Udawalawe

The best place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. A vast, African-style savanna offering guaranteed year-round elephant sightings and incredible wildlife safaris.

About Udawalawe

Created to protect the wildlife displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir, this national park is the premier elephant reserve in Sri Lanka. With its light vegetation, open grasslands, and beautiful mountainous backdrop, the park closely resembles an African savanna. Unlike other parks where animal spotting relies heavily on the season, Udawalawe guarantees elephant sightings all year round. It is less crowded than Yala, making it the perfect destination for a peaceful and deeply rewarding wildlife safari.

Top Places to Visit & Activities

National Park Safari

Hop into a 4x4 open-top jeep and explore the vast plains. You are almost guaranteed to see large herds of wild elephants roaming freely, bathing, and feeding in their natural habitat.

Elephant Transit Home

Supported by the Born Free Foundation, 'Eth Athuru Sevana' rehabilitates orphaned baby elephants. Watching these playful calves being bottle-fed milk from the viewing platform is a heartwarming experience.

Udawalawe Reservoir

The lifeblood of the park. This massive man-made lake provides a stunning backdrop for your safari photos. It is the best place to spot water buffaloes, mugger crocodiles, and herds of elephants drinking water.

Bird Watching & Wildlife

While elephants are the stars, the park is also teeming with other wildlife. Look out for displaying peacocks, crested serpent eagles, spotted deer, monitor lizards, and occasionally, leopards.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your main goal is to see wild elephants and you prefer a quieter park, **Udawalawe** is the best choice. If you specifically want to spot a leopard, **Yala** is better, though it can get very crowded with safari jeeps.

The animals are most active when it's cool. We recommend either the early morning safari (starting at 6:00 AM) or the late afternoon safari (around 3:00 PM to sunset).

The baby elephants are fed milk every three hours. The public viewing times are typically at 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM. It perfectly complements your safari schedule!

Book Your Safari with Crown Tours

Don't stress about organizing transport and jeeps separately. Book a complete package with us—including a comfortable A/C car to Udawalawe and a reliable 4x4 Safari Jeep.

Book Taxi & Safari Jeep Wildlife Safari Tours Customize Your Trip