The south coast’s many golden beaches are ideal for activities ranging from surfing and snorkelling to whale watching and fishing in the Indian Ocean. Inland, jungles reveal ancient temples and holy caves, tea plantations and natural treasures including Bundala Bird Sanctuary and Udawalawe National Park.
Within 1.5 hours by car from Amanwella, a brace of national parks promise wildlife sightings to rival the most celebrated African game reserves. Wild elephant roam Udawalawe National Park, while Bundala attracts huge numbers of migratory birds. Look out for the elusive leopards at Yala.
Luxurious vehicles and expert guides ensure a world-class safari experience. Guests are also invited to combine their safari with a visit to the elephant sanctuary where hundreds of infant elephants are cared for and rehabilitated.
Sri Lanka is renowned for its surf and attracts both experienced and novice surfers year-round. The beaches near Amanwella boast a range of breaks for all levels, and the resort can arrange one-on-one lessons with experienced local surfers.
Catching your own dinner is an unforgettable experience, especially when Amanwella’s chefs will prepare your fish – whether mahi mahi, tuna, mullet, para or seer – just as you like it. At 6.00am with the sun gilding the ocean, join Wasantha, a local fisherman and father of two, and his friend Asiri, and learn the traditional handline method of fishing. (Contemporary rods are also available.) You will travel 3km offshore and fish for about two to three hours.
The serene waters of Mawella Lagoon provide an ideal setting for sunrise or sunset canapés aboard Amanwella’s floating lounge. With a glass of champagne in hand, drift along the verdant shoreline and out into the tranquil deep, spotting pelicans, kingfishers and other water birds as the calm surface reflects the sky above.
From December to April, the south coast of Sri Lanka is considered one of the best places in the world to see blue whales, often accompanied by sperm whales and large pods of spinner dolphins.