The Sri Lankan family behind Dilmah Tea and the Resplendent Ceylon collection of hotels will be launching its third hotel venture, Wild Coast Tented Lodge, this November.
The opening comes as Sri Lanka’s national airline, SriLankan Airlines, prepares to launch direct daily flights from Melbourne to Colombo from the 29 October, making the verdant island nation easier to access from Australia than ever before.
Situated along a beach on the fringes of leopard hotspot, Yala National Park, Wild Coast Tented Lodge will boast 28 tented suites, each with soaring vaulted ceilings, four-poster beds and handmade copper bathtubs. With a design inspired by the surrounding landscape, four beach-facing suites will offer private plunge pools, while a further 16 suites will cluster around natural watering holes, attracting a variety of wildlife. The family cluster comprises eight cocoon suites with adjoining ‘urchins’ – small cocoons for little twitchers in making. Nature will be at the heart of the resort, with wilderness guides on hand to take guests into remote corners of the park, offering sightings of elephants, bears and leopards, plus incredible birdlife. A variety of learning experiences will also be on offer, including lectures on elephant behaviour, bird watching workshops and nature walks.
In line with Resplendent Ceylon’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and ethical business practice, Wild Coast Tented Lodge will employ a variety of eco initiatives. Grey water will be recycled from guest rooms and public areas for use in landscaping, while a solar plant will meet 40% of energy needs and garbage will be composted for use in the landscape. The hotel will also boast a conservation station dedicated to monitoring and protecting vulnerable wildlife within the surrounding area, including the Sri Lankan leopard.
