an oasis in the middle of the jungle. First impressions were very good. Very close to Uda Walawe National Park.

Review 18：Place is a bit run down. Curtains old, bathroom a bit moldy, unmatching and broken lounge chairs at the pool. Staff a bit tired and bored. With little investment this could be restored to its former glory but it seems the management cannot be bothered.

Review 19：Nice bungalows, well set up resort. Nice pool.

Review 20：cleanliness was not up to scratch The shower rails were dirty and we found hairs on the shower. However we soon found out that compared to other hotels in Sri Lanka this was in fact one of the cleanest.

Review 21：Sanjiv our waiter was the best, in fact the entire staff were amazing,it is so close to the reserve that you feel you are actually in it. The bed was incredibly comfortable. The local food is to die for, you must try the curry and rice and the fried chillies. Yumm!

Review 22：We booked jugle safari with the hotel. The driver was good to take us around, but no guide accompanied us and no snax provided, as written in some reviews.

Review 23：The river facing rooms are big and comfortable. Inspite of big property the staff is quick to attend the rooms. The dinner and breakfast buffet spread were good, we enjoyed the 1 day stay.

Review 24：Poor water power in shower. Room 110 lacked privacy as it seemed to be located outside/ staff quarters. There was a constant flow of staff walking past us when we were sitting outside room relaxing.

Review 25：Nice pool.

Review 26：Food in restaurant was very westernised and average quality relative to price. Construction work ongoing to build further rooms gives noise interruption particularly if allocated room nearby.

Review 27：Nice resort which was very good value for money with very helpful and friendly staff.

Review 28：While extremely helpful, staff would need a little more training and be more organized. Too many stary dogs on the compound, some looking quite sickly.

Review 29：Nice setting in the forest. Comfortable rooms. Fantastic pool, perfect after a long, hot safari. Very friendly, helpful staff who go out of their way to attend to all our requests.

Review 30：Breakfast wasn't free

Review 31：Friendly and helpful staff, specially the receptionist and food and beverage manager, tasty meals, peaceful location, comfortable rooms with sufficient facilities

Review 32：New buildings stretched out over landscaped gardens. Infinity swimming pool. Room included all small luxuries. Loved all the staff. They all went out of their way to ensure we had a great stay. Good food at the restaurant. Pre safari breakfast pack which was very thoughtful.

Review 33：Nothing

Review 34：Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Very efficient in organising the next day safari and even found some other travellers for us with whom to share the cost. Accommodation is excellent and in a very peaceful which is a short drive away from the entrance to the national park.

Review 35：Not very much to do, besides going on safari. The restaurant area was full of poor cats and dogs. There were no musquitonet in the "bungalows".

Review 36：Very nice area. The buildings are nice and very modern. We got upgraded (low session). It's peaceful and quiet.

Review 37：As the place is relatively new there had been some slight confusion upfront when trying to organize some details via internet - but all worked out perfectly and reliably.

Review 38：Hardly can imagine a better place to stay when visiting the national park. Very friendly staff, spotlessly clean bungalows with a pool, the largest crossover breakfast ever and obviously most important great safari with an excelent driver who really wanted to make sure we got a fantastic glance of the park's beautifulness.

Review 39：Lovely serene environment... we enjoyed the privacy & quiet. Staff were very helpful & safari was fun. Great place for children... The Saturday night & Sunday morning buffet was great too.

Review 40：Property is beginning to show ware. Rooms were filthy. Sewage would come back up shower plug. Partner got food poisoning from the buffet, they had to take him to the doctor- and then were nice enough not to charge us for his meal.. Really not sure why they've gone to a buffet with Western Food in Sri Lanka? Staff are miserable which clearly stems from the managements treatment. Poor buggers.

Review 41：Very close to the safari. Staff are helpful and nice. We lost a pair of shoes in the room. Staff arranged to send it to Colombo by tutuk!!! And meals are good.

Review 42：Food didn't impress me much for such a beautiful hotel. Staff slightly on the invasive part!

Review 43：Beautiful hotel, with a great location and a pool which we didn't even know about!

Review 44：My boyfriend and I were so impressed with this place. The hotel manager went to every effort to make us feel welcome and comfortable. They gave us a free room upgrade (we stayed just before the peak season so the place was pretty quiet) and organised a safari through the Uda Walawe nat park for us. The food was actually the best we had all trip. You could tell the owner was really proud of what his kitchen staff were serving because he kept bringing out more and more dishes for us to try! We definitely recommend this place .

Review 45：Could be nicer room interior, but did not matter for us as stayed only over night. WiFi coverage should be improved.

Review 46：Liked the ambiance and the concept of the place. Very nice reception and dining area, the accommodation located in lodges which gives you space and privacy. Close to Udawalawe safari park.

Review 47：Flies in the open air restaurant, but this is not a problem the hotel can do anything about, just nature.

Review 48：The staff here were incredibly helpful, showing us what all the local dishes were during the breakfast and evening buffet, the pool is lovely for a refreshing dip. We had a safari arranged by the h this was very good seeing lots of elephants, crocs and various other animals.

Review 49：bed could be more comfy

Review 50：Very friendly staff Great pool Great actually amazing food. Try the hoppers and pancake with coco for breakfast. Curries a la carte are fantastic Safari guy is nice and takes the time Value for money was great

Review 51：The food. The chef was great but they must change they're cheese supplier and their chicken supplier. The chicken burger was not fresh chicken. It looked like a highly processed chicken terrine. All compacted and full of gelatine.

Review 52：We were charged for our drivers stay. I think, given the price of the hotel, this should have been included. They offered to take us on safari for 4000 rupees when we got is through our driver for 3000. The manager was nice but, lacked genuineness. You know?

Review 53：Flies were an issue, but not necessarily their fault.

Review 54：Acitivties for kids were great (pool, archery). Food was amazing. Service spectacular. Great wifi.

Review 55：We had to pay for our breakfast

Review 56：I would highly recommend One staff Named Mr. Sanjivey He was very friendly with us, even tough he could not speak English he used his body language to make us understand

Review 57：The staff was less friendly than in other places in sri lanka and more interested in selling tours or meals (the manager told our driver not to drive us somewhere else to eat!)

Review 58：The room was very beautiful and clean. The hotel is well located to visit the park and has everything (pool, badminton court, bikes...).

Review 59：The hotel did not had facilities that were mentioned in the description - kids club, nanny service, fishing, hiking, massage. This services we choose the property for, and were a bit disappointed when find out they do not exist.

Review 60：Hotel had a pool, badminton, arrow shooting, decent buffet selection at decent price, clean rooms.

Review 61：The room is ok but the holes in the ornament Windows in the bathroom are a welcoming door to mosquitos and other small insects and spiders. So keep the bathroom door closed or bring a mosquito net!

Review 62：Friendly staff, amazing location and good trips. Very beautiful lodge.

Review 63：The food is not good, maybe trying to please the guests with western food, would be happy to have a Sri Lankan curry.. And for it to be amazing!

Review 64：Close to the national park, pool was good, staff very helpful

Review 65：Mosquitoes There is a dog on the property that might get a bit feral around people

Review 66：Staff - Friendly and courteous Rooms - OK , nice setup Location - really close to elephant orphanage and national park

Review 67：Nothing (stray dogs did bark at night but we r in the jungle!)

Review 68：Staff friendly and helpful esp guy with amazing cricket knowledge (vejay?) Great pool Relaxing venue

Review 69：Absolutely fantastic! The layout and the quality of this place is amazing. Great spacious chalets, huge swimmingpool, big garden with lots of animals etc. Staff and management truly helpfull. They also arranged our transport and an amazing safari. Stay for a few more days than just the day of your safari, as the place itself has a lot to offer. Great for both families travelling with kids and without.

Review 70：wifi can be definitely improved (like almost anywhere in Sri Lanka according to my experience)

Review 71：beautiful hotel surrounded by nature amazing value for money we went in May which is low season, and the hotel was incredibly empty

Review 72：The dusty bed and not so clear pool, wifi not very stable, food too salty for our liking. You need to use a lot of force to turn off the tap.

Review 73：Friendly staff, friendly dog and cat.

Review 74：The only let down is the food. It's all mediocre western food.

Review 75：Fabulous place and they sorted everything out for us. We did a great safari and they arranged a driver to Talalla for us. The staff were so lovely.

Review 76：The main waiter gave us the best service I have had in a long time. Professionally trained, he made us quite comfortable and made sure we had everything we needed, even making wonderful recommendations. The manager, too, was extremely helpful, organizing transportation both to a nearby 'big town' for a hard drive and to our next location. I would especially recommend this place for young couples with children, as there was a nice swimming pool, play area and archery.

Review 77：The only bad thing was that dogs ripped 4 items of our clothing hanging outside, but this can't be fixed by the hotel. They come onto the property.

Review 78：Very attentive and personalised service. Great open space, good grounds and our kids loved the natural playground.

Review 79：Nothing bad to say about this place

Review 80：Staff were very helpful and friendly. meals were tasty and offered a good variety of food. Rooms were very clean and quiet.

Review 81：Did not get the room as described when booking so it did not have a washing machine for example. That aside, I think we got a standard room rather than deluxe as expected. Much was made by the manager of there being a discount however this was a genius deal so that was expected.

Review 82：The facilities were generally good. Enjoyed the design of the place. The safari organised by the hotel was excellent.

Review 83：Breakfast was abysmal. Not sure how you can get eggs so wrong! Lots of flies around the 'restaurant'. The staff were a little overbearing. We won't be returning

Review 84：it was close to the national park but that's pretty much it. There is a restaurant but they only had egg options! The pool wasnt clean but the area around the pool unsafe (dog excrement and collapsing decking). They did organise us a safari with a good guide which made the poor facilities also bearable.

Review 85：Had a bad experience in the restaurant. Tried to order a cheese sandwich turned out to be chicken which tasted awful. Not to mention it took nearly an hour to turn up and was cold. Went out for dinner and breakfast after that.

Review 86：Lovely room. Nice pool and very peaceful. Best nights sleep in ages! Staff were very helpful and got our safari organised for a good price

Review 87：Wine was a bit overpriced - that's it!

Review 88：Lovely grounds and pool, with separate accommodation buildings and open dining area... and an archery range?! Set back away from the main roads, yet still easy to find and close to the park entrance. Monitors, birds, chipmunks etc all within the hotel grounds! Very helpful and efficient staff.

Review 89：Food was mediocre on first night. Buffet second night better. Dogs roaming around hotel annoying and came worryingly near our children.

Review 90：Location good, only 10/15 minutes to National park entrance. Nice pool to chill out in. Clean, comfortable self contained brick chalet style accommodation. Nice setting. Children's play area nice touch. Helpful staff.

Review 91：Nothing really. Everything was perfect.

Review 92：I recommand highly this place to anyone who wants to enjoy a stay at Udawalawe national park. The place is beautiful. The staff is lovely they will do everything for you to feel like at home. They will arrange any driver and they will show you the safari perfectly. The hôtel was clean and the pool is awesome. The food was also really nice. He even welcome my boyfriend in the kitchen (my boyfriend is a cook) so that he could learn how to make Sri lankan food. If you want to go to Udawalawe, you should book this hôtel for sure :D

Review 93：Staff very hospitable and organised an excellent safari nearby. The lodge has been tastefully designed and far outdoes any in the area. The elephants were wonderful. Overall a very professional concern. Would recommend anyone to stay

Review 94：luxurious place in the wildness good food best safari even in peak season

Review 95：Very pleasant hotel, beautiful park and swimming pool. Clean rooms. Very close to udawalawe park.

Review 96：Amazing staff, quiet rooms with hot shower. We needed a break from backpacking and this was the perfect place.

Review 97：No wifi signal in the rooms, just in the central areas.

Review 98：Stayed in a nice clean family room with a terrace

Review 99：Food wasn't good.

Review 100：Rooms are good, pool is nice, staff are good.

Review 101：Absolutely kind and helpful staff Restaurant Swimming pool

Review 102：Place

Review 103：Good service staff

Review 104：Slightly difficult for taxi driver to find in the dark but all ok in the end.

Review 105：Very friendly staff and great place.

Review 106：Leafs float in the swimming pool and the quite remote location

Review 107：Good hotel, fair price and great experience with the Safari of the hotel

Review 108：Near to Udawalawe reserve

Review 109：the room itself was rather small.

Review 110：spacious resort with a pool where children can play. friendly staff. a short ride away from the National Park.

Review 111：Innovative and soothing architecture/cool ambience amid hot sun/consistent staff.

Review 112：Lovely staff! Nice room! Only down side was Mosquitos and no mosquito net so hot eaten alive!

Review 113：Different style of accommodation but the hotel is poor in the available facility.

Review 114：The restaurant and the swimming pool.

Review 115：The price of the accommodation for a basic room and no breakfast

Review 116：The peaceful location no too far away from the park

Review 117：Nothing!

Review 118：Incredible staff, couldn't do enough for you. Spacious room :)

Review 119：Overpriced , tiny rooms, no fridge, no safe, only beer no other alcohol. Only had cold water in the sink

Review 120：Friendly staff and good food

Review 121：the staff was overdoing their best.

Review 122：friendly staff, clean rooms great location. Nice pool.

Review 123：it was over night stay on our way to Arugam Bay. great place to be and also for safary

Review 124：Very friendly...clean room...good restaurant...fantastic property...

Review 125：Safari the highlight great value

Review 126：Easy going, very spacious with a small number of rooms, great food and ideal for visiting Uda Walawe NP.

The Fine Print

Please note that Jeep safari can be arranged at a surcharge.