Bentota River Safari

Bentota River Safari runs a roughly two-hour motorboat route up the Bentota River's mangrove-lined channels and river islands, departing from jetties near Bentota town itself rather than the Balapitiya jetties used for the separate Madu Ganga safari about 10 kilometres south. Boats pass through narrow mangrove tunnels where water monitors and mugger crocodiles are commonly seen basking on the banks, alongside kingfishers, egrets, and troops of macaques along the tree line. Most operators quote USD 30-36 per person for a shared or private two-hour trip including hotel pickup, and prices are usually set per boat rather than per head, so it is worth confirming group size and route before booking. Morning departures see calmer water and more active wildlife than the midday heat.