By Serendip Unfolded · 3 Nov 2026. General planning notes; confirm details for your own dates when you request a quote.
Udawalawe is the park many travellers choose when elephants are the priority. It is open, green and easy to reach from the hill country and the south coast. This guide explains how an Udawalawe safari works, what you may see and what to expect from the day. We have used published facts and mark any figures that are estimates.
The park in brief
Udawalawe National Park covers about 308 km² (30,821 hectares) in the Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces. It was established on 30 June 1972, partly to protect animals displaced by the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River and to safeguard the reservoir's catchment. The nearest town is Embilipitiya, and the park is about 165 km from Colombo. The Department of Wildlife Conservation manages it.
The park lies where Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones meet. Annual rainfall is around 1,500 mm, mostly from October to January and March to May, and the average temperature is about 27 to 28 °C.
Why people come for elephants
Open grassland and scrub make it easier to see elephants than in thick forest. A herd of about 250 Sri Lankan elephants is believed to live in the park all year. That is an estimate, and elephants move, so the numbers you see on any day will differ.
You may see family groups with calves, lone bulls and elephants gathering near water. Only about 7 per cent of Sri Lankan male elephants have tusks, so most males you see will be tuskless. Elephants eat up to 150 kg of plants a day, so they spend much of their time feeding.
What else you might see
Udawalawe has recorded 43 mammal species, including sambar and axis deer, wild boar, water buffalo, golden jackals, toque macaques and grey langurs. Leopards and rusty-spotted and fishing cats are recorded there too. Sloth bears are also present, though they are rarely seen. The park also has 184 recorded bird species, 33 of them migratory.
How a safari runs
Jeep safaris are the main way to see the park. They usually run in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Your driver collects you from your hotel.
- You reach the entrance, where permits and seating are checked.
- You drive the park's dirt tracks for a few hours.
- You return to the gate and are taken back to your stay.
Exact timings depend on the season, the gate and park rules, so confirm them in your quote.
When to go
Check the situation for your dates before you commit. Rain can change the condition of the tracks, and dry weather tends to bring animals to water. We confirm access shortly before you travel.
Making the most of the day
The open landscape rewards slow looking. Scan the treeline and the edge of the water, not just the track ahead, and let your guide point out birds and signs such as fresh dung or broken branches. These small clues often lead to the larger sighting. Because elephants are large and can be unpredictable, always follow your driver's judgement about distance.
- Choose a morning or late-afternoon session for cooler, quieter conditions.
- Bring binoculars and a hat, and drink plenty of water.
- Stay seated, keep your voice low and let your guide decide how close to approach.
- Ask about the Elephant Transit Home if you would like to add it to your day.
Who Udawalawe suits
- Travellers who care most about elephants and open scenery.
- Families, because the park is compact and the landscape is easy to read.
- Visitors on a route between the hills and the coast who want a safari without a large detour.
- Birdwatchers, who can find water birds, birds of prey and many migrants.
It may suit you less if leopards are your only priority, because they live in the park but are harder to see than the elephants.
Questions to ask before booking
- Which gate will we use, and when is pickup?
- Is a naturalist included, or does the driver also guide?
- Are park permits and entry fees in the price?
- What happens if rain or park rules change the plan?
How it compares with Yala
Udawalawe is smaller, flatter and more open. It is often chosen for elephants and for its position between Ella and the south. Yala is larger and better known for leopard habitat, but it is usually busier. Our guide to Yala or Udawalawe compares them in detail.
Next step
If Udawalawe fits your route, read about our Udawalawe safari, or send us your dates and we will plan the timing, pickup and quote.
Sources
Cover photo: M.S Dulan De Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All photo credits are on our photo credits page.