Plan your visit
Tickets, map and tips for your visit
A grown-up from abroad pays about 2,000 rupees, in cash, at the Transit Home's own counter. There is nothing to book.
- About 2,000 rupeesGrown-ups from abroad
- About an hourWith the little museum
Ticket prices
| Who | Price |
|---|---|
| Grown-ups from abroad | About 2,000 rupees (US$5 plus tax) |
| Children aged 6 to 12 | About 1,200 rupees (US$3 plus tax) |
| Children under 6 | Ask at the counter |
| Sri Lankans | A much lower local price |
Checked in October 2026. Prices are set in US dollars, so the rupee price can change.
How to pay
- Bring rupee notes. There is no cash machine at the Transit Home, so get cash before you come.
- Buy your ticket at the counter by the entrance, just before a feed. You can't book ahead.
- You don't need a ticket for the national park (the big wild place next door). The Transit Home is in town, not in the park.
Where is it?
It is in Udawalawe town, by the big lake. It is not inside the national park. (Udawalawe is also spelt Udawalawa.)
In Udawalawe town, by the big lake
The Transit Home is in Udawalawe town, next to the reservoir (a big lake). The safari park's main gate is 9 km away, about 15 minutes by car, on the road to Ella.
Map drawn from © OpenStreetMap contributors
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, C.P. De Silva Road, off the Udawalawe–Thanamalwila road (B427), Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
Getting there
- From the park gate: drive 9 km west, about 15 minutes.
- From Ella, Tissa or Yala: you pass the park gate first. Keep going to the town.
- From the south coast: come up through Embilipitiya. You reach the Transit Home before the park.
- In town: it is about a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
The road across the Udawalawe dam, between the town and the park gate.
How long is the drive from other towns?
| From | By car |
|---|---|
| Ella | about 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Tissamaharama (Yala) | about 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Tangalle | about 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Hambantota | about 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Mirissa | about 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Galle | about 2 hours |
| Nuwara Eliya | about 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Colombo | about 4 hours |
| Colombo airport | about 4 hours 15 minutes |
| Kandy | about 4 hours 30 minutes |
Rough times by car, with no stops. Roads and traffic can make them longer.
Can you get there by bus?
Yes, buses go to Udawalawe town, but they are slow. Ask at the bus stand for "Udawalawe".
From the south coast, change at Embilipitiya. From Ella, change at Wellawaya.
What you'll see, and how long it takes
You sit on a covered stand with steps, like a mini stadium. The calves (baby elephants) are about 15 to 20 metres away. That's about as far as four cars in a row.
A feed takes about half an hour. Allow about an hour in all, so you can come early and see the little museum. It's open every day, but only around the feeds.
The museum is called the Elephant Knowledge Walk. It is all about elephants, with signs in English, Sinhala and Tamil.
The rules
Watch from the stand. Only the keepers go near the calves.
Use a quiet voice. Signs there ask visitors to keep quiet.
Photos are fine. But please turn off the flash.- No drones. They are not allowed.
Coming with children
- Come early, so you can find a spot where your children can see. The stand fills up fast.
- The little museum has some elephant skeletons. Very small children may find them scary.
- Bring water and a hat. It can be very hot.
Toilets, food and getting around
- There is a car park and there are toilets.
- There are cafés and snack stalls near the entrance.
- The stand has steps, and the best spots are on them, so they are hard to reach in a wheelchair.
What to bring
Rupee notes
Water
A hat
Binoculars- A camera
Sun cream
For the evening feed, bring insect spray too.
