By Serendip Unfolded · 3 Nov 2026. General planning notes; confirm details for your own dates when you request a quote.
Two choices shape a day at Udawalawe: which safari session you take and whether you add the Elephant Transit Home. Both are easy to get wrong if you rely on a quick online search, because timings differ from site to site. This guide helps you decide, and it shows what is known and what you should confirm on the day.
Morning or afternoon?
Jeep safaris at Udawalawe usually run in the early morning and the late afternoon. Neither is always better, so choose by comfort and by your route.
- Morning. Cooler air, soft light and often a quiet start. You must wake early and travel in the dark, so staying close to the gate helps.
- Afternoon. A later start and easier mornings. It can be hot at the beginning of the session, and the light improves towards evening.
- Half day or full day. A half-day safari is enough for most travellers. A full day suits keen photographers, but long periods in the heat can tire everyone.
Animal movement follows water, heat and chance, so we do not promise that one session will show more than the other. If you have two nights nearby, a morning and an afternoon safari can give you two different views of the park.
What the park offers
The park covers about 308 km², and a herd of about 250 elephants is believed to live there all year. Other mammals include deer, wild boar, water buffalo and macaques, and the park has recorded 184 bird species. We describe the park in more detail in our Udawalawe safari guide.
The Elephant Transit Home
The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was founded in 1995 to care for orphaned or abandoned elephant calves. The aim is to return them to the wild once they are old enough. The Wikipedia article on the park records that nine calves were released in 1998 and 2000, and eight more in 2002. The Wikipedia article names the Department of Wildlife Conservation as the park's manager, and travel sources describe a foster-parent donation scheme for food and medicine. Ask staff on the day how to give, and avoid unofficial collections.
### Feeding times: check on the day
Public sources do not agree on when visitors can watch the calves being fed. The travel websites we read list anything from three to four feeds a day, in the morning, early afternoon and evening, and their exact times differ. We could not find an official timetable. Ask your operator or the centre on the day, and be flexible.
### How to visit respectfully
- Watch from the viewing area. The travel sources we read say touching or feeding the calves is not permitted.
- Keep your voice low and do not use flash.
- Follow the staff's instructions.
- Consider a donation through the official foster-parent scheme rather than paying for unofficial extras.
The calves are being prepared for life in the wild, so the less they get used to people, the better.
Putting the day together
Avoid packing too much into one day. The park, the drive and the visit are each rewarding on their own, and rushing between them leaves less room to notice small things.
A common plan is a morning safari, a rest and lunch, then the Elephant Transit Home in the afternoon. That gives you the park and the young elephants without rushing. The order depends on feeding times and on how you feel, so keep it flexible.
When you ask for a quote, check that it states:
- The safari session and how long it lasts.
- The pickup time and the entry gate.
- Whether park permits are included.
- Whether the Elephant Transit Home is included or separate.
- The cancellation terms.
Common mistakes
- Arriving without checking the timetable. Feeding times are not fixed, so plan a spare hour.
- Leaving no gap between a safari and the visit. A full morning in the park is tiring, and a short rest makes the afternoon more enjoyable.
- Expecting the calves to behave like pets. They are being prepared for life in the wild.
- Paying for extras that are not official. Ask for a receipt for any entry fee or donation.
Be careful with promises
No one can guarantee that you will see a calf being fed or a herd at the water. Weather, park rules and animal movement all play a part. A good operator will describe what is likely, not what is certain.
Next step
If you would like to build a day around Udawalawe, read about our Udawalawe safari or send us your dates. We will suggest a session and confirm the details in writing.
Sources
Cover photo: Z thomas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All photo credits are on our photo credits page.