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4.5
#1 of 1 special inn in Datagamuwa
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The journey begins with the people you meet at Kele and ends with memories of the experiences you’ve shared. We welcome you to join our journey in a place where time stands still and nature calls at your door. Kele is tucked away deep in the Dry Zone, situated just 15 minutes away from the Katagamuwa Entrance of Yala National Park, in South East Sri Lanka. Our chalets have been built on stilts to provide you with a panoramic view of the surrounding wilderness whilst ensuring safety at all times during your stay. Our mission is to create and maintain a balance between community and conservation. This is reflected in the fact that construction of the resort prioritised the concept of “touching the earth lightly” by conserving the environment as much as possible. Relax with a good book, take dip in the pool or head out on a game drive to spot the elusive leopard- there’s something for everyone at Kele. So join us on our quest to explore the wild world- trust us, it’s never too late.
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This peaceful and straightforward hotel had everything we needed for a good stay. The rooms were really spacious and comfortable and the design fun and imaginative. We especially liked the unpretentious dining room and the Sri Lankan food really delicious and mindful of western palettes. The trips organised for us exactly met our needs as we had come for bird watching and our disconcertingly young guide was brilliant. The location allowed us access to the lesser known parts of Yala and we enjoyed peaceful safaris. If there is one slight comment it is that the sandwiches offered on safari might be a little more imaginative but we were out fort a full day and lunch was huge and totally delicious. A grand stay at a peaceful place. The access was a little tricky when we stayed in February 2020 , as it is all over the region, as the winter rains have been very hard on all the local roads as well as within the parks. We appreciated how challenging it must be to run a business in these conditions and were grateful for our comforts.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear GMG, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This was our 2nd stay at Kele Yala, which is a tranquil boutique hotel situated about 30 minutes from Yala National Park (Katagamuwa Entrance). The property comprises 5 air-conditioned chalets. We stayed in April 2021 and booked a triple, and our chalet afforded a picturesque view of the abundant greenery and local fauna. The cheerful chirping of crickets and birds provided a constant background symphony. The rooms were clean, and the beds were comfortable. The bathrooms were well done up, adding to the jungle feel. The meals they planned out for us were mouthwatering and flavourful authentic Sri Lankan dishes, which we all enjoyed. A special mention must be made of the hoppers we had for dinner, which was fabulous. Eranga looked after us really well and was helpful in organizing a safari jeep with a very experienced driver. Absolutely enjoyed every minute of our stay! It’s a must-visit for nature lovers, who want an affordable, cosy hotel to relax in after a long safari.
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Date of stay: April 2021
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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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear Omaya, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This 6 roomed resort is 20 minutes away from the Yala national park north gate entrance. We accommodated 3 rooms over the busy Sinhala/Hindu New Year period. Rooms are super comfy and cool in the midst of the outside heat and humidity. Complete with running hot water, a mini fridge and kettle - it was all we needed for a relaxing stay in between safaris. Eranga and his wife are extremely accommodating and the food is delicious. Excellent and prompt service. The area is well lit yet homely and inviting. The pool is a bonus too! No creepy crawlies in the rooms as well! Board games like carom and checkers are on offer too. Great bird life around the resort surroundings. Safe and comfy all around!
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Date of stay: April 2021
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Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Take your own wifi router or download movies - no tv no wifi
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear Ams, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This place is at the end of an isolated dirt road more suitable for 4WD vehicles. The driver we booked was not impressed being forced to drive his car down this. The resort only had two other guests who were placed in the block we were at, with one room between us. The walls are concrete and the rooms have a tin roof. We didn’t sleep well due to hearing the other guests talking at 4.30am (sound bounces around concrete walls). Monkeys were throwing nuts on the tin roof soon after that. This place is extremely overpriced for what it is and the safari vehicle used (which had a stick with Kele resort on it) was so old with terrible suspension that I swear I could feel my ovaries clanging around as we bounced along the tracks in Yala in search of a leopard(s) which we didn’t find and ended up bogged. What a waste of money and time that was. Save your money and stay elsewhere – Yala was a real disappointment too
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
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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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear Ma'am, Thank you so much for your review. We're disappointed to hear that you did not enjoy your stay with us and have worked towards resolving these issues. Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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We were fortunate to spend 3 days at Kele while we were in Sri Lanka. We choose this resort due to the proximity to the side gate (Katagamuwa) at Yala which has less traffic.
The accommodation was fantastic (our group booked 3 rooms), the rooms were clean (bedroom and bathroom), well appointed and the air conditioning worked well (important during the hot daytime).
The food too was great. We choose the full board option which included breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prior to each meal we were asked for our preference of food (Eastern or Western) and they produced a fantastic meal each and every time.
The standout at Kele are the staff. They were absolutely brilliant.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Zone 3/4/5 Are excellent - Close to the pool and dining room facilities
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear Enander, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This was our second trip and a third for one member in our party here. It was a wonderful and memorable stay and because we had a wonderful experience first time, we decided come back for a second time. The food was wonderful, tasty and delicious. My husband is a vegetarian and they catered to his requirements as well. They have a special hopper night on certain nights and we were lucky enough to have it each time we stayed there! There were different types and a variety of food, food combinations which we never thought of but was delicious! We didn’t use their safari jeeps as we used our personal vehicles. The road to the hotel is a bit of a bumpy ride, a 4WD is advisable to take. The service and staff were impeccable! They were friendly, attentive and added a personal touch of care! The rooms are spacious and nice, and ideal for group of travelers as they can reserve a block of cabanas. There’s a pool as well to relax if one wants to.. last time we gave feedback to avoid plastic bottles of water and to switch to glass and they have taken our feedback well and positively! Overall we had a wonderful experience!
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 2 Apr 2023
Dear Nimashi, Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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OMG!!!! A place like this deserves an international award. The Chalets concept in dense bushes is just ideal for a nice group of friends or family to spend time with nature. Such large rooms, with luxurious bedding, linen and bathroom. We were a group of 13 family and friends, so we booked the whole vila. They organized a Sri Lankan hopper night as we had a lot of vegetarians. Amazing, lip smacking food. A traditional Sri Lankan taste. A swimming pool in the jungle atmosphere was the evening highlight for all of us. They organized the yala safari for us on 2 jeeps. Excellent arrangements. We did not have to worry at all. They even packed our breakfast boxes to have in the safari jeeps in Yala. The drivers picked a perfect spot near a lake to have the breakfast. We were instructed not to throw anything out, nor try to feed any animals or call them. That shows how caring they were to the guests. My elderly mother was left behind in the room while we were on Safari, and they looked after her with breakfast in the room and took good care of her. You just need to visit this place. You will be amazed.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 14 Dec 2023
Dear Sir, Thank you so much for taking the time to submit this appreciative and thoughtful review. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and we look forward to the prospect of hosting you again in the future. Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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When you drive towards the place it’s a mud road and you arrive to a concrete structure which is the reception area and dining area and was worried.
The staff were absolutely amazing and looked after us well.
The room was lovely as was the bathroom however, the sink didn’t drain properly and shower was a drizzle that you could barely use which was disappointing. The bed only had a thin sheet on it so felt cold with the air conditioning on even though we adjusted the temp and hit without it on. The fan was a little noisy.
The food was not great, we ordered at lunchtime from a menu for what we wanted for dinner and when we arrived back from safari at 6.30pm was told dinner won’t be ready til 7.30pm. The fries are cooked in coconut oil so didn’t taste great. My creamy pasta was dry.
The pool water was cloudy with what looked like a film of dust on top so didn’t want to risk getting in.
I wouldn’t recommend staying here as it is but if they fixed the bathroom issues and improved the food and had a blanket it can be so much better as the rooms are lovely and the serenity of the place is really nice.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 29 Feb 2024
Dear Ma'am, Thank you for your review. We are disappointed to hear that we didn't meet your expectations and are looking into your comments immediately as we haven't had other guests who stayed over the same dates raise concerns over the same. Nontheless, we wish you safe travels and an enjoyable holiday as you continue to explore Sri Lanka. Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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We had a lovely time at Kele Resort. The ambience was great! Loved the forest vibe. Food and hospitality was superb. I went with my family and some friends including my 82 year old mom. We went on the Yala safari but mom had to stay back due to the bumpy ride. The host of the resort made special breakfast (basically whatever mom wanted to eat) for her to have in the convenience of her room. Must visit this place!
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Enjoy the pool and authentic Sri Lankan food
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 14 Dec 2023
Dear Ma'am, Thank you so much for taking the time to submit this appreciative and thoughtful review. We are truly delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and we look forward to the prospect of hosting you again in the future. Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kele Yala is a hidden gem nestled in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, just a short drive from Yala National Park's Katagamuwa entrance.
This boutique hotel offers a tranquil and comfortable base for exploring the surrounding wilderness.
The friendly and welcoming staff, absolutely delicious food (how can a humble vegetable soup and simple egghoppers taste so amazing?), and peaceful surroundings made our stay memorable.
While the resort doesn't offer a TV or stable internet, we didn't miss it as we spent our time on safari and enjoying the natural beauty of the area. We didn't use the swimming pool either.
We also had THE best nap after the morning safari, and the team was kind enough to give us a late checkout.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Kele means jungle, and reaching the hotel is an off-road safari - you can get a tuktuk from the...
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.
Response from Kele Resorts, Owner at Kele Yala Sri Lanka
Responded 8 Mar 2024
Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're delighted to hear that you loved your stay with us and look forward to the prospect of serving you again in the future! Warm Regards, Customer Support | Kele
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Datagamuwa area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$283 - AU$315 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Sri LankaUva ProvinceDatagamuwa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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