Udawalawe National Park
The most reliable place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants
Udawalawe was created around the Udawalawe Reservoir to shelter the animals displaced when the Walawe River was dammed, and to protect the catchment. The result is the most dependable elephant viewing in Sri Lanka: several hundred resident elephants in open grassland with very little cover, which means you see them rather than glimpse them. If elephants matter more to you than leopards, come here rather than to Yala.
What makes it different from Yala
Udawalawe is open grassland and scrub around a large reservoir. There is nowhere for a herd of elephants to hide, so sightings are effectively certain rather than probable - often within minutes of the gate, and frequently including calves.
It is also considerably less busy than Yala, so you are not queueing behind twenty jeeps at a sighting. Leopards exist here but are rarely seen; buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles, jackals and over 180 bird species round out the list.
The Elephant Transit Home
Adjacent to the park, this facility raises orphaned calves for release back into the wild rather than keeping them in captivity - a meaningfully different model from elephant orphanages where animals stay for life and are ridden or bathed by tourists.
Visitors watch the milk feeding from a viewing platform at set times through the day, usually around 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm. There is no contact with the animals, which is the point.
Highlights of Udawalawe National Park
- Large wild elephant herds in open grassland
- Elephant Transit Home milk feeding
- Far less crowded than Yala
- Over 180 recorded bird species
- Open year round - a good substitute when Yala closes
Tours that visit Udawalawe National Park
Complete Sri Lanka Explorer - 10 Days
Experience the best of Sri Lanka from ancient cities to wildlife safaris and hill country adventures on this comprehensive 10-day tour.
Grand Sri Lanka Adventure - 14 Days
The ultimate Sri Lankan experience combining ancient cities, Adam's Peak pilgrimage, hill country, wildlife, and beach relaxation.
Ultimate Sri Lanka Discovery - 20 Days
Experience the most comprehensive Sri Lankan journey covering ancient cities, pristine beaches, wildlife, Adam's Peak pilgrimage, and cultural highlights.
Udawalawe National Park - frequently asked questions
For elephants, yes - sightings are near-certain in open grassland and there are far fewer jeeps. For leopards, Yala is much better. Many itineraries include both, and Udawalawe is the obvious alternative during the weeks Yala closes.
Nothing in a wild park is guaranteed, but Udawalawe comes closer than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. Several hundred elephants live in open terrain with little cover, and most visitors see herds within the first half hour.
A facility beside the park that raises orphaned elephant calves for release back into the wild. Visitors watch milk feedings from a platform roughly every three hours; there is no riding, bathing or direct contact, which is why it is the ethical choice.