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Madu River Boat Safari
Embark on a relaxing Madu River Boat Safari and discover one of Sri Lanka's most enchanting wetland ecosystems. Located near Balapitiya on the island's southwest coast, the Madu Ganga is a protected estuary renowned for its remarkable biodiversity, tranquil waterways, and scenic natural beauty. This unique river-lagoon system, with its intricate network of mangrove forests, winding waterways, and numerous islands, is considered one of the last remaining stretches of pristine mangrove habitat in Sri Lanka.
Cruise through this peaceful maze of rivers and lush mangrove forests while enjoying the rich diversity of wildlife that thrives within the wetlands. The area is home to hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, reptiles, fish, and aquatic plants. During your journey, you may spot playful monkeys feeding in the trees, water monitor lizards gliding through the water, and a variety of birdlife, including kingfishers, cormorants, egrets, herons, and many other resident and migratory species, making the safari a paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers alike.
Scattered throughout the estuary are approximately 64 picturesque islands, ranging from tiny uninhabited islets with ancient shrines to larger islands that are home to local communities. One of the highlights is Cinnamon Island, where visitors can observe the traditional methods of cultivating and processing Sri Lanka's world-famous cinnamon, a spice that has played an important role in the island's history and economy for centuries.
Depending on your route, you may also visit a peaceful island Buddhist monastery, where friendly young monks welcome visitors and proudly display centuries-old palm-leaf manuscripts while demonstrating traditional cooking methods using cinnamon wood. These island communities offer a fascinating glimpse into the local way of life, where cinnamon cultivation and prawn fishing remain the primary livelihoods.
If you choose an evening safari, you may witness local fishermen quietly paddling traditional canoes as they light lanterns to attract prawns and other shellfish into their traps—a timeless fishing tradition that continues to this day.
As your boat glides beneath the shade of ancient mangrove trees, you'll gain a deeper appreciation of the ecological importance of this remarkable wetland. The mangrove ecosystem serves as a vital breeding ground for countless aquatic species while protecting the coastline from erosion and supporting one of Sri Lanka's richest natural habitats.
Combining breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife, fascinating local culture, and peaceful relaxation, the Madu River Boat Safari offers an unforgettable experience and is one of the finest nature excursions on Sri Lanka's beautiful southwest coast.
"Dear Cyril, Yes that's the one that we were calling all the time. Her name is Celia and by now she has a little sister. My dear Cyril, of course we can't forget your companion and we are always telling about you when we are talking about our trip to Sri Lanka. I wish you good luck with your company and I hope that you will have whatever you want. I want to tell also that I was very happy when I learned that you are a grandfather now. Best regards, Chris Greece 26/07/2011" Cristos Pravitas - Greece
"We had a exellent and memorable trip. That all credit to you Cyril.Indepth knowledge about the place, roads, Culture and history. Very matuared and patient. We were in very safe hands on all the time. Thanks a lot, mainly it's memorable expeirience for all of us. We always recomond CYRIL TOURS to our friends and relatives in Dubai and in India." Awdhesh Kumar and gruop
"We had excellent 8 days tour with CYRIL TOURS. It's all credit goes to Mr. Cyril. From the welcoming at Air port to hotels we stayed,food we had and driver who was provided was excellent. We always introduce CYRIL TOURS to all who wiling to tarvel to Sri Lanka. Swaran Kaur and family Kuantan - Malaysia 2012 May 18 - 25 May" Swaran Kaur and family from Malaysia
"Dear Cyril, We want to thank you so much for making our trip so unforgetable and delightful. We received your name from our friends lives in Geneva who travelled with you in January 2009 and they gave you such a high recommendation that we decided to conbtact you for our two weeks trip this year. Although we have been to Sri Lanka a few times already. We have never found such an excellent driver and guide. It has been a great pleasure to visit Colombo with you and then to Koggala for two day tr..." Mr.Gabor Kato & Mrs.Ann Kato
"Cyril was an excellent guide and gave us a very good insight into the history and cultures of Sri Lanka. He was always polite, helpful and prompt. His driving was always calm and controlled - unlike some of the other vehicles we saw!!! We would recommend him to others traveling to Sri Lanka. WH - UK - January 2011" Wilson Harland
"We had an excellent and memorable trip and all credits to Cyril. In-depth knowledge about the places, roads and history and culture. From the airport assistance - Food, accommodation provided and the vehicle was excellent. Very matured and patient, We being on safe hands. Thanks for making it a memorable experience for all of us. " Aubry De Souza and group from Dubai
"We had a great time on last 10 days in on our honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. Thank you very much for the stories, the explanations, driving, tips, care and always with a smile. Big thanks for you Cyril. We had an amazing honeymoon in this beautiful island! and you are the best guide and friend that we could have here!!! We will sure tell our friends and family about the trip and you!!! We will stay in touch and may be one day meet you again. Oded & Carol Israel 10 Oct 2014" Naim & Coral Fisher from Israel
"Dear Cyril, Thanks for taking care of the Dr.Sethukavalar and his wife very well. They were indeed very happy for all the care you have shown during your tour. They were very impressed of your patience and kindness. I look forward to see you soon and maintain this good relationship we have developed in a short period of time. We will not hesitate a second to recommend you to all our friends who would like to visit Sri Lanka. Taking this opportunity of wishing you all the best. Thanks fo..." HARIDAS KANDASAMY
"We are an older couple celebrating a lot of years of marriage (and hiking) in Sri Lanka in February this year, for two weeks, and three days in the Maldives. Although we love to drive, we chose to go with a driver-guide, after planning the trip completely independently. (It turned out he might help us in the planning and selection of hotels, we own). The main advantage is reaching the sites, some of which are tired, refreshed after someone else used to bad roads, with bad signage - If you are i..." Sam
"Thank you Cyril for making our Christmas holiday fun so smoothly and easy. We loved Sri Lanka and look forward to retuning again. Cyril, your knowledge and service was outstanding and it was so refreshing to have such a very highlevel of service. We will be sure to recomond your service and travel agency to our friends. Please feel free to use us as a reference, you can use my email or phone number to clients." Bruce Larson & family from USA
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