Roar & Rove Reviews 4

I cannot recommend this safari enough. it was the most incredible experience ever!! Me and 4 of my friends did safaris in Wilpattu National Park, Minneriya National Park, Yala National Park, and Gal Oya National Park, as well as treks in Horton Plains National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, and Makandawa Forest Reserve, and it was amazing.

Our guide, Wasantha, was incredible and super knowledgeable. He taught us so much throughout the trip. This company is awesome, we got to customize our own trip, and they arranged everything exactly how we wanted it, including which days we wanted to go where and at what times.

The accommodation was amazing as well. It was in a quiet area, but only a few minutes’ walk away from lots of market shops, which was awesome.

Another highlight was the FOOD! The food on the safaris and at the local restaurants was probably the best food I had during my entire trip in Sri Lanka, and I was there for over a month. The chef at our lodge in Wilpattu was incredible and made delicious hoppers for us, and you also get lunch during the safari.

This was our first safari, and I felt so fulfilled by the end of it. We saw so many animals and even saw the Big 3! Our safari jeep drivers Sandun, Indunil, and Kelum went out of their way to make our experience amazing. They always tried to give us better views of the animals while still keeping enough distance so they wouldn’t disturb them.

This safari was WAY better than I expected, and I would do it again 1000%. Wasantha is also a great photographer, he gave us all the pictures afterwards free of charge, especially the leopard and bear photos.

Thank you so much for such an incredible experience. We will remember it forever.

My wife and I chose Sri Lanka for our honeymoon as our first step into
exploring Asia after mostly traveling throughout Africa. I’m a doctor
and she’s a teacher, and after extensive research, we chose Roar & Rove
due to their excellent reviews and reputation.

The most important part of a safari is the guide, and ours, Lahiru, made
the experience exceptional. He was knowledgeable, honest, and
personable, sharing both wildlife expertise and stories from growing up
in Sri Lanka. Thanks to his effort and coordination, we were able to see
Sri Lanka’s Big Five and the Gathering in Minneriya, which exceeded our
expectations. He even introduced us to his hometown and family, which
gave us a meaningful cultural experience beyond just the parks.

The safari itself was incredible. We visited Wilpattu, Minneriya, Horton
Plains, and Yala. There were quiet stretches, but then suddenly
unforgettable wildlife moments. In Minneriya, we drove in a Land Rover
with a pop-up roof, and cruising through the savannah felt like
something out of an Indiana Jones film. In both Yala and Wilpattu, we
had 4x4 jeeps, which was great. As a hobby photographer, I highly
recommend bringing a telephoto camera if you enjoy photography.

The lodging was a mix of tented camps and lodges. Cinnamon Lodge
Habarana and Jetwing Jungle Lodge were excellent and felt special for a
honeymoon. In Wilpattu, Wilds Wilpattu was great, along with Specs
Lodge. In Nuwara Eliya, The Golden Ridge was amazing, with the cooler
climate and views. The beach stay at Radisson Blu Resort was also
wonderful. The selection of the hotels was absolutely fantastic.

Communication with Roar & Rove was good overall, though response times
were sometimes slow during the planning stage. They did include a
thoughtful honeymoon gesture, which we appreciated.

Overall, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we felt well
taken care of throughout the trip. I would absolutely recommend Roar &
Rove, and especially Lahiru, to anyone planning their first safari tour
to Sri Lanka.

I booked the bird photography tour with Roar and Rove, and the whole process was incredibly straightforward and simple. We were in touch with Lahiru for over a week to organise this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it turned out to be fantastic. He even personally picked us up from the airport and ensured we were well looked after and comfortable throughout.

The price we paid was very reasonable, and it really depends on the accommodation you choose. We spent 15 days visiting Wilpattu, Minneriya, Yala, Horton Plains, Kumana, and Bundala. The safari jeep drivers at each park were excellent, respectful towards the animals, maintaining a safe distance, and, most importantly, they had a great knowledge of the birds. Some even carried bird identification books, which were really useful.

Aside from birds, we also saw plenty of other animals, including sloth bears, leopards, deer, buffalo, mongooses, elephants, and more. The lodges Lahiru selected were absolutely brilliant. Each one was very close to the national parks, and the staff were warm and friendly. And I must mention the food, it was delicious.
Overall, I’d give this experience a solid 10/10.

We’ll definitely be back and would highly recommend this service to any bird-loving friends who are considering a trip to Sri Lanka or a bird photography tour.

Our Safari Driver in Yala was a pro. He knew exactly where's the leopards are and had a chance to spot and photography two of them. Highly Recommend Roar and Rove for Safari in Yala