Home to enchanting mangrove forests, the Madu River (or “Madu Ganga”), is the perfect place for a boat safari as you discover wildlife, an ancient temple and a rather “fishy” foot massage!
Getting There
The Madu River can be found in the island’s southern Galle District. It is close to the town of Balapitiya and is around 105 km from Colombo and 18 km from Bentota. Beach resortoptions can be found within easy reach, while you get hotels right by the river as well.
The Safari
There are many river safari operators that provide rides along the Madu River which can last up to two hours or longer depending on the itinerary. Hotels by the riverbank itself including properties like The River House Balapitiya offer convenient river excursions along with activities such as kayaking which provides more freedom to explore the surrounding environs.
Mangroves & Wildlife
Home to one of the country’s largest wetlands, the Madu River and its mangrove forests are a rich storehouse of biodiversity. On your safari, you have the chance of seeing water monitors, wild boars, water snakes, butterflies and if you’re lucky, even a crocodile or two! Plenty of birds can be spotted here as well including kingfishers, herons and cormorants.
More Exploration
You also have the chance of visiting some of the inhabited islands in the river with notable highlights being the historic Kothduwa Buddhist Temple and the chance to see a traditional cinnamon plantation. Once done, you can look to get a unique riverside foot massage courtesy of some fish!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Catalina Forbes ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+
