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Udawalawe is a small town with one very big attraction: its national park, home to hundreds of wild elephants. Most visitors come for a single safari and move on, which is fine, but the area rewards a slower day too. Here are the best things to do, and how to fit them together.
1. Take an elephant safari in Udawalawe National Park
This is why you are here. A three to four-hour jeep safari through the park's grasslands and around the reservoir almost always delivers elephants, often in big numbers and close to the track. You will likely see family groups, young males sparring, and calves that cannot quite control their trunks yet. Water buffalo, crocodiles, deer and plenty of birds make up the rest of the cast. Read our full Udawalawe safari guide before you go.
2. Watch feeding time at the Elephant Transit Home
A few minutes from the park entrance, the Elephant Transit Home cares for orphaned elephant calves until they are ready to return to the wild. At feeding time, the youngsters come running in for their milk, which is chaotic, funny and heart-warming to watch. Visitors stay on a viewing platform, with no touching or riding, and the calves are eventually released into protected areas. It is one of the most ethical elephant experiences in Sri Lanka and a highlight for children.
3. Go birdwatching
Udawalawe is one of the best parks in Sri Lanka for raptors. Look for crested serpent eagles on dead branches, white-bellied sea eagles over the reservoir and changeable hawk eagles. Bee-eaters, rollers, peafowl, kingfishers, storks and the endemic Sri Lanka junglefowl are also common. Ask for a driver with good bird knowledge, or book a dedicated birding drive in the early morning.
4. See the reservoir and dam
The Udawalawe reservoir is the reason the park exists, created by damming the Walawe river. The dam itself makes a scenic stop, with wide views over the water and the hills beyond, and you can often see elephants along the shoreline from a distance.
5. Visit Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya
About half an hour from Udawalawe, this ancient rock temple is built into a large cave and dates back over two thousand years. It is peaceful, rarely busy and a nice cultural contrast to the safari. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
6. Try a late afternoon safari
If you have already done a morning drive, consider an afternoon one. Elephants often head down to the water in the late afternoon, and the light over the grasslands is beautiful for photos. See our safari photography tips.
7. Eat local
Udawalawe has a handful of simple restaurants and guesthouses serving rice and curry, hoppers and fresh fruit. Curd and treacle, made from buffalo milk and kithul palm syrup, is a classic of the region and makes a perfect post-safari treat.
8. Combine it with Yala or Ella
Udawalawe sits between the hill country and the southern parks, so it is easy to combine. Yala is around one and a half to two hours away for leopards, and Ella is about two hours. See how many days you need for a safari for sample plans.
A sample day in Udawalawe
- 6:00 am: Morning safari in the national park.
- 10:00 am: Back to your guesthouse for breakfast.
- Late morning or midday: Feeding session at the Elephant Transit Home.
- Afternoon: Rest, or visit Sankapala temple.
- Evening: Sunset by the reservoir, then dinner.
Things to avoid
- Do not feed the elephants that wait at the park's boundary fence along the main road. Feeding causes accidents and makes elephants dependent on people.
- Avoid places that offer elephant rides or bathing with captive elephants. The Transit Home is the ethical way to see young elephants up close.
- Do not book with touts on the roadside. Ask your guesthouse or use a well-reviewed operator.
Where to stay
There are guesthouses and small hotels in Udawalawe town and along the roads near the park, plus a few lodges with pools. Staying overnight makes it easy to do both a morning safari and the Transit Home without rushing.
