Udawalawe National Park Safari | Sri Lanka's Elephant Sanctuary

🐘 Udawalawe National Park: Sri Lanka's Elephant Sanctuary

If you’re searching for the best wild elephant encounters in Asia, skip the zoos and head to the southern heartlands of Sri Lanka.

Udawalawe is one of the most reliable places in the world to see wild elephants — any day, any season.

It’s quieter than Yala. Less forested, more open. A landscape of vast grasslands, scrub jungle, and a serene reservoir where herds come to drink, splash, and play.

🐘 The Highlights

• Wild elephants, guaranteed.
  Not baited. Not tamed. Just dozens of elephants living wild — often in herds.
• Open terrain = better visibility.
  Perfect for photography, observing behavior, and relaxed game drives.
• Birdwatcher’s haven.
  Over 180 bird species, from raptors to wetland waders.
• Family-friendly & tranquil.
  No high-speed jeep convoys. Just calm exploration.
• Easy to combine with other stops.
  Midway between Ella and the southern beaches.

🧠 What Most People Don’t Realize

• It’s not a “lesser Yala.” Udawalawe is different — more elephants, fewer crowds, slower safaris.
• The park has no leopards (or almost none). So it’s ideal if you’re here for elephants and birds, not big-cat chasing.
• Morning drives are best. Wildlife is more active, and the light is beautiful.

🗺️ Quick Facts

Detail	Info
📍 Location	Southern Sri Lanka
🚙 Drive time from Ella or Tangalle	~2.5–3 hours
🌿 Park Size	308 square kilometers
🐘 Elephant Population	250+ wild elephants
🦜 Other Wildlife	Buffalo, jackals, crocodiles, sambar deer, 180+ bird species
⏰ Opening Hours	6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📅 Best Time to Visit	Year-round (dry season: May–September)

🧭 There’s More Than One Way to Do Udawalawe

Not all jeep safaris are created equal. The key to Udawalawe is knowing the terrain, reading the light, and matching the moment.

At One’s Destination, we design safaris that maximize presence — not just sightings.

• 🕰️ Timing – Morning safaris for golden light and active herds
• 📸 Camera-friendly guides – They position the jeep for natural behavior shots
• 🌾 Naturalist interpretation – Beyond elephants: bird calls, plant life, ecology
• 🛻 Jeep partners who don’t chase or crowd wildlife

🌿 The Safari We Design

Udawalawe invites you to slow down. This isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about watching elephant calves play in the mud, or hearing nothing but birdcalls for twenty minutes straight.

💬 Plan Your Safari With Us

Book Your Udawalawe Experience →

We’ll help you explore the open landscapes of Udawalawe with calm, curiosity, and care — the way it should be.