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An elephant walking across open grassland, with a safari jeep and its passengers behind
Wildlife · National parks

Udawalawe elephant safari day trip

A day trip from Colombo to Udawalawe National Park for a jeep safari among its elephant herds, with a stop at the Elephant Transit Home.

Duration
Full day, about 14 hours
Pickup
Pickup from your hotel or home in Colombo; Negombo on request
Group
Private car and safari jeep, just your group
Languages
English and Sinhala; Tamil on request
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before pickup
Confirmation
Within a few hours of your request
  • A group of elephants at the edge of a lake, with forest behind
  • Two elephants on the grassland at Udawalawe under a pink sunset
  • Two safari jeeps driving along a road between green trees
  • A family of elephants crossing shallow water in Udawalawe National Park

Highlights

  • A jeep safari of about three hours in Udawalawe National Park
  • Herds of wild elephants, seen in the park all year round
  • Water buffalo, crocodiles, peacocks and birds of prey
  • The Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned calves are raised for release into the wild

Why you’ll love it

  • Elephants in every season

    Udawalawe’s grassland and reservoir draw elephant herds all year, so you have a good chance of seeing them whatever the month.

  • Orphaned calves at feeding time

    At the Elephant Transit Home you watch young elephants, raised for release into the wild, come in for their milk.

  • A jeep for your group

    Your own jeep and park driver for about three hours, free to wait wherever the animals are.

  • Breakfast on the road

    A packed breakfast in the car, so the early start costs you no time at the park.

How the tour runs

  1. 4:30 am

    Pickup

    We collect you from your hotel or home in Colombo, with a packed breakfast for the drive of about 4 hours.

  2. 8:30 am

    Jeep safari

    Meet your jeep and driver at the park entrance and head out across the grassland and around the reservoir to find the elephant herds.

  3. 11:30 am

    Elephant Transit Home

    Visit the Elephant Transit Home near the park, timed for one of its feeding sessions, when the calves come in for milk.

  4. 12:30 pm

    Lunch stop

    A break for lunch at your own expense near the park.

  5. 1:30 pm

    Return to Colombo

    Start the drive back, with a tea stop on the way.

  6. 6:00 pm

    Drop-off

    Arrive back at your hotel or home, depending on traffic.

What’s included

Included

  • Pickup and drop-off in Colombo
  • Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver guide
  • Safari jeep with a driver for about three hours
  • Udawalawe National Park entry tickets
  • Elephant Transit Home entry ticket
  • Packed breakfast

Not included

  • Lunch
  • Personal expenses and tips

Good to know

What to bring

  • Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
  • A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • Clothes in muted colours, such as greens and browns
  • A scarf or buff for the dust
  • Cash for lunch and a tip for the jeep driver

Not suitable for

  • Pregnant travellers (bumpy jeep tracks)
  • People with back or neck problems
  • Babies (a 4:30 am start and a rough jeep ride)

Know before you go

  • The park is open all year, and elephants are seen in every season.
  • Park tickets are priced at the foreign visitor rate, with jeep fees and taxes added. Sri Lankan citizens pay far less, so tell us your nationality when booking.
  • Jeeps are open-sided, and the tracks are rough and dusty.
  • Stay in the jeep and keep quiet near the animals. Feeding wild elephants is against park rules.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Cancellations after that, and no-shows, are charged in full. If the park closes on your day or we call the trip off for heavy rain, you choose a full refund or a new date.

Questions

Will we see leopards?

Leopards live in Udawalawe but are rarely seen. The park is best known for its elephants, which you are very likely to meet on any drive. If leopards are your priority, ask us about an overnight trip to Yala.

Is a morning or an afternoon safari better?

Animals are most active early and late in the day. This day trip takes the morning drive; for an afternoon drive and the sunset over the park, add a night nearby.

Do Sri Lankans pay less for park tickets?

Yes. Park tickets for Sri Lankan citizens cost far less than for foreign visitors. Tell us your nationality when booking and we will price the tickets to match.

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