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
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
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.
