Safari in Udawalawe National Park
As passionate animal lovers, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to go on a safari in the country with the highest elephant density. While it was my second safari in Udawalawe National Park, it was Naomi’s first experience. To make the most of it, we opted for a full-day tour to spend as much time as possible with the wild animals. In this post, you’ll find all the important information to be well-prepared for a safari in Udawalawe National Park.
General Information about Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park is located in southern Sri Lanka, north of the Tangalle coastal region and south of Nuwara Eliya. Covering over 30,000 hectares, it is one of the largest national parks in the country. The park can only be accessed with specially equipped safari jeeps that have seating on the rear platform. There are predefined sandy tracks where the safaris take place.
What animals can you see in Udawalawe National Park?
Udawalawe National Park is renowned for its large elephant herds. It’s almost impossible not to encounter a wild elephant here. During our safari, we spotted around 20 elephants. With a bit of luck, you might also see leopards. Other animals in the park include water buffalo, eagles, deer, sambar deer, crocodiles, wild cats, mongooses, kingfishers, pelicans, peacocks, agamid lizards, snakes, and many more. A particular highlight was watching two elephants bathe.
What Safari Options Are Available in Udawalawe National Park?
There are four different safari options available in Udawalawe National Park. The prices are charged per jeep, and you can arrange specific timings with the drivers if needed.
Option 1: Morning Safari: 5:45 AM to 10:00 AM
Option 2: Afternoon Safari: 2:30 PM to 6:15 PM
Option 3: Full-Day Safari: 5:45 AM to 2:00 PM
Option 4: Full-Day Safari: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Which safari is right for you? For a unique experience, I recommend the morning safari or the full-day safari that starts early in the morning. It’s a special experience to witness the sunrise and see the park come to life. With the full-day safaris, you venture deeper into the park, and by noon, you often have the park almost to yourself, as most tourists opt for half-day tours. For instance, we had an hour to watch elephants bathing without any disturbances.
Tip: If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and friendly guide, we highly recommend Bandara. We did a full-day safari with him and were thrilled. You can contact him directly at +94 76 772 4488 to book the safari. If you mention that you are coming from us (Julian and Naomi), you’ll receive a free coconut to drink during the safari.
What Does a Safari in Udawalawe National Park Cost?
The cost of a safari in Udawalawe National Park consists of the jeep rental and the park entrance fee. A jeep with a guide costs €20 for the half-day tours and €40 for the full-day tours. This price is split among the participants. On-site, you can also find others to share the jeep with and save on costs. The park entrance fee decreases with more participants. For the full-day tour, we paid about €80, including the park entrance fee, for two people.
Accommodation in Udawalawe
There is no shortage of accommodation options in Udawalawe. Highly recommended is Ajith’s Green Park Safari, where you can stay in a well-equipped treehouse. The treehouse costs €20 per night and offers a unique nature experience. You can contact Ajith directly via WhatsApp at +94 718576973 to save on booking fees.
What Do You Need for a Safari in Udawalawe National Park?
- Sunscreen
- Something light to wear in the morning
- Camera with a telephoto lens, if available
Getting to Udawalawe National Park
You can reach Udawalawe either by your own vehicle, taxi, or tuk-tuk. Alternatively, you can take a bus at a lower cost. The journey takes about 3 hours from Tangalle, 4 hours from Weligama, and 5 hours from Nuwara Eliya. There are several transfers involved, so it’s advisable to inquire locally about the best connections. A tour with included transport can also be booked, but it’s more expensive and saves time.
Elephant Transit Home
The Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe is one of the few elephant sanctuaries that can be visited without concern. Due to frequent accidents involving elephants in Sri Lanka, many elephant calves are left orphaned. At the Transit Home, they are prepared for release into the wild, which occurs after about five years. The young elephants are fed every 3 hours. The entrance fee is 500 LKR (around €2), and donations are welcome to help with the cost of milk powder for the roughly 50 elephants.
Tip: Visit the Transit Home during feeding times at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM, or 6:00 PM.
Udawalawe National Park or Yala National Park?
This is a common question for many visitors to Sri Lanka planning a safari. We highly recommend Udawalawe National Park. It is more manageable and less crowded than Yala National Park. In Udawalawe, you can often observe the animals calmly without the presence of multiple jeeps. While Yala offers a higher chance of spotting a leopard, you’ll encounter far more elephants in Udawalawe. Everything you need to know about Yala National Park can be found in our related post.
