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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
"Hello, We had 2 weeks exploring Sri Lanka and for most of that time Cyril drove for usto various towns, sites of interest. Cyril wsa a very pleasant chauffeur. Always prompt and greeted us with a smile. He was well informed about the sites we visited and pointed out many interesting historical buildings en-route. We had a great 2 weeks in Sri Lanka and Cyril's plesant and helpful nature contributed to this briliant holiday. Thank Cyril Sara and Steve from Birmingham, England" Sara and Steve
"We found Cyril on-line and after checking with lots of other guides we decided he is the one for us, that decision was the best one we did for our trip From the beginning, in our emails, Cyril listen to us and was very helpful, he gave us information and helped us to create the best trip for us.We had 10 days trip, for our honeymoon, to many parts of Sri-Lanka. the country is amazing, green, nice people and good food.Cyril was a great driver and even greater guide, he has so much knowledge and e..." Coral and Oded from Israel
"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
"Hello my dear friend Mr. Cyril We are all fine dear, I have visited Sri Lanka and I loved the country, Insha’Allah I will visit again your country, it is amazing place. This is the first day at work , really I enjoy the tour to sri lanka with my family and it was very nice and I wish to go again to sri lanka and of course you were very good and polite and respectable guy -thanks a lot for every thing and I wish you ..." Nasser Mohamed from Oman
"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 so much Cyril for guiding us around your beautiful country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time which was made particularly special by your professionalism, enthusiasm and friendliness. We wish you all the best in the future. Warm regards from, Aonghus O'Keefee and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland " Aonghus and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland
"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
"We are glad to meet Cyril. He is very kind and patient, very professional in his work. He have lot of knowledge about history of the places and the things that happened in Sri Lanka. He knows all the roads and places very well. Very friendly and stand on time. The tour he recommended us and places were excellent. He replied immediately for mails which we send. He was flexible when we asked him to stop in different places and to change our program. He speaks very good English and explanations..." Ruty Ben Haim from Isarel
"11th April 2014 01 week tour around Sri Lanka A fantastic week was had by all with Cyril, exploring Kandy, Nuwaraeliya and Bentota. Your meaningful insights & excellent explanations of the Sri Lanka’s culture, nature and traditions were invaluable. Your smile and charm helped is feel related and comfortable. Not getting stressed once. With your guidance & tips, the holiday flew by with only one problem: it was very short! Your comprehensive list of talents ranges from findin..." Ian Price and family from UK
