Private Tour
2h Bentota River Safari: Crocodiles, Monkeys, Mangrove & more
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Embark on the Bentota River Boat Safari with us and immerse yourself in a world where nature's tranquility meets wild beauty. Glide through serene waters, flanked by lush mangroves, home to exotic birds, water monitors, and crocodiles. Our expert guides will share stories that bring the ecosystem and local culture to life, enhancing your connection to this vibrant landscape. Choose your ideal time for the safari, from early morning to late afternoon, ensuring a personalized experience. This adventure, tailored to your interests, promises to be both memorable and uniquely yours.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
A King Coconut for each person
Life Insurance
Modern and safe boats with life jackets
5+ years experienced sailor guide
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Bentota River
Bentota River offers a unique and memorable experience for travelers. As you glide along the serene waters, you'll be surrounded by lush mangroves and diverse ecosystems. This journey provides an excellent opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. You can expect to see exotic birds like kingfishers, herons, and cormorants, gracefully skimming the water or perched in the foliage. Additionally, keep an eye out for water monitors and even crocodiles basking along the riverbanks. The tranquil environment, coupled with the rich biodiversity, makes this safari not just a visual treat but also a chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of Bentota's riverine landscape.
Options
2-Hour Bentota River Safari
Duration: 2 hours
Pickup included
Sunset Viewing Safari
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: Sunset Viewing Safari lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Sunset visibility is subject to weather conditions
Pickup included
Birdwatching Safari
Duration: 3 hours: The Birdwatching Safari spans around 3 hours, and the observation of birds is influenced by natural conditions
Pickup included
Reviews
114 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A must do trip!!!
Sarah C,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an incredible 2 hours we had along the beautiful Bentota river with the extraordinarily talented Coca our tour guide! I still cannot believe how he spots these amazing animals amongst the trees and riverbanks. His eyes are like a superpower! And not to mention his amazing photography skills! We were lucky to see some crocodiles, large lizards, a chameleon, snake and feed the friendly monkeys. Highly recommend this trip whilst in Bentota!!
Excellent guide and saw lots of different animals.
Samantha F,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Koka was fantastic. He was friendly and knowledgeable went out of his way to find animals for us. He made me a very cute mouse made from a coconut and the county water was delicious - a first for me.
Great.
sandrined674,
Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an experience! It was magical! The tuk tuk picked us up from the hotel at 5:55 am to go on a boat safari at sunrise. Coke is extraordinary, it has a lynx eye to find varans, snakes, crocodiles, bats and kingfishers. Magical passage in a narrow and very dense mangrove, it was like Indiana Jones. Very fun time with the very nice monkeys. More than 2 hours of wonderful walk. Thanks again to Coke for his humor, kindness, incredible smile and professionalism. 👍
Great experience!!
dheerajarora002,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience. If you’re in Bentota, try it. You’ll find a lot of animals like monkey, crocodile, snakes, and many more.
Unforgettable River Safari Experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Joe T,
Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an incredible time with Bentota River Safari by STT – it’s truly an experience everyone should do when visiting! On our safari, we saw so many amazing animals: fruit bats, caiman crocodiles, water monitors, snakes, and even monkeys who were so gentle they ate right from our hands. Our captain, Coca, was fantastic – not only was his eyesight incredible (he spotted crocodiles and other wildlife we never would have seen), but he’s also a great photographer and helped us capture some amazing memories. A highlight was enjoying a refreshing coconut along the way, complete with a paper straw (a nice surprise as I expected plastic). The whole journey felt relaxed yet exciting, with so much to see and take in. The safari cost £50 for two people, but honestly, the experience felt like it could have been worth £500. That’s how special and memorable it was. I would book it again and again without hesitation. The team was also very responsive via WhatsApp and even offered a pickup service if you’re outside their zone, which made everything so easy. If you’re in Bentota, do not miss this river safari – it was one of the absolute highlights of our trip!
Top safari
R5253EGjeanettes,
Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic boat safari with our guide Coca. He showed us so much that we really didn't see ourselves. Knew how to tell all kinds of background information and makes beautiful photos. And yes! We've seen all the animals. So absolutely worth it!
Must to do it if you in Bentota 🫶
Climber57593467050,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really enjoyed! So much to see and enough time for full experience. Felt like in fairytale going trough all these natured roads of the river. The guide was very polite and supportive. All the stops to see the animals were breath taking. 100% recommend it !
River Safari
stwelondon,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a fantastic river Safari with this company. Very easy to book. Payment by card accepted. Very responsive to questions and flexible with timings. Boat nice, captain excellent and we saw crocodiles, monkeys, snakes, water monitors and many other creatures. Well worth it - a brilliant trip. Full 2 hours.
great
Ninat62,
Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00good experience and a must do. they take you inside mangroves which is quite a wonder and a sight to see. if you are lucky then you can get to see baby crocodiles which we didnt.
Great trip with lots of animals
Global730716,
Aug 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip across the big river and a small tributary. We drove straight through the mangroves. The driver was very friendly and tried and found many animals for us. From large water warblers to kingfishers to crocodiles. We were even allowed to feed monkeys in the middle of the Magroves. The children were allowed to steer the boat and we had a great time. Highly recommended!
Related Experiences
Operated by Shiran Travels & Tours