Makandawa Forest Reserve
Makandawa Forest Reserve
4.5
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
17 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
TravellingSands
Chennai (Madras), India474 contributions
Dec 2019
The forest reserve boasts of un touched flora and a lot of indigenous fauna. Entrance tickets are high as all attractions in Srilanka do. we had a wonderful time trekking , watching birds and bathing in the waterfalls. Good halt for nature lovers.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tobindavid
Mumbai, India119 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
Kitulgala is a small village on the banks of the Kelani river. Behind the quiet village is the Makandwa forest reserve. A small portion of the reserve is open to visitors for birding.
You can sight a lot of species endemic to Sri Lanka, Grey Hornbill, Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker, Orange-billed Babbler, Crested Drongo, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Yellow-fronted Barbet.. to name a few. You can also sight the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and Dusky Squirrel, which are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The forest is quite dense and hence the light tends to be low. The light does not offer good photo opportunities. However the sighting the various species in the forest is a thrill in itself. In all I sighted about 47 species of birds in 2 days.
You can sight a lot of species endemic to Sri Lanka, Grey Hornbill, Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker, Orange-billed Babbler, Crested Drongo, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Yellow-fronted Barbet.. to name a few. You can also sight the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and Dusky Squirrel, which are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The forest is quite dense and hence the light tends to be low. The light does not offer good photo opportunities. However the sighting the various species in the forest is a thrill in itself. In all I sighted about 47 species of birds in 2 days.
Written January 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thimal D
2 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
It is situated near Kuthulgala area. You'll find a beautiful water stream which is excellent for rock sliding. Be careful water is like 10 foot deep. So the best way to go there is with a rafting instructors. They will provide life jackets and you won't have a thing to worry, except the leeches and small injuries to elbows! For an adventurous one I would suggest hiking along the stream. Have a great time! And please don't ruin the place by leaving polythene there.
Written September 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gerry C
York, UK324 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Stopped off here en route to Colombo on a recommendation of a local person.
Our driver managed to get a ‘local guide’ who was told we wanted to see/photograph birds.
The guide duly took us to the river for a boat crossing across to the Makadawa Forest Reserve. The guides English was virtually non existent. We paid our entrance fee (about £3 p.p) and off we went. He took us to a waterfall and wanted to guide us across slippery rocks at the waterfalls base. How we never broke an ankle of leg is beyond me. In addition, I had an expensive camera and long lens around my neck, how that too survived is miricle, as we both slipped into the river knee high several times. The guide wanted us to then climb up the waterfall. Enough was enough. We told him we wanted to go back.
We never saw a single bird in the forest and we got attacked by leeches from the foot to the groin and we both had long trousers on, which were tied at their bottoms.
I don’t wish to deter anyone from visiting what is a beautiful place but please be aware of the potential pitfalls if doing so.
Our driver managed to get a ‘local guide’ who was told we wanted to see/photograph birds.
The guide duly took us to the river for a boat crossing across to the Makadawa Forest Reserve. The guides English was virtually non existent. We paid our entrance fee (about £3 p.p) and off we went. He took us to a waterfall and wanted to guide us across slippery rocks at the waterfalls base. How we never broke an ankle of leg is beyond me. In addition, I had an expensive camera and long lens around my neck, how that too survived is miricle, as we both slipped into the river knee high several times. The guide wanted us to then climb up the waterfall. Enough was enough. We told him we wanted to go back.
We never saw a single bird in the forest and we got attacked by leeches from the foot to the groin and we both had long trousers on, which were tied at their bottoms.
I don’t wish to deter anyone from visiting what is a beautiful place but please be aware of the potential pitfalls if doing so.
Written December 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SydneyTraveller2016
Sydney, Australia8 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
It is quite a job to get there but the park offers well maintained tracks with a number of different destinations. We walked to the waterfall..which was more like a series of rocky rapids...and had a swim in one of the pools. We walked for about six Ks all up without seeing another person. But watch out for leeches!!!! I picked at least ten off my shoes and socks and only one managed to bite. Do not wear sandals under any circumstances.
Written October 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham L
Maroochydore180 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
We visited the Reserve during our stay at Kitulgala.
There is a large variety of bird life to be seen and photographed.
Of course you are walking through a rainforest/jungle so the pathways are rough and require mobility to access steps and inclines, but well worth the effort. I did manage to pick up a few leeches on our walk, but see this as a possible consequence of walking in a rainforest and no harm done!
There is a large variety of bird life to be seen and photographed.
Of course you are walking through a rainforest/jungle so the pathways are rough and require mobility to access steps and inclines, but well worth the effort. I did manage to pick up a few leeches on our walk, but see this as a possible consequence of walking in a rainforest and no harm done!
Written March 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siepko Verhoef
10 contributions
Feb 2020
Nice hike with visiting a waterfall. Mainly good path to walk.
By small ferry you have to cross the river. Entrance fee is not too high
By small ferry you have to cross the river. Entrance fee is not too high
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill R
London, UK84 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
I took the boat across the river three times and the followed clear paths into the forest . The paths wind up and down through the forest providing a good work out in the humid conditions . I saw a good variety of birds and on an evening night walk heard both the endemic Frogmouth and Serendip Scops Owl .
Written April 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas H
35 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Huge range of bird species and excellent, well maintained trails. High price tag for entry and lack of information mars it.
Written December 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diomedia
London343 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
Take the small ferry to the Reserve and immerse yourself in the forest. It is just a lovely place to enjoy.
Written December 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would you know how much the ferry cost to go to the forest reserve?
Written May 18, 2018
Hi, I'd like to a few facts about Makandawa Forest Reserve.
1. How to get there? (The exact reserve entrance location + land marks)
2. Open times?
3. Entry fee? If guides required?
4. Nearby restaurants?
Thanks
Written February 5, 2017
long question and long anwser
1.go near bathing point at kitulgala rest house and pay rs 30 to the boat and cross the river and go to the other side of the land.then walk 300 m and turn right.walk abiut 600 m to the entry point.road signs are there u will not misd
2 no such specif opening time but come befour 6 as the jungle is always dark.
3.rs 100 per adult or less
4.all the placess with the distance from the entry point is mentioned and guide is not needed for me but village teens will come to help at a cost of rs 500 /1000
Written February 6, 2017
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