Private Tented Safari Camp Experience in Knuckles
Living Experience
Explorer by Mahoora is a highly unique and immersive experience of living with untamed Sri Lankan wildlife inside National Parks and Nature Reserves across the country. Our Private Tented Safari Camp Experience in Knuckles Mountain range is a surreal escape from city life - to live and breath the fresh mountain air.
The tented accommodation, set amongst a canopy of tall trees hides the sharp rays of the sun, giving a sense of privacy and seclusion. As the rain spatters, at times tropical downpours, you will hear a melody of songs from frogs that were in hiding. The sounds of the water gushing in the adjoining river ( Thelgamu Oya) is therapeutic.
Mornings are simply amazing, as you sit outside the verandah of your tent and sip a cup of warm coffee or tea that has been attentively made and served by our staff. Wake up to the lazy mornings as sunshine creeps slowly through the leaves and to the singing of an array of birdlife that have made those trees their home.
If you are up for more activity, a dip in the river at the lower edge of the campsite or a quick visit to the farmers - to watch them in action in the paddy fields or the Chena (Slash and Burn cultivation).
Accommodation
The Explorer by Mahoora Living Experience combines rustic with modern. Enjoy a spacious, tented accommodation (15.6’x 8’) which includes a cosy bedroom, en-suite bathroom with a flushable toilet and complimentary toiletries, as well as a private veranda/ porch outside the tent. Your stay with us will always be carbon neutral.
Dining Experience
Truly private and relaxing atmosphere of the campsite gives you the kind of ambience that bites into the delectability of Chef’s special for the day.
The culinary experience includes a few specialities that have been firm favourites of the locals for generations. Our Special herbal porridge, made with three herbs, is based on an age old recipe that the locals swear by for good health and vitality.
Walking Trails
Walking trails are the best way to explore the beauty of the Misty Mountains, Knuckles range. We have painstakingly developed a number of trails for the faint hearted travellers as well those who seek the thrill and fascination to explore greater heights.
Elephant’s Head Trekking Trail
Reaching the rock that is formed like an Elephant’s head, is a full day trekking trail that takes you through the Knuckles Nature Reserve Sri Lanka. The highlights of this challenging trekking trail are the diverse forest patches, different species of flora and fauna that are unique to this Knuckles Mountain region. The trail takes you through a number of small, age old villages that are a rarity in Sri Lanka today. You get to encounter and experience the village life, smiles and warmth of the villagers of this valley surrounded by the Knuckles mountain range.
elephant head trail trekkingA truly rewarding and an exhilarating walking trail that is a must for anyone visiting Knuckles Mountain Range.
The trekking journey commences with a light walk on the paths that wind through the sleepy little villages of the misty valley. These villages have hardly been influenced by modernisation. You are likely to meet villagers who are getting about attending to their daily work and smile across and bless you on your journey.
The walking path that takes you to the entry point of Knuckles Nature Reserve is exciting. You will cross a small bridge where the water underneath gushes through a set of large and small boulders. The village folks refer to the waterfall under the bridge as ‘Vedda Pani Ella’ meaning A "Vedda" (indigenous person of the area) jumped into. Inevitably, he was washed away due to the strong currents.
The journey commences with a beautiful panoramic view of terraced paddy fields and the mountain ranges belonging to the Knuckles cluster in the backdrop. Of course, this is just the beginning - what you are likely to see further on in your journey is amazing. The colourful houses in pretty pinks and bright greens are just as eye-catching.
There are three key viewpoints in this trail with absolutely stunning panoramic views. The last is Elephant’s Head, around which there are number of interesting stories are built. During the British rule the workers in the tea plantation used this rock for timing as their clock based on the reflection of the sun, hence getting it’s localised name. This place is also considered as the place where Rama landed his flying machine in the epic Ramayanaya. After a short rest you may begin to climb down from this point.
knuckles trekking trails sri lankaBoth the climb up and the climb down of the trekking trail, take you through some of the most amazing fauna and flora. Habitats of Pangolin; the constant reverberating call of the Sri Lankan junglefowl making his presence felt loud and clear to all around; a quick glance at the shy endemic Gray Hornbill before he flies away, makes you forget any thoughts of fatigue. Fresh markings by a wild boar and just knowing that there are even more exciting things happening inside the forest are good enough to get excited yourself.
The tall trees get replaced by cloud forests as you reach the mountain tops. The hidden beauties of exquisite and colourful mushrooms are certainly worth the clicks.
This is home to many wonderful and rare varieties of butterflies, in varied sizes and colours. Seeing these, the child in you may want to chase some of them as they flit and float across the little patches of grasslands, or else hide behind the bushes and simply watch them fly around with a true sense of freedom.
There are a few options to choose from the Elephant Head Trekking Trail , based on your travel schedule and fitness level and your preference.
Although it is hard to be absolutely precise about how hard a walk may be,we have developed a guideline that is likely to help you in understanding the level of intensity of the trekking trail.
Variation 1 - Grading of the trail - C (Strenuous)
Timing: approximately 8 hours by foot - Full Day
Total distance: 14.2 km - from Explorer by Mahoora campsite at Illukkumbura and back to the campsite:
The journey commences after breakfast
Approach 1st viewpoint in 1 hr 20 min
Approach 2nd viewpoint - for lunch
Approach 3rd viewpoint - 1 hr later from the 1st viewpoint (not considering an extended lunch break)
Descending time - 2 hrs
Entire journey by foot
Variation 2 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
Timing: approximately 6.5 hours - Full Day
Total distance: 12.2 km
What makes this Trail different from Variation 1
A 20-minute drive to the first village where journey by foot will commence.
Variation 3 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
Timing: approximately 6.5 hours - Full Day
Total distance: 10.2 km
A 20-minute drive to the first village where journey by foot will commence.
What makes this Trail different from Variation 2
Climb up to the 3rd viewpoint and descend via the same path as the climb where the journey ends in the village where the trail began.
Variation 4 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
Timing: approximately 7 hours - Full Day
Total distance: 12.2 km
What makes this Trail different from Variation 3
Walking trail from Campsite to the village which is located at the foothills of the Elephant, where the uphill trek will begin.
Climb up to the 3rd viewpoint and descend via the same path as the climb where the journey ends in the village where the trail began.
A 20-minute walk back to the campsite in Illukkumbura.
A 20-minute drive back to the campsite.
What's included in these fully guided trekking trails
An expert local guide from the area who has roamed in this region for decades.
Professional Naturalist who will explain and interpret social life, nature encounters and sightings.
Snacks & Water
First-Aid and required backup for any emergency.
Lunch ( packed lunch during the trek, lunch served at the home of a villager lunch served at the campsite - based on the programme and timing)
Satiny Falls Trekking Trail
A picturesque and one of the most amazing trekking trails that is both soothing to the eyes and the body, is the trail where the highlight is Satiny Falls. This beautiful Fall is located near an isolated rural village in the Knuckles Mountain Range. It showcases its best face in November, when monsoons begin with its beautiful streams of satiny waters down the rocks. Roughly 10 metres in height, it can be observed from both the front and the rear - which is a unique feature of the Falls.
satiny falls trail knuckles mountain range 1There are a number of options to cater to your trekking needs. We have designed these moderate to low intensity trails to choose from.
Although it is hard to be absolutely precise about how hard a walk may be, we have developed a guideline that is likely to help you understand the level of intensity of the trail.
Full Day Trails
Variation 1 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
A 7.75 km walk along a rural village road leads to the starting point of the forest trail. At the beginning of the trail you are likely to observe interesting and unique aspects of village life. You will encounter many signs of activities that take place between humans and elephants, while listening to some amazing stories relating to this unique relationship. Little retail outlets, where day to day transactions take place in the village, are equally interesting to see. Little bazaars where villagers sit by and share their daily stories are fascinating and part of the highlights in the walk leading to the forest trail.
The beginning of the forest trail is marked by a descriptive board that provides an introduction to the trail. The forest seems to be undisturbed and in an eternal state of calmness. The trees of the forest stand tall by the side of the walking path and continue to provide a much needed shade from the heat of the sun as a 7 km walk takes you to an isolated rural village in the foothills of the Knuckles Mountain Range. After a short visit to the village which includes refreshments, the trail begins towards Satiny Falls. The return from Satiny Falls to Explorer by Mahoora Campsite is by vehicle transfer.
Satiny Falls trail knuckles mountain range 4
Timing: approximately 8 hours - Full Day
Total distance of the trail: 12.75 km
Journey commences after breakfast
Variation 2 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
What makes this trail different from Variation 1?
Vehicle transfer to the starting point of the trail.
Timing: approximately 6 hours - Full Day
Total distance: 9 km - from Explorer by Mahoora Campsite back to the Campsite
Journey commences after breakfast
Half Day Trails
Grading of the trail - A (Easy)
Vehicle transfer to the starting point of the forest trail
What makes this Trail different from Variation 1?
A 5km walk takes you to the final destination of this trek - Satiny Falls.
The return from the Satiny Falls to Explorer by Mahoora Campsite is by vehicle transfer.
Timing: approximately 2 hours: half day
Total distance of the trail: 5 km
Journey commences after breakfast
What's Included In These Fully Guided Trekking Trails
An expert local guide from the area who has roamed this region for decades.
Professional Naturalist who will explain and interpret social life, nature encounters and sightings.
Snacks & Water.
First-Aid and required backup for any emergency.
Lunch (packed lunch during the trek is served at a villager’s home or served at the Campsite - based on the programme and timing)
Misty Valley Trail
The Misty Valley trekking trail takes you back in time; reminiscent of childhood stories of ancient Sri Lankan village life. To some of you travellers, these villages may not even exist and to some of you - they may simply be part of the imagination.
It is our joy to take you on a journey that still exists, a trekking trail that takes you from Chena (slash and burn) cultivations, to picturesque terraced paddy fields and forests patches, to reach sleepy villages in the Misty Valley. What’s more, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the villagers’ genuine warmth and sip a cup of freshly brewed tea or enjoy typical regional cuisine, made to perfection by the womenfolk.
Misty Valley Trail Knuckles Mountain Range Sri Lanka 1We will visit a house in one of the villages where you will be hosted for a cup of tea or lunch a place where you will be able to experience the local hospitality and flavour some local delicacies based on recipes that are passed down from generation to generation.
Nevertheless modernization is imprinting it’s arrival. The changes are inevitable. The panoramic hills and the stretches of grasslands are slowly beginning to fill with small hotels. The gravel roads that were used as walking paths are now paved allowing motorists to access the villages by vehicles,
Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
Timing: approximately 6 hours on foot - Full Day
Total distance: 8 km - from Explorer by Mahoora campsite and back to the campsite:
Journey commences after breakfast
Option of return to the campsite via vehicle transfer
What's included in these fully guided trekking trails
An expert local guide from the area who has roamed in this region for decades.
Professional Naturalist who will explain and interpret social life, nature encounters and sightings.
Snacks & Water
First-Aid and required backup for any emergency.
Tea, snacks/ Lunch according to the programme and the timing.
The Forgotten Village Trekking Trail
The foothills of Knuckles Mountain Range have many folktales and mysteries that linger around, creating a sense of curiosity amongst the villagers and travellers alike.
As the frequented footpaths and the enormous forests have silent stories to share, a visit to the Forgotten Village is certainly… unforgettable.
This trekking trail consists of two sections: Village Trekking Trail and the Forest Trekking Trail. We start the journey from Explorer by Mahoora Knuckles Campsite and go through the Illukkumbura village. At a turnoff, we take a forest trail in an ascending 2.5 km small motorable road.
Our forest trekking trail up to the Forgotten Village is 3 kilometres one way on an easy, flat terrain trek. In the past, many people lived in this area for a number of decades, yet due to difficulties in accessibility and the presence of wild elephants, many chose to relocate - leaving a very small number of inhabitants who continue to live in the area.
Although it is hard to be absolutely precise about how hard a walk may be, we have developed a guideline that is likely to help you in understanding the level of intensity of the trekking trail.
Variation 1 - Grading of the trail - B (Moderate)
Timing: approximately 7 hours - Full Day
Total Distance of the Trail: 11km
Recommended for guests who stay at Explorer by Mahoora - Knuckles for 3 nights
Variation 2 - Grading of the trail - A (Easy)
What makes this Trail different from Variation 1
Vehicle transfer to the beginning of the forest trek, thereafter continue on the forest trek.
Timing: approximately 4 hours - Half Day
Total Distance of the Trail: 6 km
Recommended for guests who stay at Explorer by Mahoora - Knuckles for 3 nights
What's Included In These Fully Guided Trekking Trails
An expert local guide from the area who has roamed in this region for decades.
Professional Naturalist who will explain and interpret social life, nature encounters and sightings.
Snacks & Water.
First-Aid and required backup for any emergency.
Lunch based on the programme.
Knuckles Mountain Range
Knuckles mountain rangeThe Knuckles covers parts of the Kandy and Matale districts in Sri Lanka. It is separated from the Central Hills by the Mahaweli Valley to the South and East and the Matale Valley to the West.
A mountain range situated in Central Sri Lanka that takes the shape of clenched fists is referred to as Knuckles Mountain range. The colonial British gave this name based on its formation of recumbent folds and peaks. However, it is known in the local tongue as Dumbara Kanduvetiya, meaning ‘mist-laden mountain range’.
It has an amazing diversity of plants, and species that makes it stand out as one of the most amazing places to visit in Sri Lanka. A unique feature here is that the Knuckles seems to have its own climatic microcosm and is home to a higher percentage of the island’s biodiversity - despite its small size. The vegetation found at Knuckles is divided into five types, these are: semi-evergreen, sub montane, montane and riverine forests and the pathana and savannah grasslands.
31 species of mammals have been recorded in the Knuckles, four of which are endemic. Wild Buffalo, Wildboar, Black-naped Hare, Jackal, the endemic Toque Macaque & Purple-faced Leaf Monkey are commonplace. Fishing cats and mouse deer have also been seen.
20 species of amphibians have been recorded in the Knuckles wilderness of which 12 are both endemic and endangered. A highlight is Kirthisinghe’s Rock Frog which is found nowhere else in the world. 53 species of reptiles have been identified here of which 23 are endemic. Most commonly spotted of a nature trek are small geckos, pythons and monitor lizards. Among the endemic lizard species found at Knuckles range are Crestless Lizard (Calotes Leocephalus), Pigmy Lizard (Cophotis ceylonica) and Kangaroo Lizard (Otocryptus Wiegmanni) and the leaf nose lizard (Ceretophora Tennennti) is only found in this forest. There are 25 species of freshwater fish as well.
Over 130 species of birds inhabit the Knuckles Mountain Range and 20 of these are endangered. The endemics are represented by the Sri Lankan white eye, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Sri Lanka Spur Fowl, Sri Lanka Spot Wing Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon and the rare Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. Migrants include Asian Paradise Flycatchers, Kashmir Flycatcher (which is endangered) Indian Pitta, Common Sandpiper, Gray and Forest Wagtails, Greenish Warbler and the Indian Blue Chat.
Weather
The weather is influenced by both locality and the influence of the dry and rainy seasons. Usually the mornings tend to be chilly and as the day progresses, the warmth sets in with a boldness.
The temperature can range anywhere from 5 to 35 degrees Celsius while humidity is generally quite high. The rainy season makes its presence from late October and lasts for some months. Strong, gusty winds and sudden, enveloping mists are known to take over without invitation - naturally, Knuckles gives you diversity in climate too. Come evening, the inevitable chill of the night makes you want to gather around the campfire with a warm drink in hand.
Facts
A tent (15.6’x8’) with accommodation, an en-suite bathroom, and a private veranda/porch
Tented accommodation with raised beds with freshly laundered bed linens and a bedside table along with basic amenities
Fully-sealed tent with ventilation nets
Equipped with a shoe rack and two foldable arm chairs
One rechargeable table top fan is provided in the bedroom
A rechargeable lantern is provided for illumination
The veranda/porch includes two chairs and a coffee table
Itineraries
Explorer by Mahoora is a highly unique and immersive experience of living with untamed Sri Lankan wildlife inside National Parks, Nature Reserves or on the borders of National parks/ Nature reserves across the country. Our Private Tented Safari Camp Experience in Knuckles Mountain range is a surreal escape from city life - to live and breath the fresh mountain air.
Knu01The tented accommodation, set amongst a canopy of tall trees hides the sharp rays of the sun, giving a sense of privacy and seclusion. As the rain spatters, at times tropical downpours, you will hear a melody of songs from frogs that are in hiding. The sounds of the water gushing in the adjoining river is therapeutic.
The Explorer by Mahoora campsite is truly private and unique. Sounds of ever flowing waters of the stream that borders the campsite is a continuous melody, while the private rock pool awaits eagerly coaxing the guests to take a dip after a trail. If you are in a mood for a stroll, you may just linger around and enjoy the beautiful landscape that overlooks part of Manigala.
Truly private and relaxing atmosphere of the campsite gives you the kind of ambience that bites perfectly into the delectability of Chef’s special for the day. The culinary experience includes a few specialities that have been firm favourites of the locals for generations. Our Special herbal porridge, made with three herbs, is based on an age old recipe that the locals swear by for good health and vitality.
Explorer by Mahoora is for the adventurer who is looking for a sense of comfort and glamour in the midst of the wilderness. The tent (15.6’x 8’) comes with a bedroom and an en-suite bathroom along with a private veranda/porch outside the tent.
1 night/ 2 days Itinerary
Knu02Arrival at pre agreed meeting point at 12.30 hrs
Check into the Explorer by Mahoora
Lunch
Trail
There are three half a day trails ( Satiny Falls, Forgotten Village, Misty valley that you can select from based on the weather conditions and availability of time)
Return to Explore by Mahoora Campsite for Dinner
2 nights/ 3 days Itinerary
Arrival at pre agreed meeting point at 12.30 hrs
Check into the Explorer by Mahoora
Lunch
Trail
There are three half a day trails ( Satiny Falls, Forgotten Village, Misty valley that you can select from based on the weather conditions and availability of time)
Return to Explore by Mahoora Campsite for Dinner
Walking Trails
Walking trails are the best way to explore the beauty of the Misty Mountains, Knuckles Range. We have painstakingly developed a number of trails for the faint hearted travellers as well those who seek the thrill and fascination to explore greater heights.
