The magical setting in the silent wilderness where rustic flame torches light up and roar to the tune of the wind while the campfire dances alongside, under a starry sky… this  is the place to sit back and relax while we take care of you.

All food is freshly prepared at our campsite with an exclusively designed menu for our  guests.

Explorer by Mahoora is for the adventurer who is looking for a sense of comfort and glamour in the midst of wilderness. The tent (15.6’x 8’) is equipped with a bedroom and an en-suite bathroom along with a private veranda/porch outside the tent.

Schedule for Day 1

• Arrival at pre-agreed  meeting point at 12.30 hrs.

• Lunch at Explorer by Mahoora campsite.

• Forest walk after lunch.

• A spectacularly varied walk that takes you through a rural village and scenic territory including a picturesque waterfall.

• Back to the campsite: relaxation & leisure.

• BBQ dinner around the campfire.

• BBQ dinner around the campfire.

• BBQ dinner around the campfire.

Schedule for Day 2

• After early breakfast leave for forest exploration with packed lunch.

The trail takes you on a path that is best for observing flocks of birds, especially those that rare and endemic. The presence of mixed species of forging birds flocks, a phenomenon uniquely found in rainforests, have been observed. The rare birds are the Red-faced Malkoha, the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the Ashy-headed Babbler and the White-headed Starling. The Green-billed Coucal is considered the rarest.

• Lunch to be taken in a suitable location.

• After lunch continue to observe the forest.

• Back to the campsite: relaxation & leisure.

Schedule for Day 3

• Leave for forest exploration with packed breakfast.

• Back to the campsite.

• Departure from Explorer by Mahoora.

If you are looking for a more adventurous trail, we offer another programme for Day 2 and Day 3.

Day 1 will remain same as above.

Herpetologically, Sinharaja will not disappoint. The Green Pit Viper and Hump-nosed Viper are commonly found in Sinharaja and are endemic. Other endemics include the Torrent toad and the Common House toad. The Wrinkled frog and the Sri Lankan Reed frog are also found here. Green Garden Lizards are commonly observed on nature treks. Calotes Liolepis is an arboreal species and the rarest of all agamids found on the island.  

The flora of Sinharaja displays a high degree of endemism. Of the 211 woody trees and lianas identified, a staggering 139 (66 percent) are endemic to Sri Lanka. Out of the 25 ferns which are endemic to the island, 13 have been recorded in the Sinharaja Rainforest. The total vegetation density has been estimated to be around 240,000 plants per hectare.

Start the tour early morning at 6.30 am from our Mahoora Tented Safari Camp in Singharaja (Altitude 302m) and continue through the jungle with the sound of birds chirping while crossing sparkling streams and enjoying the fresh air around you.

Journeys through the jungle can vary from  soft and moderate treks to short steep climbs.  Please refer to our grading guidelines (to be linked) for more information on difficulty levels. Overall, we would classify the entire trek as a Moderate Trek.

The first section of the journey that starts from the camp leads along a dirt track  to the Kudawa Research Centre (Altitude 520m). The best part of this trail is that you get to observe the birds of Sinharaja in all their splendour. During early morning and late evening, there is a very high chance of coming across Mixed Species flocks or the Bird Wave which is a magnificent sight and will provide you with an opportunity to observe some of the rarest birds of Sri Lanka such as the red-faced Mal-Koha, Blue Magpie etc.

Red faced mal kohaThe Sinhgaraja Bird Wave is the largest and longest studied Mixed Feeding Bird Flock in the world. Up to 41 individuals have been recorded in one flock. Your naturalist guide will help you to spot and identify these magnificent birds. Since the dirt track is fairly broad unlike the rest of the trail, it is easy to spot the birds and butterflies.

The distance up to the research centre from the starting point is about 5 km and it’s a soft trail along the dirt track. It finishes at the research centre and we cross a large stream and continue along the trail, which is now a narrow footpath.

The next 5 km of the trail has occasional irregular sections, but it is more or less a flat, easy walk. This could be taken as the second part of the trek. We continue to head southward passing a few turning points leading to interesting locations. A large complex of caves known as “Gallen Yaya” and  “Koskulana Peak” are just two of them.

In the third section of the trek which is about 4km, we cross quite a few streams, go past dense forest patches to reach Singhagala. The trail will become more irregular, with brief ascents and descents, along with broad flat sections.

The last section of the trail to the Singhagala (Lion's Rock) is a hard climb of about 500m. This section is the most challenging  of the entire trail. About 200m before the summit, the trail goes through a small cave which is an ideal spot to take a short break. The summit point is about 9km from the research station and about 14km from the start.

At the summit, you will be able to enjoy picturesque and breathtaking views of the forest, which is worth the climb and  an experience of a lifetime. (Altitude 740.6m)

Start the descent from Sinhagala and continue on the trail southwards through the dense forest on a narrow footpath. After about 4km, you may hear the chanting from a temple, which tells you that we are almost there.  

We reach by late afternoon and you will get to enjoy a refreshing bath in the sparkling and almost magical stream at the end of the trek. A short walk towards the Lodge takes you to a warm cup of tea, a piping hot  dinner and a comfortable bed awaiting you. You might want to witness the local village life along the way. (Altitude 228.5m). We also have the option of organizing a local lorry for the last leg of the journey which is about 4km.  

Enjoy dinner near a log fire with incense burning in the night.

Experience the sunrise at dawn with the mist clearing over the forest which is a beautiful and almost magical sight.  

We leave after breakfast to the next destination.

The Sambar deer, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, Brown Mongoose and Golden Palm Civet are the mammalian species most commonly seen. The Purple-faced Leaf Monkey is virtually omnipresent as well. It is estimated that 15 Sri Lankan Leopards and a small herd of Sri Lankan Elephants also inhabit the forest but sightings are exceedingly rare.

• 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

• En-suite flushable toilet with pipe-borne water, wash basin, and shower area

• Toiletries on complimentary basis

• All entry permits, park fees, and government taxes for the entire stay.

• A shared Jeep with front-faced comfortable elevated seats is provided for maximized game viewing and photography opportunities.

• Pre-dinner drinks around the campfire and wine (by the glass) during dinner.

• For breakfast, continental and Sri Lankan dishes including fresh juices are available.

• Freshly prepared Sri Lankan lunch at the camp

• Five course dinner menu with signature dishes including a BBQ around the campfire.

• Unlimited tea/coffee, fresh fruits, snacks, juices, soft drinks, and water will be provided.

• Night walks and walks along the borderlands, depending on the locations.

• Special dinner settings in the camp are arranged. Each meal will be given at a carefully selected location with a unique illuminated setting.

• Snacks are provided at the lounge/common area.

• Emergency phones are provided per tent (on signal availability).

• Limited opportunities for charging Laptop and digital camera charging . Clients are advised to have stand by options

• We do not provide swimming pool facilities.

• No air-condoning facility available.

  Phone signal availability – subject to the area and the service provider