udawalawe national park safari timings

A complete guide to visiting Udawalawe national park, Sri Lanka

  • July 24, 2023
  • curious goose

udawalawe national park safari timings

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Located in Sri Lanka’s hill country, the protected forests and grasslands of Udawalawe national park is one of the world’s best places to see wild elephants and one of Sri Lanka’s most popular national parks.

Here’s a complete guide to visiting Udawalawe National Park, including how to get there and what to expect from a safari tour of the national park.

Where is Udawalawe national park? Which is the best national park in Sri Lanka? What animals can you see in Udawalawe national park? What to expect on the Udawalawe Safari tour Visiting the Elephant Transit home Where to stay near Udawalawe national park? How long do you need in Udawalawe?

Where is Udawalawe national park?

The vast reserve of Udawalawe national park is located in south of Sri Lanka. It sits between the tea plantations and forests of Nuwara Eliya and Ella in the central hill country region, and the sandy coastline of Sri Lanka’s southern beaches.

The best way to reach Udawalawe is by car and I would recommend hiring a driver to take you there. Hiring a driver is a common and cost-effective way to get around Sri Lanka where public transport options are limited.

Which is the best national park in Sri Lanka?

The answer to this really depends on whether you want to see a specific animal. For example, the larger and popular Yala national park has a large leopard population. Whereas, the quieter Bundala national park is known as being an important home for migratory birds, the highlight of which is the flamingo. The Udawalawe national park is home to wild elephants. Therefore, if your main objective is to see elephants up close, then you would be best visiting Udawalawe national park.

What animals can you see in Udawalawe national park?

The area of Udawalawe was designated as a national park in 1972 and it’s primary objective was to provide a safe refuge for the wild elephants. It also created an important habitat for water birds and other animals. We chose Udawalawe national park because we specifically wanted to see elephants, which Udawalawe is famous for. However, within the park you can also see other animals such as water buffalo, deer and crocodiles and, if your really lucky, you might even spot a leopard.

What to expect on the Udawalawe Safari tour?

The Udawalawe national park offers various safari tours by jeep , which you can take as a half day, or as a full day tour. At no point are you allowed to leave the jeep to get close to the elephants and you will not be able to ride or pet the elephants. These are wild elephants and the park is their home, where they are protected.

Our private jeep tour in Udawalawe National Park with Niluka Safari was amazing!

We opted for a private morning safari so that we weren’t out in the afternoon when the sun is more intense. Having a private tour also meant that we didn’t have to compromise on the experience by sharing it with others. We could also spend as much or little time in each location as we wanted. The jeep picked us up early from our hotel and we had to queue with the other jeeps to gain entrance to the park.

Once we were in the park, the jeeps all spread out and took different routes within the park. This was so that the elephants were not crowded by lots of jeeps all trying to get the same view. We decided to hire a nature guide with our driver. I personally think this is the best way, as the guide could tell us all about the history, wildlife and conservation within the park.

A family of elephants in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and it was really interesting listening to him throughout the tour. He guided the driver to the lesser-known areas of the park and for much of the tour we were the only jeep around. Being able to watch small herds of elephants in their natural habitat was so magical. We were so grateful to have our guide take us to these spots where we could watch at a safe distance and not disturb them.

Our tour package included breakfast and we were treated to a gorgeous array of fruit, eggs and bread with orange juice and tea, which the driver and guide set up for us on a little table and chairs, overlooking the reservoir. We were definitely not expecting such a luxurious breakfast and we felt very spoilt!

Udawalawe Reservoir in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

The Elephant Transit home

Also in Udawalawe is the Elephant Transit Home. The transit home is supported by the Born free foundation and was set up to rehabilitate orphaned elephants. The elephants are then released back into their natural habitat, many into the Udawalawe national park.

The Elephant Transit Home is open to tourists to visit to learn about the elephants and their rehabilitation. You can’t get close to the elephants, but you can observe them being fed from a distance. This is a great way to see elephants if you don’t have the time or budget to go on a safari in the park.

We didn’t visit the transit home, however, as we felt the experience at the national park was special enough and we were lucky enough to see so many elephants on our safari tour.

Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

I would definitely recommend taking a safari tour at one of the national parks whilst in Sri Lanka. Seeing these elephants at Udawalawe national park was one of the highlights of our trip.

Sri Lanka has not always had the best reputation for protecting the welfare of their wildlife. So, for any animal encounters you are thinking of doing, make sure it is responsible and protects the safety of the animal. Lonely planet has some good advice on their website regarding what to look out for.

Where to stay near Udawalawe national park?

There are many hotels in Udawalawe that specifically cater to those visiting the Udawalawe national park. Other than hotels, there’s not much else in the area, so make sure that your hotel or accommodation has options for food and drink. We stayed at Elephant Trail hotel , which was just outside of the national park. The hotel was really great value and had a pool, restaurant and bar. We were also able to book our safari package through the hotel as well.

How long do you need in Udawalawe?

We stayed for two nights in Udawalawe and felt that was a good amount of time without feeling too rushed. Our journey from Ella took a couple of hours and we arrived around lunchtime. We spent the afternoon by the pool, before getting an early night ahead of the safari the next morning. After the morning safari, we chilled by the pool for the rest of the day. If you don’t have much time, you could get away with staying just one night then set off to your next destination after a morning safari.

For help planning your trip to Sri Lanka, make sure you take a look at my two week Sri Lanka itinerary !

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Know before you go: udawalawe national park safari, sri lanka.

elephant safari in sri lanka

Udawalawe National Park safari is at the top of the bucket list for many planning a trip to Sri Lanka. So, if you’re planning your Sri Lanka itinerary and looking for information on how to visit Udawalawe National Park for an elephant safari, look no further.

Table of Contents

What to expect on a Udawalawe National Park safari

You will see plenty of elephants.

Udawalawe National Park has the largest population of Asian elephants of all of the national parks in Sri Lanka. So, if you’ve come to Sri Lanka to see elephants, Udawalawe National Park is the right place. With between 500-700 elephants living here, the chance of seeing some up close is guaranteed. They are attracted to this area because of the abundant supply of water, which attracts other animals too.

Flowing through the Udawalawe National Park, the Walawe River provides water for a multitude of animals. Furthermore, the whole park is built around a man-made dam and a very large reservoir. The reservoir was constructed in the mid-twentieth century with the goal of forming a wildlife sanctuary.

seeing elephants in wild in sri lanka

… and other animals, too.

Another animal that you could see in abundance in Udawalawe National Park is the water buffalo. And besides elephants and water buffalo, other animals that live in the Udawalawe National Park that you could encounter on your safari include crocodiles, deer, wild boars, monkeys, lizards, leopards if you are extremely lucky, and a wide variety of birds.

water buffalos in sri lanka

You’ll hardly see other people.

Okay, before going on a Udawalawe National Park safari, I found two contradictory statements online – half of the people were saying the park is getting crowded, and the other half were saying that you barely get to meet another soul.

In my experience, the latter was more true. It might have something to do with the fact that tourism in Sri Lanka is decreasing in comparison to previous years. That is mainly because of the current economic situation of the country and people being kind of afraid of visiting. Or it also might have been the case for us because we visited Udawalawe National Park on the 1st of January. We only came across 3 or 4 other jeeps on our safari experience.

Udawalawe National Park safari tours are private.

I don’t know what’s the case in Yala or other national parks in Sri Lanka but in Udawalawe all safari jeep tours are private. This means that you get a 6-seater jeep and a safari tour guide all to yourself. For solo travelers, couples, or small groups of 2 to 4 people that could be very convenient as you could move around and change seats for a better view of the elephants and the other animals as you wish.

best elephant view

Udawalawe National Park safari visitor’s information

  • Udawalawe National Park opening time: 6 am – 6 pm
  • Udawalawe National Park entry fee: $25

What’s included in a Udawalawe National Park safari tour?

Before you book any Udawalawe National Park safari tour, find out what’s included in the tour price. Most companies offer private jeep safaris. You pay for the jeep, which has up to six seats inside, and you can split the cost with others.

The safari jeep and the driver are typically included in a Udawalawe National Park safari package. Depending on the company you book with, it may also include the park’s entry fees and a safari guide.

sri lanka safari

How much does a Udawalawe National Park safari cost? 

I can not tell you a specific number as prices vary and because the total amount would also depend on your transportation to and back from the National Park, whether you’re spending the night there, etc.

We spend a lot on our Udawalawe National Park safari, $150 per person. For this price, we got picked up from our hotel in Weligama and dropped off at our hotel in Ella. The price, of course, also included the Udawalawe National Park entry fee and the safari experience.

This could be a lot for budget travelers, and I am sure you can do it for less. It was expensive for us too, but we didn’t wanted to waste an entire day just getting there from Weligama.

Our Udawalawe National Park safari experience

As mentioned above, we’ve had our entire trip organized for us, so we didn’t had to worry or deal with anything on our own. From Weligama, we arrived straight at the entrance of Udawalawe National Park where we transferred to our jeep. We quickly picked up our guide and started the safari experience.

The first thing that we saw was a leopard footprint.

Right after, we saw and heard some peacocks and started noticing the abundance of birds.

Within a couple of minutes of driving into the park, we saw a herd of water buffalo gathered at the reservoir. There were elephants around the water too. And we were also shown where to look to see a crocodile. We encountered a few, but it is so difficult to spot them really as they blend so well with their surroundings and look more like a log from a distance than an actual crocodile. That’s why binoculars would be great for the Udawalawe National Park safari.

Udawalawe National Park

We saw plenty of elephants, too. Families, lovers, and kids playing around with one another. One family even passed right through us, literally a meter from our jeep.

udawalawe national park safari timings

Our safari guide had eagle eyes and without him, we probably wouldn’t notice anything but the elephants and the water buffalo. Thanks to him, we managed to spot the crocodiles, deer, leopard footprint, and so many birds.

When is the best time to visit Udawalawe National Park?

The best time to visit Udawalawe National Park is during the dry season (the rainy months are April, May, October, and November). Elephants can be seen all year round, but migrating birds can only be seen between November and March.

What time of the day is best for the Udawalawe National Park safari?

When going on a Udawalawe National Park safari, you can choose when to do the safari – in the morning or the evening. You can also do an all-day safari adventure for a higher price, but I think that will be pretty exhausting.

The morning safari starts with the opening of the Udawalawe National Park at 6 am, and many choose to go for that option as animals are more likely to be active in the early morning. Plus, you beat the heat.

However, there could be fewer people during the evening tour, which is something also to consider. We did the evening tour and didn’t come across many other jeeps. And many animals are our drinking water or having a meal.

In any case, it’s totally up to you and your plans.

Udawalawe safari sri lanka

How long is the Udawalawe National Park safari?

Typically, a Udawalawe National Park safari lasts about 3 hours.

How to get to Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe National Park is located on the boundary of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces. It is easily accessible from the town of Udawalawa and can be reached in 2 to 4 hours from Sri Lanka’s famous beaches, Ella, and Colombo.

If you’re time and itinerary can allow it, you can reach Udawalawa by public bus. Please bear in mind, however, that depending on your departing destination, you might need to change multiple buses, which could take up to 10 hours.

You can also reach Udawalawa National Park by hiring a driver, renting a car, tuk-tuk, or a scooter and driving yourself, or joining a tour. The last is a very popular option. Tours are available from various destinations including Colombo, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Ella, and more.

Udawalawe National Park safari tips

  • Don’t forget to bring enough water.
  • Also, bring some snacks.
  • Suitable clothes or/and sunscreen.
  • Make sure to go to the bathroom before the start of your safari as there are no facilities in the park.
  • A good camera with the right lenses to capture the animals you’re going to see at a distance.
  • Binoculars would be good to have.

Which is better: the Udawalawe National Park safari or the Yala National Park safari? 

Although our first plan was to do a safari in Yala, we ended up choosing the Udawalawe National Park safari instead. For us, the main reason for that was logistical. We were in Weligama and wanted to go to Ella next. Udawalawe National Park is on the way between the two, so if we decided to visit Yala, we had to make a detour.

Another reason why we chose to do a Udawalawe National Park safari was that we knew for a fact that we are going to see elephants there. Most people typically visit Yala with the hopes of seeing leopards as well. However, we learned that you have the highest chance of seeing one of the 40 leopards roaming around Yala between May and August, so we decided that it is not worth making the detour.

With that being said, I can not really say which one is better. In my opinion, the better national park to visit of the two is the one that best fits your itinerary. Other travelers also report that Yala is also more crowded and more expensive, so that might be another reason to choose a Udawalawe National Park safari instead.

*It is also worth mentioning that according to a few locals that we spoke to, Yala is not even the best place to see leopards. They recommended visiting Wilpattu National Park which is located in the northwest of Sri Lanka.

Is Udawalawe National Park the best place for a safari in Sri Lanka?

I don’t think that there are best and not best parks for a safari in Sri Lanka. I think that it all depends on your interests in what are you interested in seeing and which park could best fit into your itinerary. Sri Lanka is home to 26 national parks, so if you’ve come to Sri Lanka for wildlife, I recommend going on more than one safari anyway.

safari in Udawalawe, sri lanka

Is visiting Udawalawe National Park worth it?

I wanted to see elephants in the wild and I achieved that at Udawalawe National Park. I heard that you are also likely to see elephants roaming the streets in the north of Sri Lanka, but since Kandy was our northernmost destination, from all the places we visited in central and south Sri Lanka, that was the only place where we saw the famous Sri Lankan elephants.

So, yes, for me the Udawalawe National Park safari was worth it.

And that’s all folks. I hope that this article gave you a good overview of what to expect on a Udawalawe National Park safari. If you have any additional questions or comments, please let me know in the comment section below, and don’t hesitate to contact me .

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Bilyana is the founder of Owl Over The World and the girl behind the screen. Besides being a travel blogger, she's also a mountain freak and a full-time dream chaser. She writes about her adventures around the world wanting to inspire you to travel more & worry less.

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Udawalawe National Park

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udawalawe national park safari timings

Udawalawe National Park - Everything to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  • Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket (From $61.00)
  • Udawalawe National Park Private Safari (From $27.00)
  • Udawalawe National Park Safari trip from Galle/Mirissa/Ella (From $190.00)
  • Udawalawe National Park | Private Safari (From $20.00)
  • Private Half Day Tour: Udawalawe National Park with Elephant Transit Home Visit (From $120.00)
  • (0.01 mi) Udawalawa Eco Lodge
  • (0.26 mi) Ruhunu Safari Camping Uda Walawe
  • (4.48 mi) Jungle Paradise
  • (6.99 mi) Nature House
  • (8.25 mi) Mansala Safari House
  • (4.32 mi) Amba Kola Café
  • (6.60 mi) Hungry Monkey
  • (8.09 mi) Machan Udawalawa
  • (6.58 mi) Restaurant Athgira
  • (2.56 mi) Craft Tunnel
  • (1.75 mi) Udawalawe Trails
  • (6.81 mi) Udawalawe Safari Fun
  • (2.55 mi) Kuma Safari Service Udawalawa
  • (2.54 mi) Lakpura LLC
  • (2.92 mi) Ceylon Nature Tours

Udawalawe National Park Information

Explore With Lora

How to Plan an Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka at Udawalawe

By: Author Lora Pope

Posted on Published: September 17, 2018  - Last updated: July 7, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking and making a purchase through the links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my disclaimer for more information. This and display ads allow me to keep the site up to date and give back .

Sri Lanka is one of my favorite countries to date. The country has so much to offer visitors, including an abundance of incredible wildlife . Considered one of the top spots for biodiversity in the world, going on a safari is a must-do on your Sri Lanka Itinerary . This guide will help you plan an epic Udawalawe safari, one of the best parks for elephant safaris in Sri Lanka.

elephant safari in udawalawe

Why visit Udawalawe National Park

There is no better way to see an animal than in its national habitat. With the highest density of wild Asian elephants in the world, Sri Lanka provides an excellent opportunity to see these magnificent creatures. However, you still need to be careful when choosing where to go on an elephant safari in Sri Lanka, as there are parks and “orphanages” that engage in abusive and harmful practices. Pinawalla Elephant Orphanage is an example of this. Another tip is to avoid any places that engage in elephant riding.

Despite this, Sri Lanka has done a fantastic job of protecting its wildlife while still making it accessible to tourists through the country’s national park.  Udawalawe National Park Safari is an excellent example of the countries efforts to protect wildlife. Established in 1972, it has become a sanctuary for wild elephants displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir.

Udawalawe has become a critical habitat for Sri Lankan elephants and other wildlife. Covering over 309 square kilometers of wilderness, Udawalawe is the perfect place to go on an elephant safari in Sri Lanka. An Udawalawe safari will allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the country while getting up close and personal with wildlife in an ethical way.

elephant safari in sri lanka

Udawalawe Vs. Yala National Park

Yala National Park and Udawalawe National Park are two of the most popular parks in Sri Lanka for wildlife. Both have their pros and cons, so here is some information to help you decide on Udawalawe vs. Yala.

One big con of Yala is that it is closed off for six to eight weeks each year, usually starting at the beginning of September. This year’s closure happened to coincide with the month I was in Sri Lanka, so I only had the option to visit Udawalawe. I’m glad it worked out this way because I loved my Udawalawe safari.

Another benefit of an Udawalawe safari over Yala is that it’s much less busy. Yala National Park is the most visited national park in Sri Lanka and one of the most touristic places. You are going to be sharing the animals with a lot of other jeeps. While Udawalawe is the third most visited park in Sri Lanka, there are significantly fewer people here compared to Yala.

A safari at Udawalawe is also cheaper than Yala. Both parks have an entrance fee of $15 USD, but you must hire a jeep and guide, which is more expensive at Yala. The cost will depend on your ability to negotiate. On average, a jeep and guide cost $30-35 at Yala for a half-day safari and around $20-25 at Udawalawe.

In terms of wildlife, Udalawe is better for seeing elephants. It has the highest concentration of Sri Lanka elephants in the country and is about 1/3 the size of Yala, so your chances of seeing elephants are very high here. If you want to see a leopard, then you should visit Yala. The park has the highest concentration of leopards in the world, with over 40 roaming the park. Yala is world-famous for its leopard sightings, but if you don’t get the chance to visit, another place to see leopards in Sri Lanka is Wilpattu National Park.

udawalawe vs. yala

They are both amazing national parks and if you have the time, you could visit both as they relatively close. You can even book a 1-day tour for Yala and Udawalawe National Park!

How to get to Udawalawe National Park

Most people stay at an eco-lodge or glamping option just outside the park in Udawalawe. However, it is possible to visit as a day trip from another place on the South Coast of Sri Lanka. The easiest way to get there is by hiring a private driver , but it is also possible to take local buses to the town of Udawalawe.

From Weligama: I arranged a day tour from Weligama while I was there on a surf camp , which meant we had to wake up at 5 am to for a three-hour drive to the park. On the flip side, I didn’t have to spend any money staying in the park. You could also take the bus here, but it would take much longer and several transfers (Weligama -> Mirissa -> Matara -> Embilipitiya -> Udawalawe).

From Colombo: Udawalawe national park is a five-hour drive from Colombo via public transit. There is a local bus that will take you there (#122, but always ask for most updated info), so if you get up bright and early from Colombo, you could make it for an afternoon safari. However, there would not be time to get back the same day, so you would have to stay nearby the park.

From Ella: To reach Udawalawe from Ella, you will have to take three busses (Ella -> Wellawaya -> Thanamalwila -> Udawalawe), so I would not recommend trying to fit in a safari on the same day as your travel. From Ella, you can take Sri Lanka train onwards to Nuwara Eliya or Kandy .

Elephant in sri lanka

Udawalawe Hotels

There are plenty of hotel options to stay near Udawale National Park, including some pretty awesome looking tented safari camps right in the park.

How dreamy, sleeping next to the elephants! There are also some cheap guesthouses to stay at for less than $20/a night. I loved staying at guesthouses in Sri Lanka, the locals are so friendly and truly make you feel at home.

Find the best prices on accommodation in Udawalawe here. 

Udawalawe National Park Entrance Fees + Safari Prices

The entrance fee to Udawalawe National Park is $15 USD per foreign adult or equivalent in Sri Lanka Rupees. For locals, the price is Rs. 60.00. Children are $8 USD.

You will need to book a jeep to take you on a safari through Udawalawe National Park. The price to rent a jeep is the same regardless of how many people you have in it, so it’s cost-effective to go with a larger group. We organized the tour in advance through the surf school and paid 5,500LKR/30 USD each (we were a total of six people). The price included our entry ticket into Udawalawe, transportation back and forth from Weligama, and a private jeep. Like most things in Sri Lanka, always try to negotiate the price.

You can book your Udawalawe safari online in advance. You can also show up at the park and negotiate a jeep/guide there, which should cost you between $20-25 USD for a half-day safari, or between $45-65 USD for a full day safari. Tips for the driver are discretionary. We all tipped our driver as he was so knowledgeable about the animals and excellent at spotting them.

Udawalawe Opening Hours and Safari Timings

Udawalawe National Park is open between 6 am – 6 pm. The best time to visit the park is early in the morning or late in the afternoon as the animals are most active during this time. They tend to hide from the sun mid-day. 

If you stay near the park overnight, you can get up early for the first tours of the day, which will increase your chances of seeing wildlife. Plus, you’ll get to see a beautiful Sri Lanka sunrise. The timing of the safaris are usually 6-9 am and 3-6 pm.

Udawalawe Safari

Best time to visit Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is open year-round, and whether you go in the wet or dry season, you will surely have a wonderful experience.

The dry season runs from May-September in this part of Sri Lanka. The dry season is a good time for safari because the lack of water means elephants will gather at the reservoirs, making them easy to spot. During the wet season, From October- April, the vegetation will be much lusher, and the chances to see baby elephants are significantly higher. Awww!

What to expect on a Udawalawe Safari

The safari jeeps are massive with open sides, so regardless of where you sit, you will have a good view of the surrounding scenery and wildlife. I was in the back of the jeep and still had amazing views. You aren’t allowed to get outside of the vehicles (for safety), but they are huge, so there’s lots of room to move around and take photos.

udawalawe safari

Once you get inside the park, the jeep will drive to the ticket office so you can pay the park entrance fee. If you booked a tour and paid this in advance, the driver will just get the tickets for everyone.

The jeep ride through the park is bumpy and rough, so don’t expect a comfy ride. Learn from my mistakes and don’t eat a big breakfast beforehand 😛 With the excitement of finding the elephants, you will hardly notice after a while.

A half-day Udawalawe National Park Safari lasts about three hours long. During that time we saw a ton of wildlife, including lots of elephants. As a bonus, many of the elephants came close to the jeep to say hello. It’s an incredible experience to see them just hanging out being happy elephants in their natural habitat.

elephant safari in sri lanka

I was hoping to see the baby elephants on my safari, but it wasn’t the right season. All of the elephants we spotted were lone soldiers. In total, we saw six different elephants. Aside from the elephants, we saw water buffalo, crocodiles, lizards,  monkeys, and many types of birds, including eagles and peacocks.

Buffalo in Udawalawe National Park

At the end of the safari, we went to a watering hole where there were a ton of pelicans and water buffalo hanging out. It was such a beautiful and tranquil site to watch.

Udawalawe Safari

On top of all the incredible wildlife, the landscape of Udawalawe is beautiful. It was completely different than anywhere else I visited in Sri Lanka, it felt like we were on a safari in Africa.   The mountain ranges of Ella provide a stunning backdrop to the park.

Mountain views at Udawalawe National Park

Our safari guide was great at spotting wildlife and knowledgeable about the animals, giving us facts here and there. The guides seemed to have concern for the animals and conserving them, which was great to see.

Elephant Transit Home

After visiting Udawalawe national park, you can continue your elephant safari at the Elephant Transit home inside the park. Recognized as one of the best wild animal rehabilitation centers in the world, the elephant transit home takes care of orphaned elephant calves with the goal to return them to the wild. The home was established by the Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka.

The elephant transit home is another great example of Sri Lanka’s efforts to protect its wildlife. You can visit the transit home and watch the baby elephants be fed from a viewing platform, which is a great way to support elephant conservation in the country.

What to bring on an Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka

  • Lightweight, neutral-colored clothing. The REI Sahara Line is perfect.
  • A camera with a zoom lens. It’s difficult to get good shots with a phone. I used my Sony A7 with a 24-240mm lens . Plus extra batteries and an SD card .
  • Cash for the park entrance fee ($15 USD) + jeep/guide (20-25 USD for half-day/45-65 for a full-day).
  • A reusable water bottle with lots of extra water (it gets hot in the park)!
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, and Sunhat. If you have long hair, an elastic to put it up. The wind blows everything around and makes it tangly!
  • Snacks. There aren’t places to purchase snacks and water once you’re inside the park.
  • Pair of binoculars for spotting wildlife, especially if you are a birder!

Final Thoughts

While visiting Sri Lanka, don’t miss the opportunity to see the incredible Sri Lankan elephants on an elephant safari. An Udawalawe safari is an excellent choice to do so. It’s a wonderful experience to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat and should definitely be on your Sri Lanka bucket list!

Wondering where to go after Udawalawe National Park? Explore the gorgeous mountain town of Ella, or head North to Kandy . If you’re thinking about a trip to Sri Lanka, check out my Sri Lanka Posts for all the inspiration you need.

Have you been on an Elephant safari before? How was it? I’d love to hear about your experience, let me know in the comments below!

Like it? Pin it for later!

udawalawe national park safari timings

Lora is a full-time digital nomad on a quest to visit every country in the world and pet as many dogs as she can along the way. Over the last 15 years, she has traveled to 70+ countries and six continents solo. She currently calls Puerto Vallarta, Mexico home and enjoys ending each day with sunset and tacos on the beach.

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I’d love to go on an elephant safari, seeing them roaming freely in their own environment – thanks for sharing this. 🤗

Flashpacking Family

A Complete Udawalawe National Park Safari Guide For 2023

Taking an Udawalawe National Park safari with kids was the highlight of our Sri Lanka holiday with the kids and one of our top recommendations for things to do in Sri Lanka with kids .

With around 500 resident elephants, an Udawalawe National Park safari is a great choice for a Sri Lankan safari if your kids love elephants.

Udawalawe NP has the largest population of Asian elephants of all of the national parks in Sri Lanka. They come for the abundant supply of water and so on an Udawalawe National Park safari, elephant sightings are all but guaranteed.

Note : It is not widely known yet but in September 2022, the Sri Lankan government increased the entrance fees for Udawalawe National Park. See below for more info.

Before you start reading about safaris in Udawalawe National Park, we wanted to let you know that we have a comprehensive guide to the best safaris in Africa that might interest you.

This post contains affiliate links. Should you click on them, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Udawalawe National Park safari

Udawalawe National Park safari

History of Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park was created in 1972 to provide a habitat for animals displaced by the construction of the Uda Walawe dam.

The damming of the Walawe river created a reservoir and wetlands which attracted many aquatic birds and animals.

It’s backed by the dramatic highlands to the north and made up of 119 square miles of open grassland, with wetlands and dense jungle.

Where is Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe National Park lies about 160km southeast of Colombo and 120km northeast of Galle. It’s a relatively easy hop from the Sri Lankan coast if you’re staying on one of the many beautiful Sri Lanka beaches .

According to Google Maps, Udawalawe should be around 2 hours 45 mins from Galle but there’s no accounting for what the traffic will be like.

Our journey from Galle took around 3 hours 30 mins because traffic was quite heavy. We were travelling on a Poya day though which didn’t help.

Every full moon is a public holiday in Sri Lanka (Poya), with more Sri Lankans travelling on the roads. This is something you can check in advance when planning your itinerary.

Some people arrange day trips to visit Udawalawe National Park but we’d recommend staying locally the night before.

The best wildlife spotting opportunities are sunrise and sunset. If you don’t stay locally, you would have to get up in the middle of the night to get to the park for sunrise or get back late to your hotel after a sunset safari.

Udawalawe National Park sign

Udawalawe National Park sign

Where to stay in Udawalawe National Park

There are dozens of small Udawalawe hotels or homestays to suit all budgets within 10 minutes drive of the main park entrance. Click here to see our family-friendly Udawalawe hotels guide .

We decided to stay in budget accommodation for this part of our trip because we just needed a bed for the night, arriving late in the afternoon and leaving at 5.30am for our safari.

We stayed at Peacock Riverside which was basic but clean. It had hot water, ceiling fans and mosquito nets over two double beds.

The owner and his wife were very friendly and accommodating but for us, the highlight was the incredible homemade food. It was some of the most delicious food in Sri Lanka but it’s hard to convey just how delicious it was.

The fact that the boys allowed us to pile their plates will have to be proof enough!

Peacock Riverside food

Dinner at the Peacock Riverside in Udawalawe

For more suggestions on where to stay in Udawalawe, check our best family-friendly accommodation in Sri Lanka which gives options to suit every budget.

Best time to visit Udawalawe National Park

The best time to go on a safari in Udawalawe is between December and March and May to September. This is the dry season when there will be less scrub and it’s easier to see elephants.

Access can also be an issue outside of these months, with roads and tracks getting flooded.

We chose to take an Udawalawe National Park safari when we visited Sri Lanka in December because it was the right time of year and it was conveniently on our loop of southern Sri Lanka .

How long is an Udawalawe National Park safari?

You can choose between full-day safaris or half-day safaris in Udawalawe. Half day Udawalawe safaris are probably enough if you have young children as they last about 3 hours.

Any longer and we find the kids start to get restless.

Our guide had no problem cutting ours a little short when the kids started getting hangry. If you have kids with you, we would recommend hiring your own jeep and driver so you can make this decision.

If you’re staying in Udawalawe for a couple of days, you could do a morning and an afternoon safari to see the park at different times of day. See below for details on the cost of a half-day safari.

How to choose an Udawalawe safari guide

If you arrange a jeep through a tour company, please do check the reviews. Some offer a poor experience with inexperienced drivers/spotters.

We had to flag one driver to slow down as he was about to run over a monitor lizard that he hadn’t spotted.

We also spent a little while helping out a family whose driver had got them stuck in a large mud rut and broke their axle trying to get out.

Our driver was not impressed and explained that there are a few cowboy operators out there.

We arranged our jeep and driver through our accommodation. See below for details on the cost of a half-day safari.

If your accommodation can’t arrange a guide, then here are some reputable safari tours you can do.

Jeep stuck in the mud at Udawalawe

Jeep stuck in the mud at Udawalawe

Our Udawalawe safari experience

We had an early night and set the alarm for 5am. Our host had arranged for the jeep to pick us up at 5.30am.

This allowed time to get to the park, get our tickets (expect to queue or for your driver to queue for up to 15 minutes at the ticket office) and get in for 6am when it opened.

An early start (or dusk safari) gives the best opportunity of seeing wildlife as the animals are most active then (read our guide to wildlife spotting ).

After getting our tickets, we drove straight into the park. The first thing we heard (after getting away from the many other jeeps at the entrance) was the call of peacocks, and very quickly noticed the abundance of bird life to start with.

Within five minutes we saw eagles, peacocks, bee-eaters and many other birds we weren’t familiar with.

Bee eater in Udawalawe National Park

Bee eater in Udawalawe National Park

Our Udawalawe safari did not disappoint on the elephant front either. We saw several individual elephants up close and in the distance.

There were a couple of family groups – including babies and adolescents – hanging around and feeding.

elephants in Udawalawe National Park

Elephants in Udawalawe National Park

We then headed to the wetland section of the park which surrounds a large lake and is populated with many types of aquatic birds (egrets, cormorants, stork, heron among others).

On the far side of the lake we were told there was a crocodile sunbathing on the shore. Although we had binoculars, we still weren’t sure we could make it out.

It looked like a log! If it was a crocodile, it most certainly wasn’t our best sighting of one.

Some guides have amazing eyesight and will spot things that you may be completely oblivious to.

Kids are also great spotters which is a great reason to take them on safari. Sadly we didn’t spot the elusive leopard, but we knew that this would be unlikely.

For better chances of seeing leopard, you may want to consider heading to Yala National Park , which supposedly has the highest density of leopards of any national park worldwide.

We did indeed see a leopard there, though sadly it was dead and being eaten by a crocodile… but that’s another story.

Udawalawe Safari Costs

Our costs for arranging a safari at Udawalawe were:

  • Private jeep with driver/guide – around LKR 4000  for half day (3-4 hours).
  • Park entrance fees of $25  per adult and $15 per child (under 6 are free) plus a LKR 250  jeep charge, all plus 15% tax.
  • If you are staying overnight in the park, there is a $50 charge per adult and $30 per child.

Please note that new entrance fees were introduced by the Sri Lankan government in September 2022.

You can check here for the most up to date park fees .

Top Tips for taking an Udawalawe National Park safari

Go to the bathroom before setting off as there are no facilities in the park!

To keep the kids interested and engaged, why not print off an animal spotting list. Remember to take a pen.

Interesting animal fact – Sri Lanka has the highest number of deaths from snake bites each year. But don’t worry, unless you are wandering around in the rice paddies or in rural areas at night you are highly unlikely to ever see a snake – much to my boys’ disappointment!

Accommodation around Udawalawe National Park

Booking.com has a wide range of properties available in and around Udawalawe National Park.

We also have a list of accommodation for families near Udawalawe .

If you found this post helpful, why not bookmark it, share it with friends or pin it for later?

What to expect on an Udawalawe safari with kids

Hi guys, great little blog!!!! We are heading to Sri Lanka in 3 weeks (yay) and planning a morning safari to Udawalawe NP. So excited! Love the photo of the jeep in the mud. Our kids are almost 7 and 4 and quite well travelled. My main worry with Sri Lanka is going from Ella-Kandy on the train. I have read so many horror stories. Did you do this trip? Thanks, Amber

Hi Amber, thanks for the comment… officially our blogs’ first comment :) We have done the Ella-Kandy train ride, but on a previous trip without kids a few years back. I’d recommend booking at least a few days in advance (there were no next day tickets to anywhere from Ella when we were there this Dec), and if you’re travelling with all your bags it will be a real squeeze – the trains on this stretch of line all seem jam-packed with locals and tourists. If you are thinking that it is a long journey (8ish hours), then you could consider doing the most scenic stretch on the train and then getting a driver to pick you up to complete your journey. The views and street food on sale on the trains make it very special though. Have a fantastic trip, and let us know if you have any specific questions or worries!

Just a heads up, the park now costs 43 dollars per person to enter! I just went this morning, it gets a little less per person if you have more in your group! Hadn’t seen anything online about the price increase so just thought to mention it so people aren’t surprised!

Thanks for the heads up. The fees apparently changed in September 2022 but it was very hard to find this info!

Sujie from peacock Riverside is greeting and thanking u for the block. We are staying there to night, after have been reading your review. We also thank you for sharing!!)

Best wishes from the jungle.

That is great to hear – thank you for letting me know Lisa! Enjoy your time there.

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Udawalawe Safari Guide (2024) – See Elephants in the Wild in Sri Lanka!

By: Author Sophie Pearce

Posted on Last updated: January 1, 2024

Categories SRI LANKA

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

An Udawalawe Safari attracts many tourists in Sri Lanka as, from here, you can take enter their National Park which is nearby.

The park is home to a massive herd of elephants and you can come up close to these majestic creatures.

As well as elephants, there are crocodiles, monkeys, peacocks, and a multitude of birds and deer if that’s your thing.

On most safaris, spotting wildlife is not a guarantee. However, In Udawalawe, you can rest assured you will 100% see some elephants while you’re here.

This for me was an exciting prospect and one I couldn’t wait for.

What’s better is this isn’t a zoo, there are no chains involved. The elephants are wild and roam free, so when you spot them, it’s truly a magical experience.

Here’s a complete guide for taking an elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park!

Udawalawe Safari

How many elephants are in Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe National Park has been running as an established park since 1972.

This was made to protect the wild elephants that were visiting the reservoir here away from poachers.

It’s home to over 250 wild elephants (and growing) which are permanent residents and so the concentration is quite high.

This means you’re more like to see them!

The tribe includes males, females, and cute little babies. I saw a month-old baby that was hiding with his mama. It was so adorable but too hidden to get a picture.

You won’t be able to see all of the herd in one day, as they will be spread all over the park!

You will most likely see around 10-40 elephants on your safari. If it’s a particularly hot day, you will see most of them at the reservoir within the park.

I visited in the month of October during the rainy season so I didn’t see a ‘gathering’ of any kind but I did see around 40 elephants during my half-day safari in the morning which was magic!

elephant udawalawe safari

How to reach Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka

Udawalawe is based in the southern province of Sri Lanka and is the perfect stopover if you’re heading up to Ella or the central province.

I personally stopped over here to break up the long journey.

This can also act as a stopover if you’re heading south as well and so you don’t have to do a massive detour like the likes of Yala National Park.

From Matara in the south, I had to catch 2 buses to reach Udawalawe. I got one bus from Matara to Empilibityia (a mouthful I know) which took 2 hours and then one more bus from Embili to Udawalawe.

It was quite a hassle with all my luggage but was a fraction of the cost of a taxi or Tuk Tuk. I think the whole journey cost me less than £3.

Typical buses looked trippy like this in Sri Lanka. Your bag goes by the engine (miraculously it never falls).

Here’s a really informative guide on how to do it, by the Family Backpackers.

elephant udawalawe safari

Where to stay for an Udawalawe Safari!

Whereas most people decide to drive up to Udawalalwe for the morning/afternoon safaris, it’s nicer and more relaxing to stay within Udawalawe itself.

There are some beautiful hotels which all have a safari theme to them which are a great option to relax.

I decided to stay at the Kottawatta village which is based near the National Park. It was an awesome little boutique bungalow with a funky outdoor bathroom!

To see my full Kottawatta Village review and to check rates, click here.

elephant safari udawalawe

What are the Udawalawe safari prices?

Most companies offer private jeep services. So, you pay for the jeep which has up to six seats inside.

That way, you can split the cost with others if you wish to.

The cost for a private jeep from my hotel was 4000 Sri Lankan rupees around £20.

I couldn’t find anyone to pair up with so I had to go solo, I didn’t mind this however as I could move around all the seats to get the best chance of photographing these beauties!

Udawalawe safari Sri Lanka

Udawalawe Safari Permit fees and opening timings for the National Park

Park permit fees for the Udawalawe National Park are 3500 rupees including all taxes.

You have to pay this every time you go into the park as you get ‘stamped out’ when you leave and the permit is invalidated.

It isn’t a 24-hour permit, so keep this in mind if you want to do more than one safari. You can hire a guide if you would like someone to join you to explain the park.

They can also be handy to spot the wildlife as your driver may not be able to do this easily while manning the wheel.

I personally got one to be my photographer for the morning haha. As you can imagine, he was thrilled ;).

Prices are ‘as you like’ but an expected amount is around 500-1000 rupees for a half-day safari.

Safaris run early in the morning around 6 am which means you will be the first in the park and we were racing around trying to find as many elephants as possible until around 10 am.

Although I decided to take a morning safari, you can take a safari at any time of day while you’re in Udawalawe.

As the park is the main form of income here, all the businesses are centered around safari options and have their own jeeps to take tourists around. I’m sure you could look for a more competitive price too!

Udawalawe Safari

What do the Udawalawe Safari jeeps look like?

The jeeps were kind of cool as they had tiered seats. That way, everyone had a chance of seeing everything as they made their way around the park.

There are absolutely no seat belts provided for you and it’s a hell of a bumpy ride at points.

You’ll be going around all sorts of muddy and bumpy terrain so make sure you keep all your belongings secured and hold on tight!

Most jeeps also had weatherproofing, so if it did rain, they have covers that can be brought down for you.

elephant safari udawalawe

When is the best time to go on an Udawalawe Safari?

This is always a debate but I heard that the best time to go was in the morning time.

You beat the heat and the elephants come out to drink water and eat their grassy breakfast haha!

I think if you do decide to go in the afternoon this is also a good option as it will be hotter, so the elephants will want to drink more.

I think no matter what time you go and in whatever season, you will definitely see some. So, don’t sweat it too much.

It’s good to note that in the rainy seasons, the lightning may frighten the elephants. Although it can’t always be helped, try and go on a dry day.

elephant safari udawalawe

What will I expect to see on an Udawalawe Safari?

Beautiful, majestic elephants that are wandering around and munching on all the foliage here!

We hadn’t even reached the park and I had already seen my first elephant.

He was called Rocky and he comes to this part of the park as he knows he’s going to get fed.

This is quite cute, but apparently, he’s getting sick from all the food people are giving him.

WARNING: Do not feed the wild elephants within the park with your own food. Not even fruit. This is bad for their digestive systems, they can get really sick and apparently even get diabetes :(

elephant safari udawalawe

From here, I saw so many elephants wandering around. Families of elephants, males that were wandering alone, and even cute little babies!

I couldn’t believe my eyes and they came so close to the jeep too. It was honestly a dream come true.

I also saw some crocodiles that were swimming in the reservoir, some deers, peacocks, and tropical birds.

There are also monkeys that monkey around and some will jump in your jeep if you have food with you – you have been warned!

elephant safari udawalawe

It is quite overcrowded in the National Park, so ask to go to a quiet part of the park!

The one downfall about this safari and the part I didn’t like was the overcrowding.

There doesn’t seem to be any control as to how many jeeps are allowed in the park and around 6/7 at a time all crowd around the elephants giving them little space.

Although this is a great thing that the jeeps are ticking a box in letting all the tourists get close to them, I really didn’t like the way it was frightening the animals.

Some elephants would leave instantly and others would try to run away from the noise.

After a while, I asked the driver to move to a more quiet side of the park so we could see some peacefully and further away so as to not terrify them!

elephant safari udawalawe

Final thoughts…

I absolutely loved my Udawalawe Safari into the National Park and would go back in a heartbeat.

Not only did I see some of my favourite creatures in the wild, but I was also literally in touching distance of them too.

Although it was slightly overcrowded by a lack of jeep control, It doesn’t take away from the fact that the safari is one of the best places to see elephants in Sri Lanka.

If you’re in the southern province and you’re dying to see elephants, I would highly recommend taking a safari in Udawalawe.

For some more information on the park, you can visit the official Udawalawe website here !

elephant safari udawalawe

Read more of my Sri Lanka travel guides

My ULTIMATE Sri Lanka Bucket List 

The top places to visit in Galle Fort

Top things to do in Mirissa

Why you need to visit Kandy

A complete guide for Nuwara Eliya

Why you should visit Ella

Tips for hiking up Sigiriya Rock

The ancient town of Polonnaruwa

Your complete guide for the Sri Lanka south coast

Visiting Coconut Hill

Instagram vs Reality of the palm tree swings of Sri Lanka

Save this Udawalawe safari guide for later!

udawalawe national park elephant safari guide

Udawalawe Safari

Friday 28th of September 2018

We had an awesome safari in udawalawa. Adventurous on bumpy roads. Saw lots of animals not just elephants. If anyone wants to see a diversity, they should go to udawalawa national park. Everybody loved the safari.

Sophie Pearce

Yes totally agree! It’s such a wonderful park :) thanks for reading. Sophie x

Sunday 28th of January 2018

Nice post, I love your pictures! We have also just been there and had a wonderful time! Your post really makes us want to go back! If you want to see what we`ve experienced there check out our vlog:

Hi, thanks so much for reading! I absolutely loved Udawalawe as it's such a beautiful park full of lovely ellies! Will defo check out the vlog :) Sophie x

Thursday 28th of December 2017

Wow this looks so incredible babe! x Rubi Pose & Repeat

Friday 29th of December 2017

It was incredible! There were so many elephants. Thanks for reading. Sophie x

Udawalawe Safari In Sri Lanka – A Complete Guide

Posted on Last updated: 28 December 2023

Categories Sri Lanka

An Udawalawe Safari is near the top of most people’s Sri Lanka bucket list. So here’s all the info on how to experience one of your best days on the island.

Table of Contents

How To Get To Udawalawe

Udawalawe is a small town located in the southern part of the Ratnapura District in Sri Lanka.

The two most popular destinations that tourists choose to visit from are either Ella or Mirissa:

Bus From Ella

From Ella you will have to take 3 buses:

Ella to Wellawaya bus station. (Cost: 75 Rupees/Duration: 45 minutes)

Wellawaya bus station to Thanamalwila. (Cost: 80 Rupees/Duration: 40 minutes)

Thanamalwila to Udawalawe. (Cost: 80 Rupees/Duration: 45 minutes)

Bus From Mirissa

From Mirissa you will have to take 3 buses:

Mirissa to Tangalle bus station. (Cost: 60 Rupees/Duration 1 hour 30 minutes)

Tangelle bus station to Embilipitiya. (Cost: 60 Rupees/Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes)

Embilipitiya bus station to Udawalawe. (Cost: 40 Rupees/Duration: 30 minutes)

If you just wish to visit on a day trip safari from other areas of Sri Lanka, there are plenty of options on Get Your Guide such as:

Ella To Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Colombo To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Bentota To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

Negombo To Udawalawa National Park Wildlife Safari Tour

All of these 1 day tours will all include hotel pickup and drop-off, national park fees, and a private Udawalawe jeep safari.

Udawalawe Safari Prices

Once you make it to Udawalwe, there are generally two types of Udawalawe Safari tours.

A half day tour or a full day tour.

Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari Half Day (3 hours) : £15 per person.

Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari Full Day (8 hours) : £50 per person.

All tours will include hotel pickup and drop-off, national park fees, and a private Udawalawe Safari in a 4×4 jeep.

Udawalawe Safari Times

Half day tours: 6am or 2.30pm (duration of 3 hours)

Full day tours: 6am (duration of 8 hours)

Udawalawe Safari In Sri Lanka Safari Udawalawe Safari Jeep

Best Time To Visit An Udawalawe Safari

Udawalawe National Park is open all year and offers an amazing safari experience whether you go during the wet season or the dry season.

However, if you are looking to visit during the most comfortable weather conditions, January to March has the lowest rainfall and daytime temperatures average 26°C.

The wettest months are generally April/May and October/November. At this time of year some of the trails can become inaccessible.

If you are especially interested in seeing migratory birds, the best time is probably anytime between October – April. 

What To Pack

Photography Camera

Reusable Water Bottle

Lightweight Rain Jacket

What To Expect On An Udawalawe Safari

We stayed in Mirissa and took the long journey up to Udawalawe via public bus.

The afternoon slot was perfect for us, starting at around 2.30pm. There are also morning safaris running between 7am-10am.

Among the travellers you meet and reviews you read, you’ll never know exactly when the best time is to take a safari in Sri Lanka.

Although we were advised by a lot of people that more elephants are usually visible in the afternoon, as they make their way to their watering holes.

It was the first time we have both seen wild elephants, so our Udawalawe safari will always be in the top highlights of our travels.

After arriving and meeting at our collection point, our guide helped us up into the 4×4 and we were all set for an afternoon of animal spotting.

We paid our fees at the Udawalawe National Park Entrance and after heading through the gate it was only minutes before we were greeted by a family of 4 beautiful elephants!

Our guide was full of information about the size, age and origin of these amazing mammals and every other animal we saw.

Also he was constantly on the look-out to find some of the rarer breeds that use Udawalawe safari as their habitat.

Throughout the tour we spotted everything from water buffalo to crocodiles and monkeys to eagles. As well as every colour and breed of bird you can imagine.

Udawalawe Safari In Sri Lanka Safari

The Udawalawe Safari Reality Check

As the evening set in and the excitement died down at Udawalawe National Park, it was nice to sit back and take in everything that had happened.

As we headed towards the end of our trail we found ourselves reflecting.

Sometimes we can take for granted what’s right in front of us, but during our Udawalawe Safari experience we were fully aware of what was happening and how special it was.

This safari in Sri Lanka truly made us appreciate the power of now!

We exited the park and our tour guide drove us back to our agreed drop-off point. As we cruised up the highway, looking out onto the plains and watching the sunset over the park we really had to pinch ourselves.

We ended the Udawalawe safari feeling unbelievably full of gratitude. It was a perfect end to a beautiful day!

Udawalawe National Park Safari In Sri Lanka Safari

Where To Stay In Udawalawe

Mahoora Tented Safari Camp

Located at the eastern border of Udawalwe National Park in Sri Lanka, Mahoora Tented Safari Camp provides tents with modern and private bathroom facilities, a bed and private patio.

Guests can enjoy a private jungle dining experience as well as barbecue dishes served by nightly camp fires. 

Mahoora Tented Safari Camp is about 133.6 miles from Colombo City and 155.3 miles from Bandaranaike International Airport. 

Fitted with carpeted flooring, the tents feature spacious interiors and mosquito nets. A fruit platter and umbrellas are also provided.

Grand Udawalawe Resort

Located within a 10-minute drive from the famous Udawalawe National Park, Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort features an outdoor swimming pool.

It also offers spacious rooms with views of the surrounding nature. Free parking is available on site. 

The resort is just 550 yards to Ath Athuru Sevana, an elephant orphanage, and approximately 99.4 miles from Katunayake Airport.

The Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium is within a 40-minute drive away. 

All air-conditioned rooms come with a wardrobe, a flat-screen satellite TV, an electric kettle and ironing facilities.

En suite bathrooms come with a hairdryer, bathtub or shower facility. Wired internet is also provided at a charge.

Humming Birds Safari Resort

Set in Udawalawe, less than 0.6 miles from Udawalawe National Park, Humming Birds Safari Resort features rooms with garden views and free WiFi.

Boasting a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. The guest house has family rooms. 

All guest rooms at the guest house come with a seating area.

At Humming Birds Safari Resort all rooms include a desk and a private bathroom.

For more places to stay in Udawalawe, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com .

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Udawalawe Safari In Sri Lanka Guide

Sunday 22nd of April 2018

Hi! I’m booking a Udawalawe Safari, but am looking for recommendations on what safari company to use. Can you help?

Thanks! Kathleen

Charlie Pauly

Monday 23rd of April 2018

Hey Kathleen...we used Niluka Safari who were great!

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VISIT UDAWALAWE IN SRI LANKA [FULL GUIDE]

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IS UDAWALAWE WORTH VISITING? YALA VS. UDAWALAWE? WHAT IS THE PRICE TO VISIT UDAWALAWE?

Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places to go on a safari in Sri Lanka ! There, you are guaranteed to see many elephants , but also many other animals. Visiting Udawalawe is one of of the best things to do in Sri Lanka!

Out of 26 parks and reserves in Sri Lanka, Udawalawe occupies a special place. Here, the forest has given way to large expanses of dry land, reminiscent of the African savannah . For many years, slash-and-burn agriculture was practiced here, leading to its deforestation.

However, in the 1960s, a huge reservoir lake of more than 3,000 hectares was developed in the area. It immediately attracted abundant wildlife, especially elephants. This is how Udawalawe started.

In this post we listed all you need to know about your visit to Udawalawe. How to get to Udawalawe? How long to stay there? Where to stay near Udawalawe? How to book a safari in Udawalawe?

Complete Guide to Visit Udawalawe in Sri Lanka

Visiting Udawalawe National Park

In order to protect the animals, the Sri Lankan State created the Udawalawe National Park in 1972. The population of elephants, inhabiting the 30,000 hectares, is estimated at nearly 500. These are not the only animals which you can observe in the national park. Indeed, there are about forty species of mammals and nearly 250 species of birds!

Udawalawe Park is one of the largest parks in Sri Lanka with 30.8 hectares.

Here is a glimpse of what Udawalawe looks like:

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VISITING UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

Visiting Udawalawe National Park

The best time to visit Udawalawe Park

The two best times of day to go on a game drive in the park are early morning or late afternoon .

Afternoon tours tend to be less busy and you can watch the beautiful sunset inside the park. Our guide insisted to go on a morning safari, however we didn’t feel like waking up super early as the Safari starts at 6:30am. So we went in the afternoon instead. We actually loved it and saw plenty of animals. So both options are ok in our opinion.

The park can be visited throughout the entire year, but you will have better conditions by coming during one of the two dry seasons: in February/March or between May and September. April, October and November are often very rainy.

What to bring during the safari?

  • Mosquito repellent
  • Bottle of water

The duration of a visit to Udawalawe Park

The safari usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours.

WHAT TO SEE DURING A SAFARI IN UDAWALAWE ?

Visiting Udawalawe National Park

A diverse fauna

It is often to observe elephants that people go on a safari in Udawalawe. The park being relatively small and the number of elephants relatively high, you are sure to meet them during a safari in Udawalawe.

Elephants are not the only inhabitants of the place. In Udawalawe Park, you will also encounter:

  • Deer with a spotted coat: this is a species specific to Asia, for which there are still enough wooded areas here.
  • Leopard : about twenty of them are present in the park, often hidden among the tall grass. It is very rare to see them in Udawalawe. For seeing Leopard, the best chances are in Yala National Park.
  • River buffalo : they can be seen regularly coming to drink at the edge of the Walawe River.
  • Sloth : especially visible in early summer, when they come to feast on berries.
  • Crocodile : wild and impressive species that can be seen near water points.
  • The park is also a paradise for birdwatchers, as more than 250 species of birds fly over it. The peacocks and their colorful plumage feature prominently, along with the egret, the bee-eater, the sea eagle or the lapwing. They are accompanied in the sky by a multitude of large multicolored butterflies.

A refuge for abandoned elephants

Elephants do not always live in harmony with the people living in their territories. If they venture into cultivated areas, the owners are led to scare them away. In the panic, it happens that the little ones are injured or separated from the others and become vulnerable.

Others are orphaned by poaching.

In order to come to their aid, the Udawalawe Park has set up a transit point within its enclosure.

The baby elephants are treated there before being released. The Elephant Transit Home is open to visitors, especially at feeding time. Four times a day, visitors can see them being bottle-fed from a specially set-up platform.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DO A SAFAR IN UDAWALAWE PARK?

udawalawe national park safari timings

National Park Entrance Fee

The entrance is actually changing every now and then. The actual price is displayed at the entrance. Note that this price is not always included in the Safari tour which you book. Make sure to check beforehand to avoid any surprises…

At the time we went there, the entrance price was 14 € for adults, 7 € for children from 6 to 12 years old and free for children.

Price for a standard safari tour

On top of the entrance price, you need to pay for a Jeep at the entrance of the park:

For a 3 hours tour , the safari starts at 6:30am in the morning, or around 2-3 pm in the afternoon (more flexible in the afternoon as less people). Count around 30 € per person. This does not include the entrance fee of the park.

For a whole day : (picnic in the park included). Departure at 6 am from your hotel. Count around 100 € per person.

Note that all prices for these services include guide in English to help you spot the animals.

Is it highly recommended to book a safari tour in advance, especially if you are going in the morning. For cheaper price, at 25 € per person, you can book online here . Most hotels can also help you book your safari, but you will have to pay a little premium.

HOW TO GET TO UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK?

With a driver.

As we were staying in Weligama , we took a driver. It took us 2 hours to reach Udawalawe National Park. The driver went with us during the Safari (we didn’t have to pay extra). After we finished the Safari, our driver dropped us in Ella where we spent a few nights. We found this option to be very practical. You can book your driver here .

It is also possible to simply do book a day trip from Weligama or Ella with a private driver.

By bus, whether from the center or the south, take a bus in the direction of Thanamalwila. Along the way, ask to stop near the park entrance. The bus to Udawalawe do not run on a daily basis, and are not as frequent as other route, so make sure to check in advance about the timing.

UDAWALAWE PARK OPENING HOURS

Elephants crossing a river in Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka

The park is open daily, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE TO STAY NEAR UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK?

There are many nice options around the National Park. Here is a list of the most recommended hotels in Udawalawe National Park:

Jungle Paradise

Hotel in Udawalawe

This is a stunning place to stay near Udawalawe. Great value for money. From Jungle Paradise you can easily reach the National Park to start your Safari. Book here .

Mango Tree House

Hotel in Udawalawe

Mango Tree House is a fantastic hotel with lovely hosts. They can organise the Safari for you, so you don’t have to worry about anything. The rooms are very cozy with beautiful outdoor showers. Check it out here .

UDAWALAWE VS. YALA

Leopard on a tree in Yala National Park in Sri Lanka

If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka and want to go on a safari in the south of the country . You will inevitably ask yourself: is it better to choose Yala or in Udawalawe?

Having chosen Udawalawe , you already know our answer. The reasons for that are quite simple.

After discussing with many people we met during our travel in Sri Lanka, we always got a similar feedback. Yala is one of the most beautiful parks in the country, with exceptional wildlife and even leopards, but it is really overcrowded .

In Udawalawe, the chances of seeing leopards are close to 0, but the elephants are there in big number and above all there aren’t that many people. At least during our safari in the afternoon, we only crossed a few other jeeps. And we loved it!

Yala welcomes several hundred jeeps every day. And only a very small part of Yala National Park is explored by jeeps on most safaris. Guides and travelers told us that there were traffic jams in the park, with sometimes unprofessional behavior from the guides (chasing animals in cars, disturbing wildlife, etc.).

In short, after hearing that, we felt much more comfortable going to Udawalawe.

WHAT ELSE TO SEE NEAR UDAWALAWE?

Near Udawalawe you can visit the stunning south coast of Sri Lanka with its countless stunning beaches but also many other interesting sights. Here are a few of the highlights in the south of Sri Lanka:

VISIT THE COLONIAL TOWN OF GALLE

Galle Fort

With its colonial style and its ramparts topped with bastions and a lighthouse,  Galle  contrasts with all the other cities of Sri Lanka: it was actually built by Portuguese, the Dutch and the English succeeding one another. Since 1988, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

We absolutely loved our visit of  Galle , full of contrasts, mixing European colonial style with Sri Lankan culture. Most of the main things to see in  Galle , are located inside the  Galle  Fort, which is a part of the city surrounded by ramparts.

Location of Galle Fort:  here

READ:  15 INCREDIBLE THINGS TO SEE IN GALLE

CHECK OUT THE STILT FISHERMEN AT KOGGALA

stilt fisherman in Koggala in the south of Sri Lanka

Head to Koggala to see something unique to Sri Lanka and the Galle Region: The stilt fishermen.

This is one of the best things to see in the south of Sri Lanka. At dawn or dusk, the fishermen, installed on large wooden poles, are catching fish above the water. You will see them mostly in the Galle region. As the waves are quite strong in this area, the fishermen came up with a different way of fishing for many years.

This tradition still exists today and it’s unique to Sri Lanka and this region.

Location:  here

TAKE ONE OF THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SHOTS AT THE SWING

The famous swing in the south of Sri Lanka

This place was made famous thanks to instagram. Here you can take a beautiful shot at sunset on a swing hang to a coconut tree.

The palm tree rope swing is located on Dalawella Beach. Today, it is one of the best things to see when traveling to Sri Lanka. This place is right in front of the Pearly’s Dream cabana a chill place for a drink and food with a super friendly owner.

SURF IN WELIGAMA

sunset surf session at Weligama

Weligama  is a well known beach for beginners and intermediate surfers. This beach break is actually beautiful and a great place to learn surfing. There are many surf camps around Weligama.

During our stay in the south, we actually decided to stay in  Weligama  in a fantastic hotel by the beach:  The Weligama Bay Resort . We highly recommend this place if you are staying in the south. Check it out  here .

We chose  Weligama  not only for surfing, but because there are many cafes around, great restaurant and co-working spaces such as the  Outpost . We used to hang out there a lot as they serve amazing food and awesome cocktails at night on their rooftop. Actually in the recent years, Weligama has become one of the hotspots for Digital Nomads ( READ:  15 BEST CITIES FOR DIGITAL NOMADS ).

Location:   here

Weligama is one of our favorite places in Sri Lanka.  Here we wrote the 10 best things do in Weligama .

GO WHALES WATCHING IN MIRISSA

Whale in Mirissa, one of the best things to see in south of Sri Lanka

Beyond its great beach and hipster vibe,  Mirissa  is above all one of the few places where you can observe blue whales.

There are many companies offering whale watching tour all around  Mirissa . You can also book your tour online  here . The guides are usually very good and provide lots of explanations about the whales. In his approach, there is a real desire to educate the public and get them to understand whales a bit better.

You have to go offshore to see these blue giants. The chances of seeing whales are usually very high. But as always with mother nature, things are unpredictables, and there is always a possibility of not seeing them. However, if you get a chance to see a whale in the wild, this is an unforgettable experience and one of the best things to see in the south of Sri Lanka!

READ: 14 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN MIRISSA

For other things to visit in the south of Sri Lanka you can read this post: 20 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN THE SOUTH OF SRI LANKA

OUR FEEDBACK – IS UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK WORTH VISITING?

Visiting Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe has a very particular landscape, a little air of “savannah” in Sri Lanka. It is very different to the rest of the country.

The Safari in Udawalawe is one of our highlights during our trip to Sri Lanka. We were particularly lucky, from the beginning of our safari and we were able to see many animals.

A magnificent flight of birds above the buffaloes bathing in the lake. Not far from there, crocodiles patiently waiting for their breakfast. Many lizards crossed the road in front of our jeep for our greatest pleasure.

But our most beautiful memory will remain all the elephants we saw. It’s so beautiful to see these animals in the wild.

Udawalawe Park is one of the best things to see in Sri Lanka .

  • 20 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN THE SOUTH OF SRI LANKA
  • A VISIT THE BEAUTIFUL TEA PLANTATION AT LIPTON’S SEAT NEAR ELLA
  • FULL GUIDE FOR HIKING LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK
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We are Hammer and Guillaume, a fun couple traveling the world. We will take you to some of the most amazing places on earth. Hammer is a yoga instructor and Guillaume a true water baby, enjoying all kinds of water sports. Follow-us to get the latest update about our travels.

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Greta's Travels

Udawalawe National Park: An Epic Elephant Safari In Sri Lanka

Posted on Last updated: August 13, 2021

If you want to see elephants in the wild, Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka is the perfect place to do so. We did an elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park and it was one of the best experiences of our Sri Lanka trip .

Seeing these magnificent animals in the wild is always an awe-inspiring experience. In this guide I’ve put together everything you need to know about doing an elephant safari at Udawalawe National Park.

Discover how to get to Udawalawe National Park, safari prices, what to expect, where to stay and more. So let’s dive in, and let’s start planning that elephant safari!

  • 1 About Udawalawe National Park
  • 2 Getting to Udawalawe National Park
  • 3 Sri Lanka elephant safari prices
  • 4 Organising & booking your Udawalawe safari
  • 5 Our experience & what to expect at Udawalawe National Park
  • 6.1 In Udawalawe
  • 6.2 In Ella
  • 6.3 In Mirissa
  • 7 What to pack for your elephant safari in Sri Lanka

Elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park, a must see in any Sri Lanka 2 week itinerary

Spotting elephants during our Udawalawe National Park elephant safari

About Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is home to around 500 elephants, as well as other animal species such as boars, leopards (although these are very hard to see), crocodiles, deer and loads of different species of birds.

The national park was established in 1972 and covers an area of 30,000 hectares. It was created to provide a sanctuary for the wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir and dam.

Elephants that we spotted during our Udawalawe safari

Elephants that we spotted during our Udawalawe safari

The elephants we spotted before even entering Udawalawe National Park

The elephants we spotted before even entering Udawalawe National Park

With so many elephants in a relatively small space, it’s the place everyone goes to if they want to be “guaranteed” to spot elephants.

Obviously you can never have 100% certainty when it comes to wild animals, but at Udawalawe it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will see elephants.

The best time to visit Udawalawe National Park for a safari is either at 7AM or 6PM. Early in the morning or at sunset is when the animals come out, during the day it’s too hot and they’ll be sheltering somewhere in the shade.

Exploring Udawalawe National Park during our elephant safari in Sri Lanka

Exploring Udawalawe National Park during our elephant safari in Sri Lanka

Getting to Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is 165km from Colombo, in the southern regions of Sri Lanka. The easiest way to get there is either by hiring a car and driver or with an organised tour.

Most people travel to Udawalawe from either the hill town of Ella or the southern coast, such as Mirissa and Weligama. You can also get a bus from any of these towns, they might just take a little longer than a private car.

We hired a car with driver to take us from Ella to Udawalawe, wait for us while we did the safari and then drive on to Mirissa for 11,000 LKR.

The total travel time was around 4 hours (2 hours from Ella to Udawalawe and then 2 hours from Udawalawe to Mirissa).

Sri Lanka elephant safari prices

One thing to note about doing an elephant safari at Udawalawe National Park is that there are separate fees for the jeep rental and the park entrance.

Some organised tours might include both, but make sure that is the case before booking so you don’t get any surprises on the day!

We organised our Udawalawe safari through our hostel in Ella and ended up paying 11,000 LKR for a private safari for two. The breakdown was 3,000 LKR for the private jeep and 8,000 LKR of park entrance fees.

The jeep could sit 6-8 people. If we had more friends to split the car with the cost would have worked out a little cheaper.

However the bulk of the expense is the park entrance fee, which is fixed at 15 USD per foreign adult. Comparatively the private jeep rental was fairly cheap.

If you’re travelling solo however it would add up to be quite expensive, joining a group safari would be the easiest and cheapest option.

The first elephant we saw during our safari in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

The first elephant we saw during our safari in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Organising & booking your Udawalawe safari

There are two main ways to arrange your elephant safari in Sri Lanka. You can arrange it with your accommodation once you arrive, or you can book online beforehand .

We personally found it very easy to arrange it directly in Ella, but if you prefer to have everything arranged before you arrive, here are some tours you can book that have good reviews online:

  • Udawalawe National Park Safari Tour
  • Udawalawe National Park Safari from Mirissa
  • Elephant Safari in Udawalawe National Park from Bentota

Elephants in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Elephants in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Our experience & what to expect at Udawalawe National Park

We set off from Ella at 5AM and were pretty knackered. We slept in the car and arrived at Udawalawe around 6AM, to find loads of jeeps and cars already parked there waiting for the park to open.

We quickly found our driver and changed cars for the safari. We joined the queue of jeeps waiting for the park to open.

We were in awe to see our first elephant before even entering in the park! We were on the road to enter the park, waiting in the jeep when an elephant just strolled up and started munching on some leaves just off the side of the road.

It was a great start to our Sri Lankan elephant safari!

Elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

My friend Hanna taking pictures of the elephants in Udawalawe National Park

Once we drove through the gate we had to pay the park entrance fees. We queued with our driver and paid 8,000 LKR for two people. After a quick toilet stop, we were ready to hit the road!

We spent 2-3 hours inside Udawalawe National Park, driving around and searching for elephants. The driving can get quite bumpy but we had the whole jeep just for us two, which was very convenient.

Even if it was so early in the morning the sun got very hot, it was nice having the whole jeep to ourselves so we could seat hop and always be in the shade.

It was also great being able to move around and get closer to the elephants without having strangers in the way.

Elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park

Elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park

We saw so many elephants that I was in a constant state of wonder for the whole safari. We saw so many elephants, often in big groups and with baby elephants with them too.

Most of the time the elephants are just chilling on the side of the roads, munching away, unfazed by the presence of jeeps and people looking at them. They just get on with their business and ignore the jeeps.

One thing to note is that the jeep drivers are in constant walkie-talkie contact with each other. As soon as one driver spots elephants, all the other jeeps rush there to get a good spot close to the elephants.

Some of the buffalos we saw in Udawalawe National Park

Some of the buffalos we saw in Udawalawe National Park

Jeeps in Udawalawe National Park

Jeeps in Udawalawe National Park

Elephants in Udawalawe National Park

Elephants in Udawalawe National Park

This racing around the park chasing the elephants felt a bit weird at times. While the elephants are “wild” and free they’re obviously very used to seeing people.

Still, when compared to places that let you ride elephants or who keep them in chains, it’s still a much better and more ethical elephant encounter.

Besides elephants we also saw crocodiles, buffalos and pumbas, as well as lots of different types of birds. Once the safari was over we met up again with our driver outside the park and drove on to Mirissa.

Click here to book your Udawalawe National Park safari!

A giant asian water monitor we saw in Udawalawe National Park

A giant asian water monitor we saw in Udawalawe National Park

An adorable young elephant we saw in Sri Lanka

An adorable young elephant we saw in Sri Lanka

Where to stay for the best Sri Lanka elephant safari

The best places to stay to visit Udawalawe National Park ultimately depend on how much time you have in Sri Lanka. We personally did our safari on the road from Ella to Mirissa.

This was the perfect arrangement for us since it fit our schedule, and it avoided us the long car journeys that you would have to if you visit Udawalawe as a day trip.

If you have more time to stay in Udawalawe that would be awesome as you might be able to do more than one elephant safari. I have listed below some great accommodation options, wherever you choose to stay before or after your safari.

Two elephants we spotted in Udawalawe National Park, during our Sri Lanka elephant safari

In Udawalawe

If you have the time and are looking for a unique experience, you should definitely stay in a glamping or safari lodge in Udawalawe. One of my friends stayed at Athgira River Camping and said he had an incredible time.

Click here to book your stay at Athgira River Camping!

We stayed in Ella the night before our safari and stayed at the Hangover Hostel . I personally loved it; it’s a sociable hostel with spacious rooms and lockers.

If you don’t want to stay in a hostel another great option in Ella is Mountain Heavens , they have an infinity pool overlooking the hills of Ella.

Click here to book your stay in Ella!

Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka, a must see when you spend 2 weeks in Sri Lanka

Nine Arch Bridge in Ella, Sri Lanka

You can also visit Udawalawe on a day trip from Mirissa.

After our safari we actually drove on to Mirissa after and stayed at the Hangover Hostel there. The hostel is beachfront, has airconditioned rooms with big lockers and big communal spaces.

If you prefer having your own place another great option in Mirissa is Paradise Beach Club , located right on the beach and with a lovely pool.

Click here to book your stay in Mirissa!

Sunset at the famous coconut hill in Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Sunset at the famous coconut hill in Mirissa, Sri Lanka

What to pack for your elephant safari in Sri Lanka

Besides the usual clothing and items you would find on any packing list for Asia , I’ve listed below some essential you will definitely want to bring on your elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park.

Hat  – it can get very hot during your safari! Make sure to have a hat to shield your head from the sun.

Sunscreen – same as above, even if you do the safari very early in the morning you the Sri Lankan sun is still strong. Don’t ruin your safari by getting sunburnt.

A young elephant we spotted in Udawalawe

A young elephant we spotted in Udawalawe

DSLR camera with a zoom lens – while the drivers often get quite close to the elephants, if you want to be able to capture beautiful photos of these magnificent animals you will want a proper DSLR camera with a zoom lens (make sure they’re compatible before buying a lens online!) That way you can snap photos of them up close, while being in the comfort of your jeep.

Water bottle – bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up at the start of the safari, it gets very hot so you want to stay hydrated! I like the steel bottles because they keep your water cold.  

Power bank – if you don’t have a DSLR don’t worry, you’ll still be able to capture great photos with your phone. However make sure to bring a power bank, you wouldn’t want your phone to die half way throughout the safari!

The elephant we saw before even entering Udawalawe National Park

The elephant we saw before even entering Udawalawe National Park

Final thoughts on doing a elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka

Doing an elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park was one of my favourite things to do in Sri Lanka. Seeing these magnificent animals in the wild was an awe-inspiring experience, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity.

I hope you find this guide useful in planning your visit to Udawalawe National Park and elephant safari in Sri Lanka. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

Looking for more Sri Lanka travel tips? Check out these guides:

  • Ella Rock Hike – DIY without a guide!
  • Everything you need to know about hiking Pidurangala Rock
  • Discover Sri Lanka’s Insta-famous beach swing
  • The most beautiful waterfall in Sri Lanka
  • The most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka (and maybe the world?)
  • Little Adam’s Peak sunrise hike

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Sri Lanka travel guide

Ultimate Guide to Udawalawe National Park

Do you like to get up close with majestic wild elephants in Sri Lanka? Without a doubt, the best place to see them in their natural habitat is Udawalawe National Park. While Yala is famous as the best place for watching leopards , Udawalawe is considered the best place for watching herds of elephants. The reason is that Udawalawe is one of Sri Lanka’s smallest national parks at only 308.2 km² area. But over 600 – 700 elephants are living in this space. Thus, the elephant density in Udawalawe is quite high, and spotting them during your safari trip is 100% guaranteed.

Elephants in Udawalawe

Udawalawe National Park is the 3 rd most visited park in Sri Lanka, staying behind only Yala and Wilpattu . It has attracted thousands of visitors, including both locals and foreign tourists since it was declared as a National Park in 1972. Although the Sri Lankan elephants are a major attraction, there are a lot more exotic creatures living in the park. Udawalawe is amazingly rich in biological diversity where you can witness a multitude of different species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish species.

Map of Udawalawe National Park

In this post, we are going to give you a complete guide to Udawalawe National Park. We will show you all the details including the road map, its amazing wildlife as well as the jaw-dropping natural sceneries.

History of Udawalawe

Udawalawe Dam was built in the 1960s across the Walawe River, creating the Udawalawe reservoir. This reservoir encompasses a total surface area of 35 km² and it is the largest waterbody in the vicinity.  After the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir, the surrounding area was designated and established as a National Park of Sri Lanka in 1972. The park provided a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir, as well as helped to protect the catchment of the reservoir.

Udawalawe Reservoir

When you visit the park, you’ll go through this 100 m tall and 665 m long Udawalawe Dam. This dam is a striking structure that offers beautiful scenery. Visitors may stroll around the dam and take in expansive views of the surrounding landscape. In addition, the Dam is charming around sunset, when the sky becomes orange and pink, making for an incredible backdrop for photographs.

Sunset in Udawalawe reservoir

How to reach Udawalawe

Udawalawe locates between Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces. There are 2 routes to reach Udawalawe via the southern expressway or via Ratnapura . The distance from the capital of Colombo along the southern expressway is 250 km. If you use Mattala Airport, it is quite easy to reach Udawalawe National Park via Thanamalvila Rd.

If you are going to travel by bus, catch a bus bound for Embilipitiya via Ratnapura from Colombo central bus station. This is a long journey that takes around 5.5 hours. If you take a bus run in the southern expressway, it will take fewer hours than this normal route.

How to reach Udawalawe

If you intend to travel by train, the southern coastal railway runs only up to Beliatta. You may take a train from Colombo to Beliatta and use another means of transport to reach Udawalawe.

Using a taxi is the best option to travel comfortably where you can easily reach Udawalawa National Park within 4 hours from Colombo via Ratnapura – Pelmadulla Road. You can check taxi fares on the 12GoAsia website and reserve a taxi for your journey to Udawalawe.

Entrance of Udawalawe

The park entrance is located about 10 km from Udawalawe town. It has only one entrance gate, unlike other large parks with several entrances. There are safari jeeps near the entrance to take you for an amazing safari through the jungle.

Entrance of Udawalawe

Unique features of Udawalawe

Out of 26 National Parks in Sri Lanka, Udawalawe occupies a special place where it is reminiscent of the African savannah. Here large expanses of dry grassland and scrubland are available due to the deforestation for chena cultivation.

Elephants in Udawalawe

These extensive regions of grass and scrubs with less forest cover make it easier to spot wildlife in the unobstructed plains. Even though plains are predominantly witnessed in the park, mountainous and rocky areas are visible in the background of the Udawalawe reservoir.

Dead trees in Udawalawe reservoir

Another unique feature of Udawalawe National Park is the dead trees standing in the reservoir. They create a wonderful photogenic scenery with the background of the blue water of the lake. These dead trees give a visual reminder of the extent of forest cover before the construction of the Udawalawe Dam. 

Biological diversity of Udawalawe

Udawalawe National Park shows an extremely rich biological diversity due to the presence of different habitats. The surrounding of the reservoir includes marshes, swamps, and wetlands. There are several tributaries of the Walawe River that run along the forests and grasslands giving a home to a wide spectrum of flora and fauna.

Biological diversity of Udawalawe

Species recorded from the park include 94 species of plants, 21 species of fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 species of birds (33 of which are migratory), and 43 species of mammals. Additionally, 135 species of butterflies are found in Udawalawe.

Elephants in Udawalawe

Elephants have a special place in Sri Lankan jungles as they easily get the spotlight as the biggest mammals in the country. They live as herds in the jungles and thrive majestically in many national parks. Among all the parks, Udawalawe is the best place to get close to several meters of wild elephants. Especially, Udawalawe is famous for watching elephants in open habitats in the park.

Elephants in Udawalawe

The Sri Lankan elephants are much calmer and more tamed than their African counterparts. They are habituated to the safari jeeps and catching a glimpse of them during the jeep safari is easy. Certainly, you’ll be mesmerized and captivated by the sight of the thriving elephant population of Udawalawe.

Elephants in Udawalawe

Elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir. The park has an abundant supply of water and it is capable of sustaining a big herd of elephants. Permanently residing elephant families with cute baby elephants are a common sight in the park.

Elephants in Udawalawe

Birds in Udawalawe

Udawalawe is a wonderful  birdwatching site with an estimated 184 species of birds living in the park. Endemics such as Sri Lanka spurfowl, Red-faced malkoha, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Brown-capped babbler, and Sri Lanka junglefowl are among the resident breeders. Also, you’ll see that several species of bee eaters are abundant in the park.

Bee eaters in Udawalawe

The open land attracts large birds such as eagles. You can see more than 5 species of eagles in the park. Among them, white-bellied sea eagles, crested serpent eagles, grey-headed fish eagles, booted eagles, and crested hawk eagles are the most abundant species.

Crested hawk eagle in Udawalawe

Land birds are in abundance in the park including Indian peafowl. The male peacock loves to perform and you may witness his lovely dance during the safari trip. Moreover, Udawalawe acts as a bird sanctuary that gives home to many species of aquatic birds such as storks and herons. These aquatic birds are a common sight in Udawalawe National Park.

Painted storks in Udawalawe

Malabar pied hornbill is one of the most beautiful bird species you’ll find in Udawalawe National Park. These birds have a large cream-colored bill with a black casque and make a beautiful sight to witness.

Malabar Pied Hornbill in Udawalawe

Reptiles in Udawalawe

33 species of reptiles have been recorded in Udawalawe National Park including lizards, monitors, crocodiles, and snakes. Among them, the giant mugger crocodiles are a wonderful sight to witness. The Mugger Crocodile is the most enormous reptile in the park, which may reach lengths of 4 m. With their broader snout, they give an alligator-like, frightening appearance.

Mugger crocodile in Udawalawe

Mammals in Udawalawe

Udawalawe gives home to 43 species of mammals. Among them, water buffaloes are the most abundant species.  They have two prominent curved shaped horns and the skin is typically black in color. You’ll find them in the muddy places in the park. They spend most of their time in water and feed on aquatic plants, marsh grasses, and giant reeds.

Water buffaloes in Udawalawe

The spotted deer is one of the most abundant mammals in Udawalawe. They have white spots on their light brown body.  You can see they live in big herds of as many as 50 or more individuals. Certainly, the beautiful spotted deer is among the most adorable wild animals in the park.

Herds of deer in Udawalawe

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe has been created in 1995 to protect the elephant calves become orphaned as a result of human-elephant conflict. When an elephant mom dies, the calf becomes quite vulnerable without milk. These orphaned calves bring to this transit home and feed until they become strong enough to survive in their natural habitats. 

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

The orphaned elephant calves are kept at part of the Udawalawe National Park to maintain familiarity with their original habitat. They are being looked after well in this facility. The calves are fed milk every 3 hours, starting from 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors can watch these cute elephant babies during the feeding sessions and also donate money for their milk expenses.

Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

Since 1995, more than 200 elephants have been cared for and reintroduced into the wild at the age of five when they can take care of themselves. Most of the visitors to Udawalawe enthusiastically support this great effort.

Safari tours in Udawalawe

There are three kinds of safari tours available in Udawalawe National Park. They are morning, afternoon, or full-day safaris. You can select a safari trip from many tour operators in the area or through online booking. 

Camping in Udawalawe

There are overnight options to stay in wildlife circuit bungalows inside the National Park. The amenities in these government-run bungalows are quite basic and not super comfortable. But it will give you an amazing experience. First of all, you need to book your bungalow through the Department of Wildlife Conservation  eService. There are 5 bungalows in the park including Gonawiddagala, Thimbiriyamankada, Senuggala, Weheragolla, and Pokunuthanna.

Gonawiddagala Bungalow

Among all the wildlife circuit bungalows, the Gonawiddagala Bungalow has a superior scenic beauty as its sides directly face the reservoir. Visitors can enjoy a splendid and memorable time at this bungalow. There is a specially built viewing deck to observe elephants, deer, wild buffalos, and birds who arrive at the reservoir for water.

Gonawiddagala Bungalow in Udawalawe

Gonawiddagala Bungalow is the most luxurious tourist bungalow of the Udawalawe National Park. Located at a distance of 11 km from the entrance gate, it is the nearest bungalow from the entrance of the park. The bungalow is powered by solar energy and furnished with modern bathrooms. Up to twelve visitors can be accommodated at the bungalow.

Thimbiriyamankada Bungalow

Thimbiriyamankada bungalow is one of 5 circuit bungalows available within the Udawalawe National Park. It is a wooden structure with a large viewing deck with an almost 300 degree view of the edge of the reservoir. It is by far one of the best bungalows in the park to stay and see wildlife.

Thimbiriyamankada Bungalow in Udawalawe

This bungalow is a perfect spot to observe a multitude of species of birds, including eagles, storks, and pelicans. The upper establishment has been set up at a high elevation above the bungalow to witness picturesque and captivating sceneries.

Glamping in Udawalawe

Glamping in one of the luxury campsites around Udawalawe National Park will give you an incredible experience. The glamping tents are really comfortable with all the modern facilities. These glamping spots are located in the buffer zone of the park and you can enjoy the wildlife in these jungles. Among the top glamping spots in Udawalawe, Mahoora , Big Game , Gaga Bees , and Makulu Safari are the most popular ones among visitors.

Mahoora glamping spot in Udawalawe

Best Time to visit Udawalawe

Udawalawe lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones. The average annual temperature is about 27–28 °C. The park has an annual rainfall of 1,500 mm, most of which falls during the months from October to January. The dry season from May to September is the best time to see the wildlife.

udawalawe national park safari timings

On the other hand, February to April is the perfect time to stay away from crowds while still having a good opportunity to see animals. No matter what time of year you travel, Udawalawe National Park is abundant with amazing wildlife and gives you a glimpse of Sri Lanka’s breathtaking natural splendor.

To sum up, Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places to go on a safari trip in Sri Lanka. Definitely, you’ll get an unforgettable experience of watching majestic wild elephants in their natural habitat. As well, you are guaranteed to see lots of amazing wildlife that will remain as an eternal memory in your mind. Welcome guys, Come and witness nature in all its glory at the Udawalawe National Park!

udawalawe national park safari timings

Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Facebook, and Twitter. All the copyrights are reserved by the original authors.

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udawalawe national park safari timings

Udawalawe National Park

udawalawe national park safari timings

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Golden jackal, wild buffalo, spotted deer, other notable animals, pick the right experience, choose your expedition, book a tour.

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udawalawe national park safari timings

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK – SAFARI IN SRI LANKA

Last Updated on May 8, 2022 by asoulwindow

Table of Contents

For wildlife buffs, Udawalawe National Park holds an unshakable and fierce fascination that they are drawn towards it, come rain or shine. On the borders of Sabaragamuwa and Uba Provinces, Udawalawe is one of the most famous wildlife places in Sri Lanka. Being the third-largest national park in Sri Lanka, the park has the highest density of elephants in Asia. Udawalawe National Park safari is one of the best ways to explore the affluent wildlife. Sprawls over an extensive area of 30,821 hectares of land, Udawalawe is one of the best places in the world to spot elephants . In addition, Udawalawe park also serves as the dwelling land of numerous other wild creatures like sloth bear , leopard, Indian muntjac, spotted chevrotain, water buffalo and more. Various feather creatures like red-faced malkoha and many more also found here in Udawalawe.

How to Reach Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe is located some 164 km south of Colombo . From Colombo, it’s a 3-4 hours drive to Udawalawe. From Ella to Udawalwe , the distance is 94 km, which can be covered through 1-2 hour drive. The park is also well-connected with Hill Country. The distance between the two is 218 km, which takes 5-6 hours to complete.

If hiring a cab/taxi is an expensive mean, you can choose the direct buses that ply from Colombo. However, there is no direct bus from Ella and Hill Country.

Safari Timings:

To promote wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka , the park organizes a jeep and elephant safari tour. The tours start at 6 in the morning and end at 6 in the evening. The morning game drive begins at 6:00 AM and ends at 10:00 AM. Whereas, the evening drive starts at 3:00 PM and concludes at 6:00 PM.

Safari Fee:

A 3-hour Udawalawe safari price is 3500 Sri Lankan Rupees. In addition, you will also have to pay an entrance fee, which differs for both locals and foreign nationals.

  • Day Visit: 60 Rs
  • Overnight Visit: 120 Rs per day
  • Two visits during daylight hours: 100 Rs per day
  • Day Visit: 15 USD
  • Overnight Visit: 30 USD per day
  • Two Visits during daylight hours: 25 USD per day
  • Day Visit: 30 Rs
  • Overnight Visit: 60 Rs per day
  • Two Visits during daylight hours: 60 Rs per day
  • Day Visit: 8 USD
  • Overnight Visit: 16 USD per day
  • Two Visits during daylight hours: 12 USD per day

In total the whole trip was around $45 USD. This was worth every penny to see that the animals are in their natural habitat and are being taken care of respectfully.

What to Expect at Udawalawe National Park

There is so much to explore in Udawalawe that a single visit isn’t enough to satiate your evergreen curiosity of exploring wildlife in Sri Lanka. You can expect to capture the sights of hundreds of peacocks either scurrying around in the bushes or perched high on the branches of trees. Not just this, different bird species like red-faced malkoha, grey hornbill, Sri Lankan junglefowl , and more are resides in the biodiversity of Udawalawe National Park. There is a reservoir in the vicinity of the park where you can see crocodiles and buffaloes. But, above all that, Sri Lankan elephants are the main attraction of the Udawalawe tour . The park is home to more than 600 male and female elephants. Since this place has such a high density of elephants, the chances of spotting the big creatures are even higher.

Game Drive in Udawalawe National Park

The best time to do a jeep safari in Udawalawe is early morning. With the sight of the rising sun, the wildlife of Udawalawe seems to be gorgeous as ever. But for that, you have to wake up around 5 in the morning and leave your room at around 5:30 AM. On arriving at the gate of the park, you will see the number of jeeps already in the queue and some are even behind you. The entry process takes around 20 minutes to complete, but it is all worth it. Once you enter the park, the driver will take you on its own track, away from the other jeeps. For a few miles, you have to undergo a bumpy ride, but once you go deeper into the park, the road gets smooth. The entire game drive takes around 3-4 hours.

Where to Stay in Udawalawe National Park

Apart from just exploring the park, if you wish to spend a few days in the lap of nature and wildlife, then it’s important that you choose the best Udawalawe National Park accommodation . There are plenty of wildlife lodges, resorts, and hotels in Udawalawe that are known to serve the most comfortable and cozy stay to their guests. The list of accommodation options in Udawalawe incorporates some popular names like:

  • Royal Tusker Hotel

Address: Thanamalvila Rd, Sri Lanka

  • Sandalwood Cottage

Address: 96 mile post, kolombage ara, Sri Lanka

  • Hantara Udawalawe

Address: Walawegama Rd, Udawalawa, Sri Lanka

  • Sunwin River Cabana

Address: C.E.D Place Modara road Walawegama Udawalawa, Embilipitiya 70190, Sri Lanka

  • Jungle Paradise

Address: 2066 1/2, Ekamuthugama, Usweliara, Udawalawa 70190, Sri Lanka

However, I would personally recommend you to go for camping for a unique experience. There are a number of options for camping in Udawalawe. Amidst the affluent flora and fauna of the jungle , on the banks of a river , camping is undoubtedly a delight for every wildlife buff visiting Udawalawe National Park. Big Game Camp, The Yala Camping, Mahoora Tented Safari Camp Udawalawe, Border Camping are some renowned options if you are looking to enjoy a stay in a camp.

Where to Book an Udawalawe Safari Tour

The best way to book a safari Udawalawe National Park jeep safari or elephant safari tour is through your accommodation when you arrive at the park. If you want to avoid any hassle, you can also book the tour online beforehand. However, make sure you choose the best and the most authentic site to book your Sri Lanka safari tour . The biggest advantage you get while booking through accommodation is the convenient rates. Since a jeep accommodates 6-8 people at a time, hence, the entrance fee of the jeep is shared amongst all the people who are also touring the park through the same accommodation. Do let us know your experience in Udawalawe.

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16 thoughts on “UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK – SAFARI IN SRI LANKA”

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We absolutely loved Udawalawe! We saw so much wildlife. We were really hoping to see some leapords but weren’t so lucky. Just make sure you sign up with a decent tour company. We were lucky enough to see wild elephants on the road between Tangalle and Arugam bay. Thanks for posting!

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Great. Happy to read about your experience. That’s what makes wildlife unique. Everyone has a different story to tell. Keep traveling. 😊

'  data-srcset=

Thanks for giving all the details.. This year end am planning a trip to Sri Lanka.. Will surely try this

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Udawalawe National Park looks so beautiful. I would love to go on a wildlife safari and try to spot the Sri Lankan elephants and Crocodiles. Loved the useful tips you have included for first-time travellers 🙂

'  data-srcset=

I was planning for a trip to Sri Lanka in December have to include Udawalawe National Park in my itinerary… Excited to visit this place and sight elephants in the wild

'  data-srcset=

Wow this place looks simply wonderful! I would love to visit some day!

'  data-srcset=

I so want to visit Udawalawe now, one of the best places in the world to spot elephants. I can’t imagine how exciting it would be 🤩

Yes. It’s full of surprises. You must visit.

'  data-srcset=

Sri Lanka is in my list since long, even this year I also planned for it but unfortunately the bombing part dismissed the plan. Hopefully next year soon.

Yes. Do plan. Let terrorism not dwindle our urge to travel. Many of my friends visited Sri Lanka after the bombings and loved the country.

'  data-srcset=

Udawalawe National Park looks like a lovely place to visit in Sri Lanka. I would definitely want to have a camping experience there. Will keep this place in mind while visiting Sri Lanka.

'  data-srcset=

Sri Lanka in itself is so pristine. Udawalawe Safari Tour seems like a must-do on one’s visit to Sri Lanka, bookmarking it for when I travel there!

Yes, I enjoyed Sri Lanka more than I had expected. You must explore the major National Parks of SL.

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I have never been a travel freak so far but this post is making me come out of my zone and travel! I absolutely loved it, looking forward to more such posts!

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Udawalawe National Park Welcome!

Everything you want to know before your safari on Sri Lanka

Animals

The Elephants await you! Udawalawe Park is a home to over 400 wild elephants which are permanent residents and so the concentration is quite high. Here is only one Sri Lankan Park where elephants GUARANTEED to spot. But not only elephants: crocodiles, buffaloes, monkeys, peacocks, mongoose… And many bird species like red-faced malkoha, grey hornbill, Sri Lankan junglefowl, and more are residing in the biodiversity of Udawalawe National Park.

Read more…

How is Safari looks like

You allowed to enter to the park only on safari jeep with an approved guide. You will on an upper deck for a maximum 6 persons, your driver and guide will in cabin. From the deck everyone has a chance of seeing everything as they made their way around the park. During the trip you will not allowed to leave the jeep, so have enough water and sun protective cream. You’ll be going around all sorts of muddy and bumpy terrain so make sure you keep all your belongings secured and hold on tight!

Jeeps also had weatherproofing, so if it will rain, they have covers that can be brought down for you. It is better to have a safari at sunny weather, but in case of rain you still be in a comfort, and possible you see more animals just after rain end. Read more…

How is Safari looks like

Udawalawe or Yala?

You are not alone if you are split between Udawalawe and Yala national parks. The only correct answer is to choose both. But if you haven’t enough time, ask yourself what you want more: leopard or elephants? If you dream of seeing a graceful leopard, then you better try to find it in Yala, where is more than 25 grace cats are. If you dream of wise elephants, your path lies in Udawalawa – this is the best place where you can see many elephants in their home. Another reason is that there are fewer jeeps in Udawalawa and with a professional guide you won’t be near other vehicles.

Plan your visit now!

Visit to Udawalawe is always guided tour on special safari 4×4 jeeps.

Still have a questions?

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us by WhatsApp , Telegram or:

Phone: +94 76 272 6799

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: CVRR+46F, Samanalagama, Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park

udawalawe national park safari timings

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udawalawe national park safari timings

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  • Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket (From £48.10)
  • Udawalawe National Park Private Safari (From £21.29)
  • Udawalawe National Park Safari trip from Galle/Mirissa/Ella (From £149.81)
  • Udawalawe National Park | Private Safari (From £15.77)
  • Private Half Day Tour: Udawalawe National Park with Elephant Transit Home Visit (From £94.62)
  • (0.01 mi) Udawalawa Eco Lodge
  • (0.26 mi) Ruhunu Safari Camping Uda Walawe
  • (4.48 mi) Jungle Paradise
  • (6.99 mi) Nature House
  • (8.25 mi) Mansala Safari House
  • (4.32 mi) Amba Kola Café
  • (6.60 mi) Hungry Monkey
  • (8.09 mi) Machan Udawalawa
  • (6.58 mi) Restaurant Athgira
  • (2.56 mi) Craft Tunnel
  • (1.75 mi) Udawalawe Trails
  • (6.81 mi) Udawalawe Safari Fun
  • (2.55 mi) Kuma Safari Service Udawalawa
  • (2.54 mi) Lakpura LLC
  • (2.92 mi) Ceylon Nature Tours

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Book your Safari Now

Udawalawe National Park Safari

Udawalawe national park safari provides a great experience, for those who are interested to see a large number of flora and fauna. This valuable national park is considered one of the best wild activities that can be done in Sri Lanka. This safari is which you are carried by a jeep along the paths in the park while you can visit all-natural habitats in their freestyle.

A maximum of six people can be carried in one jeep comfortably as we care for your protection. As your wish, you can reserve the time and the duration in different categories which we can provide like 3,4 hours half or full day. We already have a focused special birds-based safari for those who are curious and interested in birds. You can do the safari throughout the daytime while the morning and the afternoon are the best. We can gladly recommend that you will really be lucky to see a lot of herd of elephants in addition to that deer, crocodiles……. Etc. Lots of bird varieties also can be captured into your memorable heart.

Before entering the safari you must be careful about your needs as we don’t have a place inside the park to fulfill your needs. You should obey the driver or the guide who cares for you.

Udawalawe National Park Safari Information

A maximum of six people can be carried in one jeep comfortably as we care for your protection. As your wish, you can reserve the time and the duration in different categories which we can provide like 3,4 hours safari, half day or full day. We already have a focused special birds-based safari for those who are curious and interested in birds. You can do the safari throughout the daytime while the morning and the afternoon are the best. We can gladly recommend that you will really be lucky to see a lot of herd of elephants in addition to that deer, crocodiles……. Etc. Lots of bird varieties also can be captured into your memorable heart.

3 Hour Safari

In these three hours, you can cover a good area of the national park. You will be able to see a different kinds

of wildlife. If you are a photographer three-hour safari may not be enough. On this tour, you will have a chance to get down from the jeep if you have the luck to see wildlife early. Otherwise, the driver will drive to other different areas to find wild animals. If you have limited time choose this safari, otherwise if you can pay a bit more and spend more time choose a half-day safari.

Per person cost of the group of six.

(Price varies by group size)

Half-day Safari

In a half-day Safari ride, you can cover a considerable area of the park and will be able to see many different

kinds of wild animals. This safari takes around 5- 6 hours. So this is better for photography. You can get down from the jeep in some places.

Full-day Safari

This is the best safari for photographers, explorers, wildlife enthusiasts, and Researchers who want to 

explore more about the park and about wildlife. You can cover a huge area of the park and you will be able to go to different biodiversity zones. You can get lunch in the park. We recommend this Safari, especially for photographers.

Why Book With Us?

Experienced safari game drivers.

We have friendly drivers who extend your time if you want.

Good condition safari jeeps

Quality jeeps with front-facing seats

Free hotel pick-up and drop-off

We provide free transport 10 KM radius of the park.

Focus on your needs

If you are a photographer our driver will focus on it.

No hidden fees.

We provide a good service with good value for your money.

udawalawe national park safari timings

Great safari experience. We saw many animals from really close - especially elephants, but also spotted deer, peacocks, varans, wild boars, and many different birds. The guides are very vigilant and they will alert you of the presence of any animals nearby, that you have no chance of spotting with untrained eyes.

Jakub Jaroš

I loved and enjoyed every moment in this beautiful park. Saw lots of elephants crocs monkeys water buffaloes and birds. The guides are really helpful and friendly. Can't wait yo go back again.

Brandy Newberry

A wildlife safari through Sri Lanka. One of the only parks in the world where the elephants are friendly and will get up very close to the truck without causing violence

Vacation Joe

Reservation

Book your safari.

Reserve your Safari early for a quality service. We will provide you with the best Safari drivers in Udawalawe National Park. we are able to send our jeeps to you. Fill out this form Precisely.

Email Address

Phone Number

No of Adults

Hotel (Where you stay)

Entrance Tickets price

Sri Lanka National park entrance fees have been increased for local and foreign tourists from the 1st of September 2022 (Gazette Notification No. 2292/11 Aug 2022).

You have to buy tickets before you enter the national park from the entrance gate. These tickets are issued by Wildlife and conservation department. Sometimes the entrance ticket counter is busy. our drivers will support buying tickets.

udawalawe national park safari timings

All tickets will be added 15% VAT, Service charges, and Other taxes.

* If you stay overnight in the National park this price will be doubled.

Peak season 

Off peak Season

 Foreign Adult (12+)

 foreign child (6-12), saarc country adult (12+), saarc country child(6-12), local adults (12+), local child (6-12), our rates include, safari jeep with experienced driver, free hotel pickup and drop, bottle of water, our rates do not include, entrance fee.

IMAGES

  1. Udawalawe National Park, Tangalle (2024)

    udawalawe national park safari timings

  2. Best Time To Go To Udawalawe National Park

    udawalawe national park safari timings

  3. Why You Should Visit Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka

    udawalawe national park safari timings

  4. Udawalawe National park

    udawalawe national park safari timings

  5. Udawalawe National Park Safari from Hikkaduwa 2024

    udawalawe national park safari timings

  6. Safari in Udawalawe National Park

    udawalawe national park safari timings

VIDEO

  1. Bathing wild elephant at udawalawa national park 🇱🇰

  2. Big Tusker Elephant in Udawalawe National Park #udawalawechaamsafariandtourse

  3. Episode 1-Safari ride at Udawalawe National Park

  4. Udawalawa National Park

  5. Sri Lanka: Udawalawe National Park

  6. Sri Lanka: Udawalawe National Park

COMMENTS

  1. How To Visit The Incredible Udawalawe National Park

    As with most things in Sri Lanka, visiting Udawalawe National Park can be done without breaking the bank, especially when compared to African safaris. Before visiting, you do need to know that there are generally two fees that need to be paid when taking a safari. PARK ENTRY FEES. First, there are the park entry fees.

  2. A complete guide to visiting Udawalawe national park, Sri Lanka

    The vast reserve of Udawalawe national park is located in south of Sri Lanka. It sits between the tea plantations and forests of Nuwara Eliya and Ella in the central hill country region, and the sandy coastline of Sri Lanka's southern beaches. The best way to reach Udawalawe is by car and I would recommend hiring a driver to take you there.

  3. Know Before You Go: Udawalawe National Park Safari, Sri Lanka

    Udawalawe National Park is located on the boundary of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces. It is easily accessible from the town of Udawalawa and can be reached in 2 to 4 hours from Sri Lanka's famous beaches, Ella, and Colombo. If you're time and itinerary can allow it, you can reach Udawalawa by public bus.

  4. Udawalawe National Park

    Udawalawe National Park | 4 Hours Safari Tour. 59. Recommended. Photo Shoots. from. $77.00. per adult (price varies by group size) Udawalawe National Park Safari with Elephant Transit Home Visit. 11.

  5. How to Plan an Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka at Udawalawe

    On average, a jeep and guide cost $30-35 at Yala for a half-day safari and around $20-25 at Udawalawe. In terms of wildlife, Udalawe is better for seeing elephants. It has the highest concentration of Sri Lanka elephants in the country and is about 1/3 the size of Yala, so your chances of seeing elephants are very high here.

  6. A Complete Udawalawe National Park Safari Guide For 2023

    Udawalawe Safari Costs. Private jeep with driver/guide - around LKR 4000 for half day (3-4 hours). Park entrance fees of $25 per adult and $15 per child (under 6 are free) plus a LKR 250 jeep charge, all plus 15% tax. If you are staying overnight in the park, there is a $50 charge per adult and $30 per child.

  7. Udawalawe Safari Guide (2024)

    Udawalawe Safari Permit fees and opening timings for the National Park Park permit fees for the Udawalawe National Park are 3500 rupees including all taxes. You have to pay this every time you go into the park as you get 'stamped out' when you leave and the permit is invalidated.

  8. the ultimate safari guide to Udawalawe, Sri Lanka: how to book + what

    A full-day safari can last anywhere from 8-14 hours depending on the company you book with and how you negotiate. Every company seems to customize their safaris to fit the client's wishes. ... My time on safari at Udawalawe National Park was without a shadow of a doubt one of those moments in life I hope to tell my children about. I had been ...

  9. Udawalawe Safari In Sri Lanka

    Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari Half Day (3 hours): £15 per person. Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari Full Day (8 hours): £50 per person. All tours will include hotel pickup and drop-off, national park fees, and a private Udawalawe Safari in a 4×4 jeep. Udawalawe Safari Times. Half day tours: 6am or 2.30pm (duration of 3 hours)

  10. VISIT UDAWALAWE IN SRI LANKA [FULL GUIDE]

    Complete Guide to Visit Udawalawe in Sri Lanka. In order to protect the animals, the Sri Lankan State created the Udawalawe National Park in 1972. The population of elephants, inhabiting the 30,000 hectares, is estimated at nearly 500. These are not the only animals which you can observe in the national park.

  11. Udawalawe National Park: An Epic Elephant Safari In Sri Lanka

    The national park was established in 1972 and covers an area of 30,000 hectares. It was created to provide a sanctuary for the wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir and dam. Elephants that we spotted during our Udawalawe safari. The elephants we spotted before even entering Udawalawe National Park.

  12. Udawalawe National Park: Entry Ticket & Half-Day Safari Tour

    In conclusion, an Udawalawe National Park 4 Hours Safari Tour is a fantastic way to experience the beauty and diversity of Sri Lanka's wildlife. Whether you're traveling with family or friends, or you're a solo traveler, this safari tour is a must-do activity. So, book your tour today and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of ...

  13. The TRUTH About Visiting Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

    6 Things to Expect from a Safari in Udawalwe National Park. 1. You WILL See Elephants in Udawalawe National Park. 2. Udawalawe National Park attracts lots of tourists. 3. The safari jeep drivers are competitive. 4. The elephants are very tame.

  14. Visit Udawalawe

    Udawalawe is a Category I National Reserve and as for now, the price is a $29 entrance fee (incl. 15% VAT) per person + 14$ group fee per car. (Last time revised on Aug.22) Below you may find a table with fees per group. Note that the maximum jeep capacity is 6 persons. Persons. Price, USD.

  15. Udawalawe National Park

    Book your tickets online for Udawalawe National Park, Udawalawe National Park: See 3,462 reviews, articles, and 5,705 photos of Udawalawe National Park, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 11 attractions in Udawalawe National Park. ... Udawalawe National Park | 4 Hours Safari Tour. 59. Recommended. 100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble ...

  16. Ultimate Guide to Udawalawe National Park

    Udawalawe lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones. The average annual temperature is about 27-28 °C. The park has an annual rainfall of 1,500 mm, most of which falls during the months from October to January. The dry season from May to September is the best time to see the wildlife.

  17. Udawalawe National Park

    This 30,821-hectare reserve features one of the most top site of attraction in Asia for viewing elephants even though it's only the sixth biggest wild life park in Sri Lanka. Located 180km away from capital city Colombo, Udawalawe National Park encompasses the Udawalawe reservoir, the center of attention in this dry monsoon forest which gets ...

  18. UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK

    Udawalawe is located some 164 km south of Colombo. From Colombo, it's a 3-4 hours drive to Udawalawe. From Ella to Udawalwe, the distance is 94 km, which can be covered through 1-2 hour drive. The park is also well-connected with Hill Country. The distance between the two is 218 km, which takes 5-6 hours to complete.

  19. Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

    The Elephants await you! Udawalawe Park is a home to over 400 wild elephants which are permanent residents and so the concentration is quite high. Here is only one Sri Lankan Park where elephants GUARANTEED to spot. But not only elephants: crocodiles, buffaloes, monkeys, peacocks, mongoose…. And many bird species like red-faced malkoha, grey ...

  20. Udawalawe National Park

    We spent more than 3 hours for the Safari and we saw a lot of animals (crocodile, bambi, monkeys, particular birds and a lot of elephants, one at one meter from us included!!!). If needed, contact him to live a real experience!! +94 76 272 6799. Visited August 2023. Travelled as a couple.

  21. Udawalawe National Park: Private Safari at Golden Hours

    When booking a private safari at Udawalawe National Park, travelers have the option to check availability, reserve now and pay later, and enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Payment options are convenient and flexible, allowing visitors to secure their safari without immediate payment.

  22. Safari

    Udawalawe national park safari provides a great experience, for those who are interested to see a large number of flora and fauna. This valuable national park ... As your wish, you can reserve the time and the duration in different categories which we can provide like 3,4 hours safari, half day or full day. We already have a focused special ...

  23. Udawalawe National Park

    Udawalawe National Park is a national park on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces in Sri Lanka.The park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119.00 sq mi) of land area and was established on 30 June 1972.

  24. Harry & Lydia

    244 likes, 53 comments - thenomadsyouknow on February 29, 2024: "Safari in Sri Lanka! 凉 Welcome to Udawalawe National Park, one of Sri Lanka's great..." Harry & Lydia | UK Travel Creators on Instagram: "Safari in Sri Lanka! 🥹🐘🌿 Welcome to Udawalawe National Park, one of Sri Lanka's greatest parks & home to around 500 wild ...