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Built right at the edge of the Great Tank Parakrama, this beautiful bungalow can room 5families comfortably. One room sleeps 3-4 in the Hanuman Bungalow, 2each in Loris and people in 4rooms in the Main Building. You wake up to bird sounds and to macaque calls. Water birds would skim past you when you paddle the canoes in the water. It's fantastic holiday spot!! You benefit from our 40+ years of scientific study, and 18 years as expedition leaders. Different tours are tailored for families with children, retirees, students and professionals of the macaques we have been studying for the past 42years. This site is also relevant to scientists, students, educators, and anyone interested in primate biology, wildlife conservation and South Asian tropical biodiversity.
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Absolutely the BEST way for small kids to experience 'boring old ruins' of ancient kingdoms is to bring them to life by walking through them with local monkeys. Accompanied by Primate Researcher Mr. Sunil from the Smithsonian Primate Reserach Center which has been studying these monkeys for 45+ years, this tour is much more than simply a social media selfie post opportunity! Both adults and kids learn so much. Mr. Sunil tailored his talk beautifully for the smaller kids ( who were obsessed with Monkey poop!) and showed us the incredible understanding that years of research have created between man and monkey. It's like having your very own Attenbrorugh experience! You realize just how amazing Mother Nature is. Even if you are not a monkey nut like me, I would strongly recommend this tour as a truly unique travel experience.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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.
Situated alongside the lake an outbuilding provides a great escape into real nature. The caretaker also does guiding in the Polonnaruwa site where 3 kind of monkeys live. The many years of research already gave lots of information which the guide loves to share during 2 hours morning or sunset observations. The guesthouse food is prepared by the guides wife and is very good. The rooms are spatious and very clean. Last morning I did an optional boat ride to birds Island and I was so lucky to come close to swimming elephants as well. This place is a real treat.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
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Response from Wolfgang D, Owner at Primate Centre Lodge
Responded 10 Feb 2020
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Neela. It is always gratifying to note that our guest appreciate the knowledge about monkey lore that we’ve accumulated over many years of studying these wild animals and that we are able to pass on to you. I will tell our staff that you also appreciated their efforts in the kitchen and in keeping you comfortable in our small bright spot in nature.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We throughly enjoyed our short stay at the Primate Center. During our time, we were paddled around "Bird Island", I took a cooking class with wonderful Nilu, we had a nighttime walk to see the Slender Loris, and we strolled among the monkeys at Polonnaruwa. The meals at the Primate Center rivaled those at luxury hotels. The room was comfortable and the staff exceptional.
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Date of stay: March 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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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We were received by a German monkey researcher. He owns this facility. There were shared rooms, and clearly has no hotel standards. However, we were attuned to it and it was very cozy. We felt very comfortable. We also learned a lot about monkeys and discovered many in the complex and on the roof of our house. That was a great experience
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Date of stay: November 2024
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Trip 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.
What a view from the front yard. The lake (Parakrama reservoir), an island with thousands of birds, sometimes elephants. Things to do - Monkey tours, Lorris tours, Boat ride to the Island. Only 5 km to the Archeological site. This morning three elephants were in the water 20 meters away from us. Then started swimming across the lake to the other side of the lake. Very tidy and clean rooms and washrooms. Friendly staff and great food. Homely atmosphere.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Having longed to visit the Monkey camp, we were thrilled when we arrived on the 4th June 2015, and felt priviliged to be welcomed by Dr Wolfgang Dittus himself, Ukku, the cook immediately supplied us with welcome drinks before we were shown to our room. Dinner was so well presented, plentiful and very tasty and the Dr joined us and happily gave us the history of his profession and of the Monkey camp which was a joy, then invited us to watch a film of the monkey world before bedtime. Next morning we set off to have a guided tour of the monkey park by Sunil, His expertise of the monkeys was enlightening, even to naming some, he was extremely patient and enjoyed answering all our questions AND as there were so many baby monkeys, we were thrilled. More delicious food was to follow, before we revisited the monkeys again. Sad to have to leave the next morning, it was all over much too soon. So many thanks to the Dr and to Sunil and for being so well fed by Ukku.
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Date of stay: June 2015
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:We had no complaints about our room which was semi with the room next door, there was everything...
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.
We stayed 3 nights at the Primate Centre Lodge known to locals as " Monkey Camp " . Toque Macaques wander around the entrance and it's possible to do a monkey tour to Polonnarawu ruins with the research staff to learn more . We we thrilled to get our own screening of Monkey Kingdom and learn more about the social behaviour of the Toque macaques . If you love wildlife and birds then this place is for you . Accomodation is very comfortable and better than other ' basic ! rated in paces we've stayed elsewhere in Asia . Aircon, hot showers and plenty of space in our bungalow . We happened to be the only guests as it's just before tourist season We went night spotting bourselves and saw the Grey Loris ( we borrowed red light torch ) and the silent mouse dear. By day we saw many Indian Pittas, Pied magpie robin, squirrels and both types of mongoose to name a few . . It's an easy 1-2 km walk to the free section of ruins shady and beautiful in the early morning ( with mozzies ) and here we saw many Ringneck parrots ! Alexandrine parrots and the black named hare with a number of Spot billed Pelicans bobbing on the lagoon opposite . " Monkey camp " is a perfect location to visit the incredible Polonnarrawau ruins ( $25 USD ) more bird life and plenty of time to watch the antics of Toque Macaques as well as the Purple faced langurs . The staff at monkey camp were very helpful and it able to organise a driver to our next location as well as a jeep safari to Kadualla national park . The food was delicious and cooked by ' chef ' who had worked there for 37 years . We loved the Primate Centre and would happily return and recommend . It was one of our Sri Lankan highlights .
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Date of stay: November 2015
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.
We choose to stay here because of its location by the lake as we love bird watching.
We were surprised that it did not have a view of the lake from the communal areas and rooms as we got the impression that it had from the photos, however that was our mistake. We carried the chairs from our room to the gap in the hedge (not that easy to do) and sat there to bird watch during the heat of the day.
The room exceeded our expectations and the shower worked exceptionally well. The mosquito net (which was necessary as there were several insects that bit around) was difficult to use and could be improved. You are in the woods so the welcoming cockroaches goes with the territory though it was a shame that one of them was in the bed.
We enjoyed meeting everyone and it was very nice to be shown the Disney film on the first evening. The evening meal was terrible and by far the worst meal we had while in Sri Lanka. Even the person that worked there that eat with us commented on how tough the chicken was. We eat out the other 2 evenings. The breakfast was little better and the person serving it really should have a wash.
The trip to the island to see the birds was one of the highlights of the holiday and we highly recommend it.
The birds on and above the lake are fantastic and we even show the magnificent Grey-headed Fish Eagle which we understand is endangered.
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Date of stay: October 2015
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
The Primate Center is run by dr. Wolfgang Dittus who works for the Smithsonian Institute. He has been studying primates in Sri Lanka for more than 40 years. This is the longest primate study ever in history!
He was the advisor for Disneys movie “The Monkey Kingdom”. You can go early morning with his staff to the historical city of Polonnaruwa, where most of this movie has been shot. In Polonnaruwa you will see the stars of the movie, Macaque monkeys. Because this monkeys have been studied for generations, they are not afraid of the staff from dr. Dittus. An amazing experience!
You can also do a Lori (small fury night animal) safari or a boat safari to the bird islands in the nearby lake which holds thousands of birds. The tours and excursions are not for free of course, it’s a lot of work and cost a lot of time for the staff.
The hotel is small with only 11 rooms. Rooms are simple, but very clean, have good beds and airco. Bathroom is clean, has a normal shower and a rain shower.
The food is good, made by a very experienced cook who knows a lot of different meals, Sri Lankan and Western.
So this not a luxury hotel, but it’s at a beautiful location and it has all the basics you need. It’s very close to Polonarruwa. And it will be one of your highlights if you do the monkey tour!
Our opinion: We like nature and wildlife, so highly recommended.
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Date of stay: September 2015
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:There are two houses which also have rooms. This could be a better choice then the rooms in 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.
We spent six weeks in Sri Lanka through July and August, staying in places ranging from five-star hotels to rather-too-basic homestays, but now, looking back, the Primate Centre Lodge (which we can't stop calling the Monkey House!) was the single best place we stayed. We were there for a week, which gives a good opportunity to see a place, and in that time we learned that the staff are lovely - with particular thanks to Sunil - the setting is unbeatable (on the shores of Polonnaruwa tank, blessed with amazing views, a cooling breeze and amazing wildlife right on your doorstep), and the location is perfect for visiting the many sites of the king's land (the tourist board insists on calling it the Cultural Triangle, but the old name is much more evocative).
The accommodation is spacious, with large rooms and a useful sitting room space in the various lodges set in the grounds of the Monkey House. The food provided by the silent but wonderfully attentive cook is excellent, and excellent value, and we still treasure the sound and sight of a troop of macaques gambolling on the roof, flights of storks taking wing on the lake, and a huge water monitor lizard (six feet!) making its muscle bound way down the path outside our lodge.
I believe the lodge is only open to tourists in June, July and August, but if you are visiting then, this is a great place to stay.
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Date of stay: August 2017
Location
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Trip 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.
There are more places to choose from in the Polonnaruwa area.
LOCATION
Sri LankaNorth Central ProvincePolonnaruwa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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