Mangrove Garden

Introduction

Mangrove Garden is one of the finest budget beach properties on the south coast: a simple but escapist spot offering clean and comfortable accommodation with an eco-friendly focus. It has an escapist setting on a 5 km stretch of secluded beach near Rekuwa Beach were sea turtles come to rest, offering utter tranquillity. The property is set amidst a coconut grove and is accessed via a rudimentary ferry across a mangrove-lined lagoon, a few minutes from Tangalle town. Room are divided into chalets and cabanas, the latter of which have a fabulous ocean frontage. A restaurant and café is set right on the beach and serves up fresh seafood dishes and Sri Lankan rice and curries.

Accommodation

Beach chalets: The two separate beach chalets are set in the coconut grove, each designed with two double rooms and a veranda. One is a single-storey cottage while the other is on two levels. The rooms are comfortably furnished with twin or double beds fitted with mosquito netting and have overhead fans to keep them cool. Attached bathrooms have solar powered h/w. The chalets are about a five minute walk from the main restaurant, so carry a torch with you at night. Two staff members reside nearby the chalets to provide security at night and will assist in case of an emergency.

Beach Cabanas: There are five timber cabanas all with beach frontage, located closer to the restaurant. Each cabana has a double bedroom, steps leading down to a lower level bathroom with shower, wash basin and w/c and a private sit out facing the beautiful secluded beach. There is no hot water in the beach cabanas. Interiors are furnished with timber double beds fitted with mosquito netting and have overhead fans.

Facilities

A coconut-thatched open-sided beach café serve light snacks, coffee and drinks. The beach restaurant serves a range of seafood, Sri Lankan and western dishes. Ferry rides, nature walks, and excursions to the nearby wildlife sanctuaries are all possible. The sea is safe for swimming only during the season from December to March, but the nearby natural shallow lagoon can be used year round. Walk along the beach at night and you are likely to see sea turtles nesting, or even hatchlings swimming out to sea. Conservation of sea turtles is a vital programme in this area.

Why we like it

These simple cabanas are right on the beach in a quieter part of Tangalle and have delighted many budget travellers

Location

Mangrove Garden is 3 kms away from Tangalle, near Rekuwa Beach. The surrounding sea is swimmable between December and April and the accommodation is next to a shallow lagoon, which is safe to use all year.