Yala Southern Retreat

Everything!! If you are going to Yala and on Safari, stay at Yala Southern Homestay. From the moment we arrived, to the moment we left, we were welcomed and thoroughly taken care of. Our hosts were absolutely wonderful, arranging the two safaris, packing us breakfast both days, getting up to see us leave safely (at 4.30 and 5.30 am respectively), met us off the 4x4 when we returned back, and cooking us dinner because it would have been too late to go out. DO NOT MISS THE SAFARIS - WHAT AN EXPERIENCE - BUT LET THE HOSTS BOOK THEM ONCE YOU ARE AT THE PROPERTY. On the day we were leaving, breakfast was a banquet!! Wow, it was absolutely amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We wanted to go out, so they arranged tuk tuks for us to go to the lake to see the thousands of giant fruit bats (a ten minute ride) and also to a restaurant for dinner. They even did our washing and ironing (for a small fee) I cannot say enough about this wonderful couple and Yala Southern Homestay. It was brilliant

We loved everything

The hosts are the best! The kindest people you will ever meet. Very accommodating, they helped book our 2 full safari days in Yala National Park which were great & good value for money. The breakfast was amazing! We also ate dinner twice at the homestay after our safari tours which were delicious & at a good price. They even provided a takeaway breakfast for the safari days even though the safari tour included breakfast. They’ll give you coffee/tea before you leave for your tour too. Comfortable bed with AC & hot water. We used their bicycles free of charge to cycle to town & the nearby lake to watch the flying foxes & go out for dinner (which they also recommended us to do). They also helped with organising a taxi transfer from our previous location at a good price & provided recommendations of transport options for our onward travels. Spacious balcony outside the room with table & chairs. Beautiful garden with banana & mango trees. And they even have pet fish & a cute young german shepherd! A wonderful homestay for great value for money, would recommend!

The room doesn’t seem very well maintained despite the good space. There was damp / mould on the ceiling in the bathroom & when it rained heavily, our bedroom ceiling leaked slightly. There’s also not much lighting in the bathroom. But the hosts were very apologetic & provided towels to dry the floor from the leak. We didn’t mind these things as the property is great value for money & the hosts are amazing. The stay was still comfortable, but worth noting.

Everything was absolutely perfect! The property was immaculate and the hosts were so sweet and hospitable. We booked the safari through them and we had and ended up being cheaper than anywhere else. Our host woke up super early to pack us breakfast to bring to the safari too and it was delicious! Felt like being part of the family and we wish we stayed longer! We will definitely be back! Thank you for making our stay memorable! Ps: they have a big dog called Tobby which is soo cute and friendly.

We stayed at Yala Southern Homestay for one night (BB) in February 2026, and it was the highlight of our trip. The property is beautiful and the rooms were sparkling clean, but what really makes this place special is the hosts. Their hospitality is top-notch! The Safari: The hosts arranged everything for us. It was perfectly timed—we reached the safari gate around 3:00 PM . We were able to spot crocodiles, a variety of birds, and the famous Yala elephants! Will visit again for the leopards as it was not our lucky day. The Food: Breakfast was absolutely "yum" and delicious—the perfect way to refuel. If you're looking for a personal touch and a stress-free safari, I highly recommend this stay. We will definitely be back!

Nothing to complain about.