Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park

Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park

Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Kalametiya bird sanctuary is located in Hambantota district, southern province, in Sri Lanka. 22 km from Tangalle. It is a protected area by the government of Sri Lanka. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1938. Kalametiya bird sanctuary falls in to the dry zone category. It is a nice natural landscape for bird watching and nature photography. It is full of water and water flows to the sea through the bird sanctuary. Kalametiya bird sanctuary consists with beautiful mangroves, coastal lagoons, and scrub lands. Many species of resident birds, migratory birds and endemic birds can be seen. These lagoons support breeding colonies of pelicans, herons, egrets and open-billed stork and large wintering populations of migratory ducks and shorebirds. You can enter in to the bird sanctuary by a catamaran. You can climb up the rocks in the middle of the bird sanctuary, and you will see beautiful sceneries of the bird sanctuary from the top of the rocks. It will be a nice tour for nature lovers.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Luise
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing bird watching experience
    We had a wonderful tour with Mahesh in the Kalametiya bird sanctuary. We did the morning tour and it was definetly worth getting up early because of the cooler temperature and nice morning light. We spotted (among others) kites, herons, egrets, kingfishers and ducks (and also a giant squirrel). We highly recommend this Tour!
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 March 2023
  • Boris
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mahesh is great!
    We went on a tour with Mahesh in March 2023 and it was just great!! He has a very good eye for birds and he is fun ti talk to. The area has a stunning beauty in the morning light. I can only highly recommend this tour!!
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 March 2023
  • tdel
    Kandy, Sri Lanka135 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jacana was my favourite . What a beauty
    Watched something worth and not seen before.noticed 21 varieties of birds. Don't remember seen so much in one single journey. Guide was really good. Booking online was simple and promptly responded.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 22 March 2023
  • Ruben Z
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautifull, would recommend!
    We had a great trip. We did a tour early in the morning. It s a stunning and tranquil boatride through mangroves and lillies. We saw a lot of beautifull birds, darters, herrons, kites, 4 kinds of kingfishers. Mahesh, our guide, was really good. Would definitely recommend 10/10.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 August 2023
  • Elka S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic start of the day!
    I went in the early morning tour. It was fantastic to observe the sunrise in the quietness of the nature. Only us and the birds. Mahesh is very experienced guide, who is as well very nice and friendly on personal Level. He and his boat men are a very harmonic team. I felt safe, calm and enjoyed fully the trip. Recommend!
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 17 December 2023
  • Rohit Sridhar
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do boat safari
    The boat safari was a fantastic experience. We saw at least 25-30 diff species of birds. Our guide Buddh was very knowledgeable about the local birds and made the trip unforgettable for us. We were there at sunset and it was so quiet and peaceful and the only sounds we could hear were the ocean waves and the hundreds of birds flying around. My wife and I will never forget this trip on our honeymoon. We highly recommend doing the boat ride.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 23 December 2023
  • Jacob N
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ultimate peaceful experience
    We did the tour with Mahesh on Christmas day and it was such a special experience. We saw lots of different birds and Maheshs knowledge was exceptional. If your looking for an extremely peaceful expensive I would highly suggest booking this trip.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 December 2023
  • Nicola P
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Secret heaven near Tangalle
    Beautiful experience. The lagoon is just the greates place to spend a morning near Tangalle. Very silent, quiet catamarans, no crowds, just birds everywhere. The guide is very knowledgeable and takes his time showing you around the lake. Strongly recommend.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 January 2024
  • sylvie m
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A tour in bird paradise
    We had a fantastic time with Mahesh! Not only was he very knowledgeable about the birds but he was also very friendly and funnw. We could feel his true passion about bird life and his desire to make us see all the species, explain about the sanctuary, teach us about bird life. The tour was mind-blowing, the landscape and nature were incredible, and the quiet environment made it feel like paradise. We highly recommend!
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 January 2024
  • Cassie L
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bird watching on small boat
    Tour guide Mahesh is friendly and showing all the beautiful birds from the lagoon. The wind is breezing and bird sounds are lovely. I really like this trip. More photos are in the camera. Only uploaded 3 pictures for glimpse.
    Thank you for visiting "Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park"! I'm grateful for your excellent review!
    Written 14 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles384 reviews
Excellent
385
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BipashaB
Singapore, Singapore18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
We had the most wonderful birdwatching Lagoon experience, and our guide Mahesh was fantastic and very knowledgeable. We can highly recommend the tour, and the sunset views were simply amazing the mangroves and the lush green Lagoon was calming and blissful. Mahesh gave us an in depth overview of the lagoons ecosystem and biodiversity too. Additionally we were the only catamaran in the entire lagoon which is very clean and protected and the Katamaran is hand rowed. Overall a beautiful experience.
Written 18 March 2024
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.

Curious48815586414
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
This is a beautiful place. You are practically alone in the middle of nature. We did the afternoon tour from 4 to 6, which was great because we could see the sun setting. We did see many birds like pheasant-tailed jacanas, purple herons, blue tailed bee-eaters, brahminy kites, an eagle and an open billed stork. We did also see a giant squirrel. The guide was very friendly and patient. He had a book where he showed the species that we saw, which I liked.
Written 17 March 2024
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.

Sergio C
Battambang, Cambodia15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We had two peaceful hours with a very kind and acqueinted guide in a beautiful lagoon: the tour is relaxing and we could see many different kinds of birds and other animals as well, like the srilankan giant squirell. Good experience that I hope to repeit next time. Thank you Mahesh for your time with us and to share your knowledge of bird with us
Written 10 March 2024
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.

Bluebell
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This boat trip on the lagoon was honestly one of the biggest highlights of our trip to Sri Lanka. The boat is rowed, rather than motorised, and glides silently through these staggeringly beautiful wetlands. Other trips in other parts of SL were ruined by engine noise and pollution, but this bird sanctuary is clearly valued and respected by the people who look after it and is an important preserved habitat. We went in the afternoon and early evening and saw a massive variety of birds and our guide, Charmeenda, a truly gentle soul, was softly spoken and extremely knowledgable. I can't recommend this trip enough for anyone interested in birds and wildlife or indeed anyone just wanting a calm and soothing couple of hours drifting through this glorious waterscape.
Written 3 March 2024
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.

Nick C
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We had a truly magical experience at the Kalametiya bird sanctuary. Stunning sunrise, an array of birds all pointed out with great passion and humour by Mahesh. Well worth the very early start.
Written 2 March 2024
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.

Олеся К
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
The organization is excellent. I wrote to Mahesh in the evening, and the next morning, a tuk tuk was already waiting for us. I advise you to explore the lagoon in the morning, it's not hot, the main rule is not to be late! Leisurely rafting on the lagoon, beautiful views, many interesting birds, visible from afar, but you will be given binoculars. I really like these walks when you can not think about anything and contemplate nature. The guide is wonderful, tells a fascinating story, it is understandable even with a poor knowledge of English.
Written 1 March 2024
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.

Christine
Narbonne, France13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This tour is amazing , so quiet, we see a lot of birds . The sunrise is so beautiful.
Our guide was so friendly !
This was a very good moment in the incroyable nature of Sri Lanka ❤️
Written 26 February 2024
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.

Daniel
Bolzano, Italy2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Great experience, nice way to start your day: so soothing and clam. Beautiful landscape, birds and very kind and polite people. Highly recommend it if you love nature.
Written 25 February 2024
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.

Сергей С
Ja Ela, Sri Lanka4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
My wife and I really enjoyed our tour with Mahesh to Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary.
That day was my birthday, and we decided to relax in a beautiful place and watch the birds in their natural surroundings. We succeeded very well. A very relaxing ride among the mangroves. We saw a lot of birds. It is very interesting to watch them through binoculars. Our guide Mahesh showed us different birds and told a lot about their habits. He also made good pictures of us when we were talking or watching birds.
Everything was organized impeccably. At the appointed time, the driver was waiting for us at the hotel. He took us there and back for a very reasonable price. If you want to take your time and relax for 2 hours, I sincerely recommend this tour!
Written 22 February 2024
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.

Татьяна Б
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
We traveled a long way from Unawatuna to Kalametiya for this tour by public transport, but we did not regret it at all.
The national park turned out to be a very picturesque place; we swam among mangroves, water lilies and other various plants. We met many birds on our way. Our tour started at dawn and we enjoyed the picturesque scenery. The guide was very friendly and told us about all the birds we saw. He also took many beautiful photographs for us of us observing nature. We were able to enjoy bird watching and nature watching.
It was a very comfortable and educational trip thanks to our guide. This is a great place, where there are not many tourists, where you can calmly enjoy nature, meet real hospitality from the locals, without attempts to deceive. I highly recommend visiting this reserve with your guide Mahesh if you also love nature and animals. The guide can also help you find transportation and accommodation to visit the site.
Written 13 February 2024
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.

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KALAMETIYA LAGOON BIRD SANCTUARY & WETLAND PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park

Kalametiya Lagoon Bird Sanctuary & Wetland Park is open:
  • Sun - Sat 00:00 - 23:59

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