South

Udawalawe National Park

The most reliable elephant watching in Sri Lanka, in open country where you can actually see them.

Udawalawe was created in 1972 when the reservoir displaced the wildlife around it. The terrain is open scrub and grassland, which makes it the easiest park in the country for seeing elephants — herds of them, most mornings, at close range. The Elephant Transit Home nearby releases orphaned calves back into the wild rather than keeping them.

Things to do

Experiences in Udawalawe National Park

Wildlife

Wildlife safaris

Leopards, elephants and sloth bear, with trackers we work with all year.

Wildlife

Elephant encounters

Where to see elephants well — and which places we would rather avoid.

Journeys

Trips that include Udawalawe National Park

8 days / 7 nightsWildlife & coast

The Wild South

Colombo to Mirissa, at the pace of the coast