Rekawa Lagoon

Rekawa lagoon lies just east of Tangalle on the south coast, about 8 to 10 km from the town. It is small, wrapped in mangroves and connected to the sea, and it sits behind Rekawa beach, one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in Sri Lanka. It is a quiet place for birds, mangroves and village life, and easy to combine with an evening turtle watch.

The lagoon and its mangroves

The lagoon is fed by the Kirama Oya and drains to the sea through a narrow mouth. Its banks are lined with mangroves; the Turtle Conservation Project, which works in Rekawa, reports 17 mangrove species in the area and has run mangrove replanting here since the late 1990s. The roots shelter fish, crabs and prawns, and lagoon fishing, especially for shrimp, is an important income for families in the village. You will often see small boats, cast nets and fishing stakes at work.

Birds and wildlife

Herons, egrets, kingfishers, cormorants and bee-eaters are common around the water, and in the northern winter, roughly November to March, migrant waders feed on the mudflats. Look for monitor lizards on the banks. The area is rich enough that local guides talk of well over a hundred bird species around Rekawa.

What you do

Ask locally or through your hotel about a short boat or canoe trip on the lagoon with a village guide, or simply walk along the edges at dawn with binoculars. In the evening, many visitors join the Rekawa turtle watch on the beach. Rekawa was declared a turtle sanctuary in 2006, and the beach is a major nesting site for green turtles, with olive ridleys also common and other species seen more rarely.

How long it takes

One to two hours for a boat trip or walk. Add two to three hours in the evening for the turtle watch.

When to go

Early morning or late afternoon for birds and cooler air. The south coast is driest from about November to April.

Getting there

Rekawa is around 8 to 10 km east of Tangalle, about 20 minutes by tuk-tuk or car along a minor road off the coast road towards Hambantota.

Practical tips

• Bring insect repellent; the mangroves have mosquitoes.
• Respect fishing nets, stakes and gear.
• Agree the price of a boat trip before you set off.
• Wear a hat and bring water for morning walks.

Also nearby: Kalametiya bird sanctuary and kayaking in Tangalle lagoon. See Tangalle things to do and Tangalle hotels.