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7 of the best and most luxurious safari lodges in India and Sri Lanka

Few people realise that the Indian subcontinent contains some of the world’s best wildlife destinations. From elephants to bears, leopards to tigers, and an array of exotic birds, a luxury safari to India or Sri Lanka is sure to excite even the most experienced of enthusiasts. Getting as close to nature as possible and staying in a luxury safari lodge or tented camp, is the ultimate way to make to the most of your surroundings. Here are our suggestions for the best, and most luxurious, safari lodges in India and Sri Lanka: Sher Bagh, Ranthambore National Park, North India Step back in time to the 1920s, to the glamorous days of the royal safari hunting parties. Sher Bagh is camping at its most luxurious, and the camp’s location next to Ranthambore means you have a good chance of glimpsing a glorious Bengal beauty in the wild. Large en-suite tents overlook immaculate verdant gardens, and each tent will shroud you in opulent white linen, modelled on the safari quarters preferred by the princes of the time. Everything about this safari camp is reminiscent of the colonial era; the old-style lanterns by the wooden beds, an antique writing desk complete with a tick list of animals to spot, the bathrooms with rainwater showers and elegant copper fittings, the open-air bar serving Bloody Marys before lunch and cigars afterwards. Although it is done in a slightly whimsical fashion, the camp is genuinely fabulous and a must visit. Sher Bagh, Ranthambore National Park Kumana Mobile Tented Camp, Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is renowned for its boutique hotels and ravishing golden sand beaches, but few people realise that it has the best wildlife in Asia, home to Sri Lanka’s Big Five (blue whale, sperm whale, leopard, elephant and sloth bear), and the little-known Kumana National Park is an idyll for wildlife enthusiasts and keen bird watchers. Kumana Mobile Tented Camp is our favourite hidden gem in Sri Lanka and offers the best wildlife experience anyone could wish for on the island. It is a simple yet brilliant mobile camp, and for close up wildlife encounters, with no crowds whatsoever, nothing beats it. But the best thing about the this camp, is that you will be looked after by the best wildlife experts in in the field, who know the park inside out and are great fun, charming and incredibly passionate about what they do. One of them is the former park warden who has worked and lived in the park for over forty years – it really couldn’t get much better! Kumana Mobile Tented Camp Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park, Central India Stretching out along the banks of the Banjaar River and overlooking Kanha National parks, lies Banjaar Tola. Kanha National Park is one of the first tiger reserves aimed at protecting tigers and their ecosystems, and with 750 square miles of pristine wilderness, it is one of the largest and best-maintained national parks in India. Here, guests are invited to stay at one of two elegant camps, each one comprising of nine luxurious tented suites, built of bamboo floors, canvas roofs and glass doors leading onto private decking with views of the river and the Indian jungle beyond. By day, explore the spectacular landscape of vast sal forests, flourishing green meadows and lush bamboo thickets, and by night listen to the sounds of the jungle which float across the river as you enjoy your evening meal in the midst of the sal forest, lit by hundreds of lanterns. Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park Aman-I-Khas, Ranthambore National Park, North India Perched on the edge of the vast, rugged and weathered countryside of Ranthambore National Park, lies this exclusive haven of luxury. Aman-i-Khas recalls the lavish history of Maharajas’ hunting parties, where each of the ten butler-serviced sleeping tents reflect a rich Mughal style with luxurious airy rooms, separated by white cotton drapes. Spend the days exploring the prime tiger-spotting territory amongst the sun-dappled brushwood forest, whilst in the evening gather around an outdoor communal fireplace to relax and talk about the day’s animal sightings. The philosophy of the camp is to provide a natural, harmonious environment whilst retaining a luxurious ambiance. Your safari experience will have never been so chic. Aman-I-Khas Orange County Kabini, Kabini, South India Set in the heartland of the Kadukuruba tribe of the Nagerhole forest, this picturesque resort is located on the edge of the River Kabini. Built in an authentic south Indian village style, all 30 exquisite huts emulate peace, tranquility and harmony, combining traditional craft with modern luxuries. The interiors subtly mimic the colours and textures of the surrounding landscape, from ethnic furniture to tribal patterned furnishings, the sum of the parts creating a harmonious whole. Kabini is famed for having the highest density of wildlife in South India – including tiger, leopard, elephant, wild dog, sambar deer, sloth bears, spotted deer and over 300 species of birds – so with an abundance of fauna to be seen on the game drives, the resort provides an unexplored and untouched wildlife experience. Orange County resorts are known for their understated integrity, care for the environment, the warmth and sincerity of staff and the quality of experiences they offer – particularly for nature lovers. Orange County Kabini, Kabini Chena Huts, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka Tucked away deep in the Sri Lankan south, nestled amongst the dunes at the ocean’s edge and on the western fringes of Yala National Park, lies the boutique Chena Huts. So named after the rustic agricultural huts used by local farmers in Tissamaharama and the surrounding areas, but these “huts” are far from modest farming shelters. Better described as luxury pavilions, the fourteen detached huts are modern in design, each with a private plunge pool, and offer the finest views of the surrounding wilderness and seascape. The west of Yala National Park is one of the few places in Sri Lanka where it is relatively easy to see a leopard, either majestically strolling beside the track or lazily draped in the treetops. When you’re not on the lookout for leopard, you can stroll down to the beach where you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of elephants cooling off in the surf or turtles laying their eggs by moonlight; it really is the very best of both worlds. Chena Huts, Yala National Park Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park, Central India Experience the wildest depths of the Indian jungle, in complete sustainable luxury at the glorious Samode Safari Lodge, located on the fringes of Bandhavgarh National Park. Totally committed to eco-tourism, the lodge is solely built from natural and locally sourced materials, constructed using traditional handmade bricks and decorated with regional artworks. This wonderful property has pioneered in luxury wilderness tourism in India: the palatial private villas which create opulence in the most sustainable manner, the unique open-air bath court and the private verandas with breathtaking views of the surrounding wilds. But the reason why people travel to this remote part of India is, above all, for the rich and abundant wildlife in the nearby Bandhavgarh National Park, home to sloth bears, leopards, panthers, tigers and a staggering array of indigenous birds. Samode Safari Lodge, Bandhavgarh National Park James Jayasundera is Founder and Managing Director of Ampersand Travel. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

James Jayasundera

James Jayasundera is Founder and Managing Director of Ampersand Travel in London. Ampersand Travel is an award-winning tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays to Asia and Africa. James was raised in Rome by a Sri Lankan diplomat father and British mother, and from an early age he was travelling throughout the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Although he loves comfort, he is not blinded by five-star luxuries – the Ampersand motto is “luxury is in the experience” and it is that indefinable quality that makes something special which James is always on the look-out for. James founded Ampersand Travel in 2003, and since then the company has developed an excellent reputation for in-depth knowledge of its destinations, candid and impartial opinions on hotels and locations and a formidable network of contacts within the industry and its destinations.

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9 Comments

  1. Hey,

    Informative post again from your blog. I have been following your blog from last one and half year and from always it is an inspiration for me as well as other travelers looking for luxury holidays.

    I was also expecting The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Sawai Madhopur in this because it is also one of the best luxury safari lodge near Ranthambore National Park.

  2. Chena Huts looks amazing! a little luxury in the wilderness! I just commented on the Facebook post and now realised that the amazing fire pit is at Aman-I-Khas, Ranthambore National Park >_< typed the wrong place! will go amend !

  3. I’d love to explore Kanha National Park. The whole area looks stunning, and I hope that one day soon I get to visit.

  4. Great blog post.Full of information. Sri Lanka is one of my favourite place. And the Chena Huts look like a fabulous place to stay.

  5. You describe everything so well it really makes me want to go there! The photographs really are the stuff of which dreams are made – I particularly love the candlelight one.

  6. I can personally recommend both Orange County Kabini to where I returned in February 2016 and also Samode Safari Lodge at Bandhavgarh. Totally different but each beautifully presented and maintained and with lovely ambience plus good food and excellent service….rest is up to the wildlife!

  7. I went with these guys for Kumana National Park in SriLanka.
    The location in the park where you go are breath taking and guides was knowledgeable and friendly. Price included food, alcohol and soft drinks as well as luxury tents.
    It was amazing and worth every penny!

  8. We stayed at Sher Bagh a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Your comments describe it perfectly but you left out how fabulous the staff were. Highly recommend it.

  9. I love the list you have included here. I must say Chena Huts was indeed a really beautiful resort to visit. It brings out the true essence of Yala. Patiently waiting for the day I get to go to Aman-I-Khas. There is, in fact, one more luxury resort you need to add in to this list. Resplendent Ceylon’s Wild Coast Tented Lodge is the most stunning safari resort I have ever been to!

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