This was the nicest hotel we stayed in on our tour. The lodge rooms were comfortable and large, the food was great (most of the places we stayed served a buffet, and this was the best range of food of any of them, lots of local dishes and plenty of veggie options). The bar in the evenings was friendly and the Lodge Special cocktail was very nice :-). The open plan, open air feel of the bar and restaurant was lovely and the hotel grounds very nice, with lots of monkeys running around. The elephant safari nearby was lovely, we thought it would be a bit naff and touristy but actually it was a really great experience, and the guide pointed out lots of the local flora and fauna as we traipsed. The elephants certainly seemed to be well cared for and happy.

Not a good idea if you have children, as they have a tendency to leave dangerous chemicals lying around the gardens, without any warning. Beyond that, unremarkable.

I agree with most people that the grounds are nice and it's great to see some wildlife; monkeys, birds by the lake. My main problem with the hotel is the buffet. I think you either love or hate buffets. Personally when I go on holiday I want to sit down and be served a meal with complementing foods instead of a hotch potch of food. Don't bother with the Lotus restaurant or any meals that cost extra. They're geared up for buffets, getting a large volume of food out there that isn't that great.

This place seems to attract older people on bus tours that might just stay one night. Next time I will stay at the Kandalama.

We stayed here as or original booking to the Kandalama Hotel nearby was cancelled because of building work. Although that was a disappointment The Lodge was an excellent substitute. The rooms are one or two level buildings around the grounds and are well appointed and finished to a high standard. Not all the rooms have good views but all are only a short walk to the lake (tank) shore where there are hides and viewing points to watch the large amount of wildlife that visits, particularly good at sunset. The restaurant is good with a wide selection of food available from the large buffet and a separate glass walled chilled room for the desserts! The grounds are well maintained and there are nature walks and guides available. The hotel has its own pig farm nearby which recycles and even produces gas for the hotel, very environmentally friendly. The staff are keen to show you around and explain what is there. The elephant trek is good fun and well worth the money.