About this experience
Udawalawe is open-country safari at its most direct — wide grassland plains broken by scrub, rocky outcrops and the broad reservoir banks where elephants and wild water buffalo come down to drink. Your driver-tracker reads the terrain, cutting the engine when something moves in the treeline and positioning the jeep quietly on the red-dirt tracks. Elephants are the park's centrepiece: you find them out in the open on the grassland, large, unhurried and close. The reservoir edges draw further wildlife — jackals, spotted deer, mongoose, crocodiles basking in the shallows — while the skies above reward anyone who looks up, with sea eagles, fishing eagles, crested serpent eagles, Sri Lankan jungle fowl, green pigeons and the Sri Lanka grey hornbill all recorded here. The banks of the reservoir are a reliable gathering point, and the photography from the jeep is exceptional.
Your jeep is entirely private — one to six guests, no strangers sharing the vehicle. Choose a three-, six-, or nine-hour safari to suit your schedule. On tickets: select "Jeep With Tickets" and park entrance fees are included in your booking; select "Jeep With No Tickets" and you purchase them at the gate yourself. For a sharper read on everything you encounter, add an optional guide on top of your jeep booking. Free pickup and drop-off is available from any location within five kilometres of the park gate. Your driver is also your tracker throughout — Lakpura handles the rest.
Udawalawe is home to more than 400 wild elephants, and because so many of them live in the park all year round, it is one of the most reliable places in Sri Lanka to see them. The safari starts at the main park entrance next to the car park: the meeting point is the park gate unless you ask for a hotel pick-up, which is free within 5 km. After the standard ticket check you drive into the park, and the tour ends back at the entrance, with a drop-off at your hotel if it is within the same 5 km. The price includes mineral water and all taxes and service charges.
Frequently asked questions
What wildlife can I see in Udawalawe National Park?
Udawalawe is one of the best places in Asia to see wild Asian elephants, which live in the park in large numbers around the Udawalawe reservoir. You may also see water buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles, jackals, monitor lizards and many birds, including birds of prey.
When is the best time to visit Udawalawe National Park?
Udawalawe is open all year, and elephants can be seen in every season. The drier months tend to give the easiest viewing, as the grass is shorter and the animals gather near water.
What time does the safari start, and how long is it?
Choose a 3, 6 or 9-hour safari when you book. The shorter safari starts at 6.00 am (morning) or 3.00 pm (afternoon) and lasts about three and a half hours; please tell us whether you want the morning or the afternoon safari. We confirm the start time for the longer safaris with you when you book.
What is included in the price?
A private safari jeep (up to six passengers), an experienced driver who is also your tracker, and free pickup and drop-off from anywhere within 5 km of the park gate. Park entrance tickets are included when you choose Tickets: Yes. Not included: hotel pickup and drop-off beyond 5 km of the park entrance gate, food and drink, and gratuities.
Are the park entrance tickets included?
You choose when you book. With Tickets: Yes, the park entrance tickets are included in your booking. With Tickets: No, you book the jeep only and buy the entrance tickets yourself at the park gate, paid in cash.
Do children pay the park entrance fee?
Park entrance fees are set by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Children under 6 years old enter the national park free of charge. Children aged 6 to 12 inclusive pay the child ticket rate, which is lower than the adult rate and is set separately for Sri Lankan, SAARC and other foreign visitors. Visitors aged 13 and over pay the adult rate for their category. The department revises its fees from time to time, and the rate in force on the day of your safari applies.
Can young children join the safari?
We do not recommend this safari for children aged 5 or under. There are no infant or child seats in the jeep, and children may not sit on an adult's lap, so every child takes a seat and counts towards the maximum of six passengers. Game drives are long and bumpy, so bring water and snacks for children.
Is the jeep private?
Yes. The jeep is reserved for your group alone, with up to six passengers, and you choose the number of guests (1 to 6) when you book. A group of more than six needs a second jeep.
Is hotel pickup included?
Pickup and drop-off are free from anywhere within 5 km of the park gate. They are not included if you are staying further away.
Do I get a guide?
Your driver is experienced and also acts as your tracker, spotting animals and finding the best viewing places. You can also add a guide when you book by choosing Guide: Yes.
Is the safari suitable for everyone?
It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible, and it is not recommended for people with heart conditions or back problems, or for pregnant travellers. Pets are not allowed.
What should I bring?
A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent, a light jacket for an early-morning drive, and a camera and binoculars. Wear comfortable, light clothing in neutral colours. Food and drinks are not included, so bring snacks if you want them.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start of your safari for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded.
