Journest
Countries
Cities
Islands
Places
Routes
Journest

Discover amazing destinations around the world. Plan your perfect journey with detailed guides and local insights.

Telegram

Explore

  • Countries
  • Locations
  • Places
  • Routes

Company

  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Support

  • Help Center
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 Journest. All rights reserved.

Udawalawe National Park

A national park where elephants are the main attraction and almost guaranteed. Udawalawe is savanna around a reservoir, 600 wild elephants, and safaris where you'll definitely see what you came for. If Yala is about leopards and luck, Udawalawe is about elephants and certainty.

The Park

Geography

Udawalawe covers 30,821 hectares of savanna, grasslands, and sparse woodland in southern Sri Lanka. The park centers around a reservoir built in the 1960s. Water attracted elephants, and they stayed. The open landscape makes wildlife easy to spot.

Elephants

Around 600 elephants live in and around...

Practical Information

Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Visit Duration

Minimum3 hours
Recommended4 hours
Maximum6 hours

Entrance Fee

Adult
7,500 LKR~7,500 $
Child
4,500 LKR~4,500 $

Entry ~7500 LKR (~$25) + service fee + 18% tax. Total ~$42. Safari jeep separate. Elephants! LKR payment only

Best Time to Visit

Open year-round (unlike Yala). Dry months (May-Sep) concentrate elephants at water sources. Morning safari for active wildlife.

Crowd Level

Moderate — comfortable

Price Range

Budget
Official Website

How to Get There

From Ella: 2 hours. From Colombo: 4 hours. From Tissamaharama (Yala): 2.5 hours. Often combined with Yala on south coast circuit.

What to Expect

Open grasslands around reservoir — excellent visibility. Herds of 10-40 elephants common. Safari jeeps. Less dense jungle than Yala. Elephant Transit Home nearby feeds orphaned baby elephants at 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM.

Best Photo Spot

Elephant herds at reservoir with mountains backdrop. Baby elephants at Transit Home feeding time.

When to Visit

Best Time

MayJunJulAugSep

Good Time

JanFebMarAprOctNovDec

Connectivity

Wi-Fi
Not available
Charging
No outlets
Mobile signal
Poor

Facilities & Services

restrooms
parking
guided tours

Working Hours

Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Monday06:00 — 18:00
Tuesday06:00 — 18:00
Wednesday06:00 — 18:00
Thursday06:00 — 18:00
Friday06:00 — 18:00
Saturday06:00 — 18:00
Sunday06:00 — 18:00

Accessibility

Wheelchair Access
Partially accessible
Audio Guide
Not available
Staff Assistance
Available

faq.title

faq.subtitle Udawalawe National Park

Yes, almost guaranteed. Most safaris see 10-40 elephants. On hot days, they gather at the reservoir making sightings even easier.

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Udawalawe National Park

Book ferry tickets online in advance during peak season. Morning ferries offer calmer seas. Return tickets are cheaper than two singles.

Rent a scooter to explore the island—easier than buses and cheaper than taxis. International license required. Helmets mandatory.

Reviews

Weather

Average temperature by month

Nowweather24°
96%2 м/с
Todayweather30°24°
Tomorrowweather30°24°
Thuweather30°24°
Friweather30°25°
Satweather30°24°
Sunweather29°25°
Monweather29°25°
30°
23°Jan
31°
24°Feb
32°
25°Mar
31°
25°Apr
30°
26°May
29°
26°Jun
29°
25°Jul
29°
25°Aug
29°
25°Sep
29°
25°Oct
30°
24°Nov
30°
24°Dec
Water temperature
28°
28°
29°
30°
29°
28°
27°
27°
27°
28°
28°
28°

What else to see

Interesting places nearby

Yala National Park
24°
Closed
LKR10500
Nature

Yala National Park

Galle Fort
24°
Closed
Free
History

Galle Fort

Unawatuna Beach
24°
Closed
Free
Beach

Unawatuna Beach

Hikkaduwa Beach & Coral Sanctuary
24°
Closed
Free
Beach

Hikkaduwa Beach & Coral Sanctuary

Koggala Beach
24°
Closed
Free
Beach

Koggala Beach

Sigiriya Lion Rock
25°
Closed
LKR10500
History

Sigiriya Lion Rock

Nine Arch Bridge
17°
Free
Architecture

Nine Arch Bridge

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
25°
Closed
LKR2000
Religious

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic