Private Tour
2h Bentota River Safari: Crocodiles, Monkeys, Mangrove & more
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Embark on the Bentota River Boat Safari with us and immerse yourself in a world where nature's tranquility meets wild beauty. Glide through serene waters, flanked by lush mangroves, home to exotic birds, water monitors, and crocodiles. Our expert guides will share stories that bring the ecosystem and local culture to life, enhancing your connection to this vibrant landscape. Choose your ideal time for the safari, from early morning to late afternoon, ensuring a personalized experience. This adventure, tailored to your interests, promises to be both memorable and uniquely yours.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Bentota River
Bentota River offers a unique and memorable experience for travelers. As you glide along the serene waters, you'll be surrounded by lush mangroves and diverse ecosystems. This journey provides an excellent opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat. You can expect to see exotic birds like kingfishers, herons, and cormorants, gracefully skimming the water or perched in the foliage. Additionally, keep an eye out for water monitors and even crocodiles basking along the riverbanks. The tranquil environment, coupled with the rich biodiversity, makes this safari not just a visual treat but also a chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and tranquility of Bentota's riverine landscape.
What‘s Included
A King Coconut for each person
Life Insurance
Modern and safe boats with life jackets
5+ years experienced sailor guide
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
2-Hour Bentota River Safari
Duration: 2 hours
Pickup included
Birdwatching Safari
Duration: 3 hours: The Birdwatching Safari spans around 3 hours, and the observation of birds is influenced by natural conditions
Pickup included
Sunset Viewing Safari
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: Sunset Viewing Safari lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Sunset visibility is subject to weather conditions
Pickup included
Reviews
127 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A wonderful walk between river and mangrove to discover this unique ecosystem
542sylviek,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a good time this water ride! A very nice guide with the will to make us discover as many things as possible. We have seen crocodiles, monkeys, bats, a snake, varans... but the most important thing is not there, the landscapes and the mangrove are beautiful.
Trip along the river
963lindsays,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great trip on the water with Achilla our friendly guide. We saw monkeys crocodiles iguana birds along the river and mangroves. Efficient service picking us up from our hotel and dropping us back. Definitely recommend
Wonderful Wildlife Of Bentota
Safari53404534463,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent 2hr river safari with lots of wildlife. Spotted green leaf snakes, many water monitors, crocodiles, monkeys, swa eagles and more. Rica our guide had a remarkable ability to spot the wildlife and was able to tell us about them. Well worth the 2 hours time!
Excellent Trip
Paul Z,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent 2 hours on the river with lots of wildlife spotted. Crocodiles, monkeys, leaf snakes, water monitors and much more. Coca our guide had amazing ability to spot and knew all about the animals and birds. Well worth setting time aside to experience this great little trip.
A proper river wildlife experience, run by a knowledgeable team. We highly recommend this trip!
Lindsay T,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabulous water safari. Our guide was a skilled boat driver and brilliant at spotting and explaining all the wildlife to us. He called monkeys down from the tree canopy to take fruit from his hand. We saw crocodiles, river monitors, chameleons (mid changing colour) , monkeys, kingfishers, herons, and bats. The part through the mangrove forest was magical.
Great!
Nelja K,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience! We saw many animals and the natural mangroves were breathtaking. Highly recommend.
An Amazing River Safari
211kavitas,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We thoroughly enjoyed the 2-hour Bentota River Safari with Shiran Tours. Our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and went above and beyond to spot as much wildlife as possible. We booked the tour a few hours before it started, and communication was excellent; they picked us up from the resort and dropped us off. We highly recommend this tour company.
An amazing adventure packed in 2 hours - just book it! :)
milishorRo,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you love wildlife, you can't miss this! Feeding the monkeys is an unforgettable experience, the komodo dragons are massive, the birds are so colorful, and the crocodiles are quite a sight to see! And I also loved the serene beauty of the mangrove... Special thanks to Coca for his skilled eye - we didn't miss anything that could be seen on the tour!
Great safari, excellent guide!
johanbY203LN,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience with the excellent guide, showing us a big number of animals along the boat trip. We saw monkeys, crocodiles, snakes, bats, fruitbats (flying dogs), chameleons, different birds and other animals. The guide was very friendly and service-minded, we can highly recommend this adventure!
This experience was...
Hanri C,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This experience was amazing! Organising transport from an area outside of the listed ones was easy and efficient. My tour guide was eagle-eyed and managed to spot the tiniest chameleons and snakes. Would recommend 👍
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Operated by Shiran Travels & Tours