Wildlife
Udawalawe
sri lanka's elephant park — herds of up to a hundred at the reservoir..
Sri Lanka's elephant park — herds of up to a hundred at the reservoir.
Overview
Udawalawe is the country's best park for elephants — open scrubland and the great Udawalawe Reservoir, where herds of fifty to a hundred wild elephants gather. There are no leopards, but the chance of long elephant encounters is the best in Asia.
- Ideal duration
- 2 nights
- Best time to visit
- April to September
- Weather
- Hot 28–34°C; reservoir keeps the area greener than Yala.
- Region
- Wildlife
Where to stay
Best luxury hotels
Kalu's Hideaway
Quiet boutique lodge ten minutes from the park gate.
Athgira Camp
Tented luxury on the riverbank.
Mahoora Udawalawe
Long-running mobile-camp luxury operator.
See the full edit · Best luxury hotels in Udawalawe
Planned by us
Luxury Udawalawe honeymoon
Udawalawe works as a 2 nights honeymoon stop for couples who want sri Lanka's elephant park — herds of up to a hundred at the reservoir. We book Kalu's Hideaway or Athgira Camp, keep the days unscheduled and add one set-piece evening you'll remember.
- Stay: Kalu's Hideaway or Athgira Camp — booked directly, with honeymoon upgrades where the property allows.
- Sole-use 4x4 in the park with a tracker
- Visit to the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time
- Picnic breakfast at the reservoir
- Best months: April to September. Typical weather: Hot 28–34°C; reservoir keeps the area greener than Yala.
Indicative honeymoon cost for 2 nights in Udawalawe, land-only: £600–£2,000 per couple depending on property, plus private transfers.
Planned by us
Private Udawalawe tour
A private Udawalawe tour means your own chauffeur-guide and vehicle — no coach, no fixed departure, no shared jeeps. Your driver handles tickets, timing and the long drives so you arrive at each place when it's quietest.
- Private chauffeur from Yala (2h) or Tea Country (3h)
- Drive on to the south coast (2h)
- Helicopter charter from Colombo
- Pair Udawalawe with Yala (2h) for elephants and leopards in one trip.
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home for the 9am feeding.
Private chauffeur-guide and vehicle: £95–£140 per day for two, including fuel, parking and the driver's accommodation.
What to do
Private experiences
- Sole-use 4x4 in the park with a tracker
- Visit to the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time
- Picnic breakfast at the reservoir
- Sundowners at the park boundary
What to see
Nearby attractions
- Udawalawe National Park
- Udawalawe Reservoir
- Elephant Transit Home
- Diyaluma Falls (1.5h)
- Sankhapala Rajamaha Vihara
Curated tables
Where to eat
- Kalu's Hideaway riverside dining
- Athgira tented camp dining
- Picnic breakfast in the park
Crafted by us
A sample Udawalawe itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
Transfer in from Yala (2h) or Tea Country (3h), afternoon scouting safari.
- Day 2
Big day
Dawn safari, Elephant Transit Home, evening drive, sundowners.
Insider notes
Travel tips
- Pair Udawalawe with Yala (2h) for elephants and leopards in one trip.
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home for the 9am feeding.
- Best months are April to September.
How to arrive
Luxury transport
- Private chauffeur from Yala (2h) or Tea Country (3h)
- Drive on to the south coast (2h)
- Helicopter charter from Colombo
Related guides
For the top tier
Ultra-luxury Udawalawe: Aman, villa buyouts, helicopter hops.
Compare at a glance
Udawalawe or somewhere else? Compare at a glance.
The short answer: pair one cultural stop, one hill-country stop and one coast. This table compares what each place is best for, when to go, how long to stay and how far it is from Colombo.
Cultural Triangle
- Best for
- First-timers, history, the iconic rock climb
- Best months
- Jan–Sep (driest Feb–Aug)
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car · 30 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Habarana safaris
Central Highlands
- Best for
- Culture, temple ritual, a soft landing before the hills
- Best months
- Jan–Apr, Jul–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 3–3.5 hrs by car · 2.5 hrs by train
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya
Tea Country
- Best for
- Tea bungalows, cool air, Horton Plains
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Kandy, Ella
Hill Country
- Best for
- The train ride, walks, relaxed hill romance
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 6 hrs by car · 45 mins by helicopter
- Pairs with
- Nuwara Eliya, Yala
South-east
- Best for
- Leopards and private dawn game drives
- Best months
- Feb–Jul
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights (4 drives)
- From Colombo
- 5 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Ella, Tangalle
South
- Best for
- Guaranteed elephants, families with children
- Best months
- Year-round
- Ideal stay
- 1–2 nights
- From Colombo
- 4 hrs by car
- Pairs with
- Yala, the south coast
South-west Coast
- Best for
- Colonial fort, boutiques, villa living
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 1.5 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Mirissa, Ahangama
South Coast
- Best for
- Blue whales, easy beach days
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (whales)
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- From Colombo
- 2 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Galle, Tangalle
Far South Coast
- Best for
- Privacy, staffed villas, uncrowded sand
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Ideal stay
- 3–5 nights
- From Colombo
- 3 hrs via expressway
- Pairs with
- Yala, Galle
East Coast
- Best for
- Summer beaches when the south-west is wet
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- From Colombo
- 5.5 hrs by car · 1 hr by seaplane
- Pairs with
- Sigiriya, Pasikuda
Design your Udawalawe journey
Name, email and a line about your trip is all we need — a senior planner replies within 24 hours.
Answers
Udawalawe: questions, answered.
Is Udawalawe worth visiting?+
Yes — for elephants. Sightings are almost guaranteed, often in herds of fifty or more.
Udawalawe or Yala?+
Udawalawe for elephants. Yala for leopards. A two-park itinerary is the best of both.
Where should I stay for Udawalawe?+
Kalu's Hideaway or Athgira Camp — both close to the gate, tented and quiet.
