Mayur Lodge

Mayur Lodge is a private two-bedroom safari villa in the dry scrub country near Yala National Park, on Sri Lanka’s south-east coast, built for travellers who come for leopards, elephants and birdlife and want a quiet, characterful home to return to between drives. It sleeps four, which makes it an easy fit for couples travelling together or a small family, and the whole villa is yours for the stay.

The garden is the heart of the place, with an eleven-metre pool set in the lawn among native trees, sun loungers along its edge and a pool deck that works for lazy afternoons and dinner under the stars. There is a barbecue for grilled suppers, and after dark the pool and the steps up to the house are softly lit, which makes the evenings here especially atmospheric.

Inside, a high-roofed open living room with timber beams, antique-style furniture and wildlife artwork flows into a long dining table with benches on either side, and a kitchen sits beyond. Both bedrooms are generously sized, with king beds, air conditioning, overhead fans, oversized windows onto the garden and en-suite bathrooms with rain showers, and each has a day bed or sofa bed. Staff look after housekeeping, breakfast is included and one game drive a day in Yala is part of the stay.