The Team

The Local Staff Concept

Our style of camp concept, aspiration and management is tailor made for this particular wild place and all designed to make a … reality tourism … experience of the local area, community, wilderness boundary lifestyle and wild elephant movements and appearances.

The Tree Tops Jungle Lodge guest related hospitality service is operated by a 6-man team, all recruited in the local area.

They are trained-on-the-job and we use their natural sense of hospitality, which ensures a an authentic service experience.

The staff team have a real interest in our guests as well as our local jungle surroundings. Being of the local community they will share a natural enthusiasm for the wild property and the environment.

Staff members speak basic English. Rather, they will understand more than they speak. The authentic atmosphere that prevails at the lodge is made by the team because they are real people. Not hired from the hotel and hospitality industry ….. Not professionals holding hotel school certificates … But that is easily compensated and surpassed by their know-how in their jungle.

Your Host - Kamal

A most central person for us. Kamal has been employed at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge since 2^nd January 2002; he began on the job a month after his 16^th years birthday. Born in the local area – just three kilometer from the camp property. Kamal speaks good English and really cares about a good experience for all guests.

Over the years he has fulfilled multiple duties and positions, even several at the same time … Today it’s also like that. Apart from being a host, he is camp general manager as well as a Tree Tops Jungle Lodge company director. He is also a jungle tracker and a naturalist guide.

Since he came directly from the school to working at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge he is not formally educated. However, we think and claim that he posses a “practical life Tree Tops Jungle Lodge master degree” …. which is what we need.

Over the years ‘self-educated’ on the job and has a great knowledge of birds. Kamal has studied local birdlife since 2005 where he got his initial ornithological training.

He is a skilled bird photographer and videographer – and this can be witnessed and followed on YouTube and Instagram.

Our Senior Safari Driver - Danushka

Danushka is another central member of our team. He is our safari specialist. Danushka has a long history with us, dating back to February 2004. At the time he was only 18 years old and already a talented safari. He had gone on many safari drives with his father, Mr. Chandrasiri who introduced Danushka to us. Chandrasiry is a very well known Yala safari driver from Tissamaharama.

Still today Danushka is with us as a senior safari specialist and driver. Also contributing to daily camp affairs with practical electronic and mechanical knowlodge. Capabilities that are also a great advantage on safari. He’s able fix things in the jungle – if there is any issue with the jeep. For Danushka his safari jeep is like a family member and every accessible corner of Yala National Park is like a home for him.

With Danushka we have been in all blocks and accessible areas of Yala National Park.
That means Yala Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5, Block 6, Kumana (Yala East).