Feeds: 10:30 · 2:30 · 6

Udawalawe National Park

Go on a safari to see wild elephants

Udawalawe National Park is a huge wild place where animals are kept safe. Hundreds of wild elephants live there, and you see them on almost every drive.

A family of wild elephants with calves on a track in Udawalawe National Park
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Park open every day6 in the morning to 6 in the evening
  • Wild elephantsOn almost every drive

What is a safari in Udawalawe?

You ride in an open safari jeep with a driver. A jeep holds up to 6 people. You stay inside it the whole time.

A morning or afternoon drive takes 3 to 4 hours. The park is big and open, with grass, bushes and a huge lake. That makes animals easy to spot.

Safari jeeps go in at the park's main gate. It is on the road to Thanamalwila, 9 km east of Udawalawe town, about 15 minutes by car.

Park gate in Google Maps

The Transit Home doesn't run safaris. You can find a jeep and driver in Udawalawe town, through your hotel or online.

Wild Ceylon, who made this guide, runs jeep safaris here. See Wild Ceylon's Udawalawe safaris.

Two wild elephants beside a track, with a safari jeep waiting behind the bushes
Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0

What you might see

  • A herd with calves walking along a sandy safari track
    Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Elephant families

    Mums, aunts and babies often walk together.

  • A wild elephant calf drinking milk from its mother in Udawalawe National Park

    Wild babies

    Look for little calves close to their mums.

  • A water buffalo standing in a muddy pool
    Photo: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Water buffalo

    They love a cool, muddy pool.

  • A small green bee-eater sitting on a twig
    Photo: Alex Wordley, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Bright birds

    Lots of kinds of birds live here, from eagles to peacocks.

  • Elephants Almost every drive
  • Water buffalo Almost every drive
  • Peacocks and eagles Almost every drive
  • Crocodiles On most drives
  • Spotted deer On most drives
  • Golden jackals Sometimes
  • Leopards Very rare
  • Sloth bears Very rare

When can you go?

The park is open every day of the year, from 6 in the morning to 6 in the evening. Any month is good for elephants.

In the drier months, January to April and June to September, herds gather near the water. October to December is rainier and greener.

It rarely closes, and only for very bad weather.

Morning or afternoon?

These buttons go to Wild Ceylon. It's the safari company that made this guide.

Morning

6 to 10 in the morning

Cool air and busy animals. To catch the 10:30 feed, leave the park by about 9:30.

Plan a morning safari and the 10:30 feed

Afternoon

2:30 in the afternoon to 6 in the evening

A later start, with no early alarm. It ends at 6, so the evening feed doesn't fit.

Plan an afternoon safari

Full day

6 in the morning to 6 in the evening

A long day for big animal fans. Bring food and plenty of water.

Plan a full-day safari

Is it good for children?

Yes. For small children, a morning or an afternoon drive is plenty.

Be kind to wild elephants

  • Stay in the jeep, and keep your voice down.
  • Never feed wild animals. It is against the law.
  • Some elephants wait at the fence by the road for food. Don't feed them, even from a car.
  • Take all your rubbish home with you.

Park tickets

You buy park tickets at the gate, and your jeep driver can usually help. Children aged 6 to 12 pay less, and under-6s go free.

See what a safari day costs

What to bring

  • A hat
  • Water
  • Sun cream
  • Binoculars
  • A camera

Mornings can be cool, so bring a light top. A scarf helps with the dust.

Where next?