Madu River Boat Safari and Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery from Bentota

Madu River, a wetland estuary spreading over 900 hectares of which 770 hectares are covered with water and inhabited with 64 islands. The boat ride is a wonderful way to take a closer look at this complex wetland ecosystem, a world heritage site protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, being one of the last wetlands in Sri Lanka to contain a pristine mangrove forest. 

Journey past massive mangrove forests, glide under the canopy of the forest tunnels as they curve playfully towards the watercourse. If it's later in the evening watch the fishermen in their canoes lighting lanterns on traps that catch prawns and other shellfish. It's certainly going to be a memorable day-out on the serene waters of the unforgettable Madu River. 

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery Globally, all seven species of marine turtles are endangered. Of these seven, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. The process of marine turtles nesting, hatchlings being born, and swimming back to sea is fascinating to observe. 

The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery which primarily operates as a hatchery is a great place to observe collected and rescued eggs hatch and then safely released into the sea.