An exciting nature and cultural excursion on land and water

KOTTAWA FOREST RESERVE & ARBORETUM situated about 18km northeast of Galle is a 15-hectare low country woodland that displays characteristic features of a typical wet evergreen rainforest. Tall trees with buttressed trunks and overlapping leaf canopies reach skywards in a bitter race for light and prevent the sun's rays from illuminating the many stunted seedlings that litter the dark, damp and gloomy forest floor. Since trees are the dominant plant species here Kottawa is considered to have a typical climax community, which is a healthy sign for the forest's longevity. Any vegetation that does grow is dominated by the Dipterocarpus species as well as tree ferns, while orchids and mosses inhabit the tree bark. With a wide pathway that dissects the rainforest, Kottawa is easily accessible for visitors of varying ages and physical abilities.

KOGGALA LAKE is an attractive and tranquil body of water just a short distance from Kottawa and close to the golden beaches of the southwest coast. Dotted with rocky islands, fringed by mangroves and scented by aromatic cinnamon trees, Koggala Lake is famous for its freshwater prawns and crabs. As you voyage atop the glassy surface of the lake in an authentic fishing catamaran you can observe the patterns of the exotic lowland birds that can be seen here in abundance. The journey also involves some island-hopping for visits to a cinnamon plantation, a Spice Garden and a Buddhist temple where you can see many white clothed devotees with floral offerings if you visit on a poya or full moon holiday.