Bentota River Safari: Mangrove Wildlife

Embark on a unique Bentota River Safari to explore mangroves and spot rare wildlife. Enjoy a 2-hour lagoon safari with free pick-up and drop-off included.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Bentota River - River Bentota, the legendary river in southern part of the country, flows into the Indian Ocean forming a lagoon at the last section of the river. The River Bentota and the lagoon set up the widest array of water sports among all the beach resorts of Sri Lanka. Jet-skiing, windsurfing, parasailing or enjoying a romantic river safari…

What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Expert local guide
  • Complimentary bottled water
  • All-inclusive taxes and fees
  • Goods and Services Tax (GST) included
  • Local taxes covered
  • Environmental Management Charge (Reef Tax) included
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

The Bentota Travel Mart ( BTM ) offers the Bentota River Boat Safari for visitors staying in Bentota, Induruwa, Kosgoda , Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Aluthgama, Beruwala, Maggona, Kalutara, Waskaduwa and Wadduwa. Complimentary pick up and drop off services are provided for these areas.
For an exclusive and novel experience of a lagoon safari,…

Location
Bentota
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(89 Ratings)
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B2279jgroyh
Mar 19, 2025
Private tour of the mangroves - We booked this Safari via Trip Advisor and had great communication telling us when we would be picked up from the hotel and a picture of the Tuk-Tuk that would be transporting us. The boat safari itself was really enjoyable and our driver/guide was very knowledgeable. He was really keen to ensure our expectations were met. All the boat drivers share information with each other and are considerate of each other so we got to see lots of animals. Our Tuk-Tuk driver even waited at a supermarket whilst we picked a few soft drinks up. We would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
668julianf
Mar 4, 2025
Sumal was fantastic! - Had a great river safari with Sumal today. He was great at spotting the wildlife and providing information. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
954madeleinek
Feb 25, 2025
Mangrove Safari - Our guide really showed us a lot of wild animals (crocodiles, warblers, flying dogs, monkeys, kingfishers etc., the boat was inexpensive , no matter how many people ride, the price is per boat) contacting via WhatsApp very easy. Our guide can also speak German. He was very friendly. We learned a lot about the life of the animals in the mangrove forest. Definitely recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juliabz3977ex
Feb 12, 2025
Unmissable! - This was an unforgettable experience and we’d fully recommend it. Harinda, as mentioned in other reviews, is an outstanding guide, informative, interesting and so helpful - he even took some great photos for me! Going into the mangroves gave us yet another varied experience in Sri Lanka - unmissable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving751604
Jan 29, 2025
Amazing experience - Had an amazing experience! The boat ride through the mangroves was breathtaking, and the boat rider did a fantastic job explaining the rich wildlife and ecosystem. Highly recommend this tour for nature lovers!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Awickramasingha
Jan 2, 2025
Brilliant tour with knowledgeable guide - Harinda was a brilliant tour guide - very knowledgeable and passionate about nature. We saw lots of different wildlife on the river and enjoyed a coconut drink courtesy of Harinda. Would recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Livia_n
Dec 30, 2024
A great experience, must do! - A very well planned and executed excursion! Our boat driver was super experienced and tried really hard to show us as much as possible. Small crocodile, varans, frogs and monkeys (to which we even gave some nuts) were all part of the safari. The driver had fresh pineapple and coconuts for us too, which was very nice of him!
Review provided by Viator
517anujs
Dec 28, 2024
Simply awesome! - Sam and Haridra are absolutely great. Loved every bit of our cruise and Harindra was quick to help us spot the wildlife! A cruise with them is a must in Bentota!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Denis
Jan 2, 2025
Interesting tour - The trip was well organized. We were picked up from the hotel in time by tuktuk and within 10 minutes we were already on the Bentota River. We'd already been met there by a boat with a driver, who was a guide. The main channel of the river is wide and very picturesque. Hotels, restaurants and temples stand on the shores. The trip through the mangroves was also interesting, we saw many animals and birds. The guide tried, pointed out of us if we didn't notice them ourselves. All in all, it was great. I shot one star because there are people living on the banks of the mangroves and the water is dirty. It's very sad to see the ram swimming next to the engine oil canisters. But it's a local reality that the organizers have no control over.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traveller150988
Jan 8, 2025
Wildlife in captivity - Safaris are much more worth seeing both at Tissa Lake, Yala National Park, Lake Joda and in this area, as there are several really wild animals here. For example, hundreds of ibises on a tree, hundreds of flying dogs in one place, pelicans, deer, elephants and much more. During the safari mentioned here, unfortunately, only wildlife are shown in captivity on stations for tourists. A boat with baby crocodile being groped hundreds of times a day, a baby seacat to be reefed on and more. This has nothing to do with a safari for me! It leaves a bitter taste, because as a tourist you only get the feeling of being gutted for these stations. Sri Lanka has such a beautiful animal diversity to offer, but not here. However, the mangrove forests and greenery are beautiful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
2 Adult
March 2025
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