Bright Sun Safari

From the moment we arrived at Bright Sun we were greeted warmly by Lakmali and Upul, who are always smiling. The room is comfortable, but the real treat is being surrounded by an oasis of calm and wildlife (just sit outside on the terrace and you'll have your own mini-safari around you!). The place is conveniently located near shops and bars but once you arrive you won't really want to leave. Upul's wife also made us a delicious Sri Lankan meal on our last evening. All in all it was exceptional value for money. The safari with Chaminda exceeded our expectations. He was so knowledgeable, making sure we got the best view of not only plenty of elephants (including babies) but spotting so many amazing exotic birds and other animals, including crocodiles and the rare giant squirrel! A leaf would barely move, and Chaminda was already identifying the animal and passing us the binoculars. Other jeeps were zooming past which made us feel as though they weren't as closely tuned-in to the surroundings as Chaminda. He made sure we got away from the crowds and had a truly bespoke experience we'll never forget.

Leaving!

Lovely room in the backyard of a very beautiful garden. Upul and his family were absolutely adorable hosts, very welcoming and kind, they went over and above to help us with anything we needed. Both breakfast and dinner were delicious! I highly recommend!

Zulke aardige mensen. Ze willen je met alles helpen. Ontbijt en diner zijn heerlijk. De kamer was brandschoon.

Niets

Upul and Lakmali went above and beyond expectations which made our stay really exceptional. They're fantastic people who really understand how to provide outstanding service while still respecting privacy. I wholeheartedly recommend staying here- book your safari with them too they arranged us the best experience (better than others) at a great rate.

There was nothing to dislike.

Een heerlijk rustig plekje dichtbij alles wat je zoekt in UdawLawe. De meest vriendelijke hosts maken ons verblijf perfect. Vlakbij nationaal park waarvoor zij ook een tour en een ervaren guide beschikbaar hebben. Het huisje is van alle gemakken voorzien, airco werkt perfect, heerlijk bed, prima warme douche. Een prachtig verblijf midden in het groen maar niet ver van de doorgaande weg.

Where to begin… we had an exceptional stay at the bright safari! Our host Upul is a very kind man and he welcomed myself and boyfriend into his family and we will forever be grateful for the special memories created there. His wife Cooked us delicious traditional Sri Lanka food each night. Thank you so much ☺️ The bed was extremely comfortable the room was spacious and very clean. It was nice to have a hangout spot on the terrace. There are lots of beautiful plants surrounding the property which give it a jungle feel. We saw many tropical birds around. I would 100% recommend booking the safari through Upul he partners with a guide who has many years experience. The safari guide was knowledgeable of the animals and different species we saw on the safari. He was very respectful of the wildlife and drove slowly through the park unlike some other jeeps… We was so greatful for him taking us to quieter locations when it was only us as it can get crowded at the park sometimes. If you are going to Udawalawe safari you must book with him !!

Nothing !!

The best staff and stay we could have hoped for! Upul and his sister were wonderful. They arranged the safari in Udawalawe park with the best guy! Super fun and felt so safe. They fixed delicious dinner and breakfast aswell. Cleaning was great. 10/10 ⭐️ /best regards Ingrid and Elsa from Sweden.

The room was clean, no mold in sight, hot water, a quiet air conditioner with a sleep mode, a mosquito net (which we didn’t even need inside), pleasant lighting, power outlets next to the bed, a hairdryer, toiletries, tea, and a comfortable bed with two pillows each to choose from. There was also a lovely terrace in the idyllic garden, perfect for relaxing. We arrived in the afternoon and were delighted that the family spontaneously had time to prepare a fresh local dinner for us. It was the best Rice & Curry on the whole island! Like most visitors in Udawalawe, we wanted to go on a safari. It was very convenient that Upul could organized one for us at a completely fair price. Many accommodations offer this service, but often overcharge or pressure guests into booking with them and kick them out otherwise. Here, we were free to decide, but we are convinced that Upul friend Chamdi is the best guide in the park! He was friendly and showed us so many animals we would never have seen otherwise—ones that all the other jeeps just sped past! Even at full speed, he spotted tiny chameleons in the bushes, and provided binoculars, which were very useful. We saw eagles, jackals, crocodiles, many colorful birds, baby elephants, and much more. With his years of experience, he told us a lot about the park and the animals and even had books with him in case we wanted to learn more. He could even name most animals in German! Even on the way back from the park, he would stop on the road whenever he spotted something interesting. We sincerely recommend booking this guide—just make sure to reserve in advance, as he is often fully booked. After the safari, a fantastic breakfast with all kinds of local delicacies was already waiting for us. Upul also helped us with our onward journey, so we had a truly relaxed travel day. Thank you again, we will be back!

Dear Upul, we wanna thank you for having us. We had a Great time with you, even that we only had a few days to get to know each other. You organized us the best driver for our Safari Tour in Udawalawe national Park. We very appreciate the drivers respect for the wild animals. Thank you for that special time with you, you are a super cool host and it felt like leaving a new won friend. All the best for you and your family! :-)

Please fix the water boiler for our next stay :-)

I thought the free breakfast was amazing, the room was really comfy and a great price, and the family running it are very welcoming and friendly. Good location for safari and going around the town.