Elephant Watch Hut Habarana
Rustic luxury in elephant territory!
An eco solidarity & social enterprise project.
Elephant Watch Hut BY 'BOTAKANDA’
Our Story / Inspiration / History /Friendly Visitors/Shoe Café/Wabi Sabi Concept:
Our Story
A thirsty young boy wandering in the forest fetching for water tries to dig a hole with a stick. A wild elephant noticed this incident approached him and with its trunk dug further until the water gushed out. Since that day this boy until he lived built a pond for elephants to quench their thirst. Elephant Watch Hut continues this legend by building water ponds for Wild elephants and supporting the villagers living around who are the decedents of the young boy.
Inspiration
‘Botakanda Inspiration’ is a Tourism Accommodation Concept ethics includes the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for tourism partnership projects with local villagers as stake holders & integrated with High Tech, Low Tech and No Tech. ‘ Botakanda means 'elephant’ in aboriginal language.
History
The watch hut 104 was originally occupied by a slash and burn farming family for a long time. Unfortunately due to wild elephants in the vicinity destroying their crops the family left the area. This hut was transformed to Elephant Watch Hut through our eco solidarity project 'Botakanda' based on the dream of this family.
Friendly Visitors
Wild Elephants: When no water is available on the ponds they will crack the main pipe line. Pushing things around specially the heavy concrete benches on the common area. Peacocks: Taking heavy flights from tree to land on watch hut roof. Birds: Tailor Bird Removing the thread from the bamboo blinds. Squirrels: Chipping away the bamboo blinds. Giant Squirrels: Robbing face towels for no reason. Monkey: Always trying to snatch sugar bottles away.
Shoe Café & 'Merklin Train'
For each pot of coffee served at the shoe cafe grill elephant watch hut will sponsor a pair of tennis shoes for a needy child to attend the school. Our Sri Lankan coffee from 3 different regions at the cafe served is percolated. Model Train: Sometimes train engine toot their horns in the night to chase away wild baby elephants from the track, as a reminder to protect these Pachyderms a model train from Merklin is displayed .
Wabi Sabi Concept
Although Wabi Sabi can be hard to define, we can translate its simplified meaning to “rustic simplicity” Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.” For e.g Wild Elephants often break things while rubbing their trunk due to curiosity - Bar Be Cue grill, Outdoor showers or uprooted tree trunks etc becomes a part of our concept. Pollen of the trees nearby cover the deck ponds with a thin layer when its windy must not to be misunderstood as dust or dirt.
SUSTAINABILITY
Changing peoples's lifestyle ethics for better by financial support to improve their living conditions, renovating their houses & educating to understand about tourism business.
PARTNERSHIP
We fully support individuals & families from villages nearby to join us at Elephant Watch Hut to build the bridge of confidence..
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Local knowledge will enable you share all the experience with the villagers way of life. e.g jungle life, agriculture, traditional fishing, weaving.
OUTSOURCING 90%
All the departments are outsourced to low income families. e.g all meals, laundry linnen, transport & local activities.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Solar power lighting for all the watch huts with minimum brightness in oder not to disturb the wildlife & LPG for hot water shower.
LANGUAGE APPS
The favourite app of our team is "Google Language Translator" for faster communication, action & customer service.
OUR GOAL
Involve the local population to be independent for their start up projects as suppliers to Elephant Watch Hut, while respecting nature & culture.
RESERVATIONS
101 Wild Honey US$ 210 - 103 Pappadam US$ 210 - Wild Romance 102 US$ 250
ACTIVITIES
Complimentary community based initiation activities - 'Be my Guest'
OPTIONAL PAID ACTIVITIES
ACCOMMODATION
Bedroom:
Teak log beds. Teak wooden floor. Coconut fiber and natural rubber mattresses. Solar power lighting system. Outdoor relaxing pond deck View deck. Attached bathroom with toilet & shower. Relaxing deck pond: Release the used deck relaxing deck pond water outlet to have a refreshing outdoor morning shower to reduce water wastage.
Amenities:
02 x Umbrellas. 02 x Torches x 02. 02 x Water bottle bag. 01 x Mini Speaker. 01 x Solar powered reading lamp. 01 x Purse & passport holder. 02 x Yoga mats. 01 x Dustbin. 01 x Bin for clothes to be washed. 02 x Ear plugs – Use in case of night trains horning or sounds of nature. 01 x First aid kit box. 01 x Safe - inside the bathroom with a new padlock and set of keys.
Living Area:
01 x Dining Table with 04 Chairs for breakfast or dinner. 01 x Coffee Table with books about birds and wild animals by Professor Kotagama. 01 x Cool box. 01 x Relaxing camping bed. 01 x Charcoal Ironing Facility. 01 x Hot water hand shower – LPG Gas powered. 01 x Outdoor waterhole for guests and wild elephants. 01 x Outdoor bon fire.
Relaxing Deck Ponds
01 '2 ft depth' outdoor pond to cool off the heat during daytime and 01 '2 ft depth' on the deck for the evening or night to spot the stars or hear the sounds of wildlife.
Watch Hut 102
WILD ROMANCE
Watch Hut 102
ARIEAL VIEW
Watch Hut 102
BEDROOM
Watch Hut 102
BATHROOM
INTERIOR DÉCOR
IMAGE GALLERY
Private
OUTDOOR DINING AREA!
MEAL OPTIONS
QUICK FACTS
Breakfast & dinner is included in half board basis bookings. Select your menu accordingly to your overnights on the booking form.
Learn MoreHabarana Grill Fish
This is an awesome dish grilled either tilapia lake fish or fresh tuna from Trinco , wrapped in turmeric leaves with local spices.
Learn MoreEAT FRESH
Vegetables selected by Village chefs are purchased directly from village market the same day your meals are prepared.
Learn MoreDINING
Select your choice from the menu ' Booking Form' Grill Chicken, Wild Prawns or Fish.
SITTING AREA
We have the perfect space for you! 01 table indoor (accommodating 04 guests total), & 01 outdoor ideal for an elegant dinner with a tasting Sri Lankan menu by our village chefs.
OUTDOOR BONFIRE
Sit close to your individual outdoor bonfire take inspiration from the jungle, the jeep safari, the romantic light of the full moon to spot wild elephants & sip a hot cocoa.
BARBECUE GRILL
Bar be cue meat or fish on the bonfire grill, throw some sausages on the pond grill, fire the rocket stove grill on the dining area for a hot tea or use the LPG gas burner.
VILLAGE CHEFS!
OUTDOOR GRILL CHICKEN!
GRILLED PRAWNS!
CAUGHT WILD BROUGHT FRESH!
CULINARY EXPERIENCES
LOOK WHAT WE CAN COOK TOGETHER !
CHANGING PEOPLE'S
LIFESTYLES FOR BETTER.
WATCH HUT TEAM!
F.Y.I
ADVISORS
Prof. S W Kotagama - Professor Emeritus / Saman Gamage - Doctor of Philosophy / Riza Badurdeen - Presidential Award Winner - Best Tour Guide 2007
CONSERVATION PARTNERS
F.O.G.S.L / Red Slender Loris /
OUR CUSTOMERS
PROMOTER'S VISION
Promotion sponsored by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority - SLTDA Buddy also has won the Presidential award in 2007 as the best National Tour Guide.
CONTACT
- Elephant Watch Hut
- Karandagas Wewa Trincomalee Rd, Habarana
- +94-0766154135 - Buddiya
- elephantwatchhuthabarana@gmail.com
- Mon-Fri - 08:00-19:00
Priyantha: English Buddiya: English & German Brigitte: French Website Designed By: Mungo Magic