Hiyare Rainforest Reservoir
Hiyare Rainforest Reservoir
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
12 reviews
Excellent
5
Very good
5
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Terrible
2
Jennifer L
114 contributions
Aug 2020
Nice reservoir (someone said you could swim in it but it was a bit brown-looking for us). We read in some reviews that there were hiking trails but we couldn't find any and there was no one there that spoke English well enough to ask. There is a limited area in which to walk around the reservoir, from what we could so. It costs 200 LKR per adult to enter. There is also an animal hospital there (they picked up an injured Shikra for us sometime previous to our visit) and there were some baby deer in an enclosure. The dirt road leading to the reservoir is quite bumpy and in poor condition. It wasn't crowded when we were there and if you went early in the morning, you could probably spot a lot of birds.
Written 22 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asanke G
Sydney, Australia32 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
Hiyare forest is one of the small rain forest patches located in the Galle district. The specialty of this attraction is , that it is located around a reservoir. The reservoir was said to be initially built in 1911 to supply water to the city of Galle.
The forest patch is a environmentally special and sensitive area as it hoses for some rare and endemic fauna. Therefore its not recommended for visitors who travel just for fun.
The Wildlife Conservation Society - Galle, has set up their office, animal hospital and a research center near the reservoir. The are doing a great work in protecting, researching and conservation the nature.
Interested travelers can meet the officials there and learn more about their work and even pay a visit to see animals getting treatments and under re rehabilitation.
The forest patch is a environmentally special and sensitive area as it hoses for some rare and endemic fauna. Therefore its not recommended for visitors who travel just for fun.
The Wildlife Conservation Society - Galle, has set up their office, animal hospital and a research center near the reservoir. The are doing a great work in protecting, researching and conservation the nature.
Interested travelers can meet the officials there and learn more about their work and even pay a visit to see animals getting treatments and under re rehabilitation.
Written 25 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kciff
Fox Island, WA1,010 contributions
Dec 2012 • Solo
Hiyare rainforest is a special site with high biodiversity, and probably not for the average tourist. The only way to visit the site is to talk a boat across the water or walk through the forest and experience leeches, snakes, etc.. The area is more of a research and training centre for young Sinhalese that would like to help protect flora and fauna in the area. The animals that are kept in cages have been rescued from electrical wires, traps, and road accidents. Many are rehabilitated and sent to their proper habitats, but some have injuries that prevent them from surviving in the wild and they need care. It is a lovely peaceful site but it doesn't need tourists.
Written 28 April 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
neiljhk
14 contributions
Sri Lankan tourism will never get off the ground unless locations such as this develop a more respectful approach to their public and don't try to scam them with ridiculously high prices, minimal facilities and total lack of signage in anything other than Sinhalese.
Written 14 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean O
59 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
We booked a six hour trip from Galle to this rainforest...it wasn't cheap...it involved a taxi and a guide. It was supposed to be from 8.00am till 2.00pm....we were back in Galle shortly between 11 & 12. Taxi delivered us...just under an hour...guide then took us round the forest....clasping his ear occasionally to hear non-existent bird sounds. The highlight of the the trip was a snail...regular garden snail. The guide was looking for extras as he claimed he had added some extras in, and his kids were starving somewhere in a garret. He didn't get them. And it was all very boring anyway.
If you want to go on one of these trips, get a tuk tuk driver...we had a wonderful lad, who took us to the beach every day, and returned for us in the afternoon....lovely decent honest man...he also took us to see a temple. His name is Fahim and his number is +94 77 677 8161.
If you want to go on one of these trips, get a tuk tuk driver...we had a wonderful lad, who took us to the beach every day, and returned for us in the afternoon....lovely decent honest man...he also took us to see a temple. His name is Fahim and his number is +94 77 677 8161.
Written 13 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shifa_ja
Colombo, Sri Lanka113 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Went with a bunch of wild life enthusiasts on a day trip. Reached there by about 7.30am. We were wonderfully surprised to see so many bird species in such a small area in such a short time. Saw about 35 species. Some were almost posing for photos. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me. The surrounding area to the conservation centre next to the reservoir is so calm and beautiful. Our guide sampath was extremely co-operative and knowledgeable. We took 2 trails. One alongside the reservoir and the other in kottawa. Both through forests. There had been heavy rain before we arrived. The trails were teaming with leaches. Fat fellows. Do go with proper attire. But the area surrounding the centre was sunny and dry and free of them. We saw couple of rescued birds and animals in the hospital which runs on private funding by a bank.
So it was a nice experience and we learnt many interesting facts from sampath( call him on 0774100401).
So it was a nice experience and we learnt many interesting facts from sampath( call him on 0774100401).
Written 29 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Florin C
Bucharest, Romania3 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
If you are into birdwatching and based in the Matara - Galle area, then this is a very convenient place to spend a few hours birding, with a surprisingly good outcome. I spent about 2 hours, 7 to 9 am, and saw over 20 species, out of which 2 were Sri Lankan endemics that I had missed in fancier places (e.g. Sinharaja): the SL Grey Hornbill and the Crimson-fronted Barbet. Add to that Scarlet Minivet, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, and Golden-fronted Leafbird and you've got a nice little 'niche' list already! Photo opportunities are also better than in Sinharaja. I didn't have a guide with me so I didn't venture into the rainforest, but the area just around the HQ is quite rewarding.
Normally the place opens at 7am,but you can be there earlier if you like. There's a gate blocking the road, but you can open it by pushing with your bare hands, it's not locked. You'll have to pay an entrance fee of 200 rupees.
Nice landscape too if you're there at dawn, spectacular mist over the lake. Enjoy!
Normally the place opens at 7am,but you can be there earlier if you like. There's a gate blocking the road, but you can open it by pushing with your bare hands, it's not locked. You'll have to pay an entrance fee of 200 rupees.
Nice landscape too if you're there at dawn, spectacular mist over the lake. Enjoy!
Written 16 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
15 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
Interesting experience and incredibly picturesque with the old rainforest surrounded by reservoir. Would have been better had a recognised been available. Might be worth travellers tring to organise a guide before visiting. Watch out for the leeches.
Written 14 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blowerp
Galle, Sri Lanka104 contributions
Sept 2016
Just a 30 min drive from Galle and only 15 from Unawatuna beach this a great spot to see another side of Sri Lanka. Beautiful forest and lovely resevoir plus a small wildlife sanctuary. Worth a visit.
Written 13 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Langkapura
Winterswijk Henxel, The Netherlands573 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
In Hiyara is a hospital for wild animals. This is were a wild animal will be helped when he got an injury. There are a lot of animals, mostly birds, who have sufferd damage from electricity.
We can't say that it is nice to see these animals with severe injuries, but if this centre was not there they would surely die.
Our opinion: If you like wildlife and want to support a good animal hospital, go visit the place.
We can't say that it is nice to see these animals with severe injuries, but if this centre was not there they would surely die.
Our opinion: If you like wildlife and want to support a good animal hospital, go visit the place.
Written 24 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much they charge for visit ? And how long it takes ?? What kind of animals can see ??
Written 20 September 2018
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