Udawalawe Elephant Safari
A half-day jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park, one of the best places in Asia to see wild elephants, with herds seen on almost every drive. Includes the option to visit the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time.
- Location: Udawalawe
- Duration: Half Day
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best time: Open all year, with elephants seen in every season. Early morning and late afternoon are best for cooler weather and active animals. The dry months from May to September are especially good.
About this experience
The Udawalawe Elephant Safari is a half-day private jeep safari (about 3 to 4 hours) in Udawalawe National Park, in southern Sri Lanka. Hundreds of wild Asian elephants live in the park's open grasslands around the Udawalawe reservoir, so elephant sightings are almost guaranteed. It suits families, first-time safari travellers and photographers. Why is Udawalawe best for elephants? The park's open scrub and grassland make elephants easy to see, and its large population lives here all year. You'll often see family herds with young calves bathing and feeding close to the jeep tracks. What else lives in Udawalawe? Water buffalo, spotted deer, mugger crocodiles, jackals, monitor lizards and more than 180 bird species, including eagles, bee-eaters and peacocks. Leopards live here but are rarely seen. What is the Elephant Transit Home? A rehabilitation centre next to the park that cares for orphaned baby elephants and later releases them into the wild. Visitors can watch the calves being fed milk from a viewing platform at set feeding times. Visitors don't touch the elephants, which helps them stay wild. Morning or afternoon safari? Both work well. Mornings start around 6:00 am; afternoon drives run from about 2:30 pm until the park closes at 6:00 pm. How far is Udawalawe from Ella, Mirissa and Colombo? About 2 hours from Ella, 2 hours from Mirissa and 3.5 to 4 hours from Colombo via the Southern Expressway. Why book with Figo Holidays? Figo Holidays is a Colombo-based destination management company running private tours across Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We arrange private transport, licensed guides and timings that avoid the heat and crowds, and build this experience into a tailor-made itinerary.Highlights
- Wild elephant herds on almost every drive
- Private 4x4 jeep safari
- Udawalawe reservoir views
- Water buffalo
- crocodiles and deer
- Over 180 bird species
- Elephant Transit Home feeding
- Ideal first safari
Travel tips
Wear neutral colours, a hat and sunscreen. Bring water and binoculars. Stay seated and quiet near elephants and never ask the driver to get too close. Check Elephant Transit Home feeding times to plan your visit.