A boat trip along the Nilwala River in Matara puts you close to wild crocodiles resting at the water's edge, in a landscape of dense green vegetation and slow-moving water that feels far removed from the coast just beyond it. The river cuts through Sri Lanka's Southern Province near Matara town, a coastal city better known for its Dutch fort and beaches, and this safari gives a different reason to linger inland for a few hours.
The boat itself is open-sided and canopy-covered, built for wildlife viewing rather than speed, with rope rigging overhead and bench seating for a small group. Your guide watches the banks and shallows for crocodiles basking or moving through the water, and points out other life along the way: monkeys gather near the banks and can be fed by hand, and birds move through the vegetation lining the river. Crew members also fish from the boat as it drifts, and it is not unusual to see a small catch held up for a closer look.
Refreshments are part of the experience rather than an afterthought. Guests are served a fruit plate of freshly sliced watermelon, pineapple and banana, along with fresh coconut and water, set out on trays as the boat moves along the river. It gives the trip a relaxed, unhurried rhythm between moments of wildlife spotting, and a chance to sit back under the canopy while the guide steers you toward the next sighting.
The tour is run as a private boat trip with an English-speaking guide, and covers crocodile watching, monkey feeding and bird watching as its three main strands, with all taxes and service charges included in the arrangement. Gratuities, personal expenses and hotel transfers are not part of the package, so it is worth arranging your own way to and from the river. What you come away with is a close, unscripted look at one of southern Sri Lanka's working rivers and the crocodiles that call it home.
