Udawalawe National Park
About Udawalawe National Park
Premier sanctuary for wild Asian elephant herds and orphaned elephant rehabilitation.
Udawalawe National Park is a magnificent wildlife reserve located on the boundary of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces in Sri Lanka, established in 1972 to protect the vital catchment area surrounding the Udawalawe reservoir. Spanning over 30,821 hectares of open grasslands, thorny scrub jungle, and riverine forests, the park is globally acclaimed for offering guaranteed sightings of wild Asian elephants year-round. Unlike denser parks where wildlife can be elusive, Udawalawe’s sweeping open vistas allow visitors to observe large herds of wild elephants—often numbering in the dozens—roaming freely, feeding on tall elephant grass, and bathing in watering holes. The park is also home to sambar deer, water buffaloes, jackals, mugger crocodiles, and over 200 species of birdlife, including the majestic changeable hawk-eagle and white-bellied sea eagle. A major highlight adjacent to the park is the government-run Elephant Transit Home (ETH), established in 1995 with support from the Born Free Foundation. The facility rescues, rehabilitates, and cares for orphaned elephant calves from across Sri Lanka, feeding them with milk bottles four times a day before successfully reintroducing them back into the wild. Udawalawe offers an educational, deeply moving, and rewarding wildlife experience.
Wild Elephant Herds, Elephant Transit Home, Udawalawe Reservoir
Explore Tour Packages
Sri Lanka Wildlife & Nature - Â 18 Days
Sri Lanka for Families - 18 Days
Sri Lankan Safari Excursion - 6 Days
Sri Lankan Safari - 14 Days
Sri Lanka on a Budget - 10 Days
Discover Sri Lanka - 11 Days
Discover Sri Lanka - 11 Days
Bird Watching in Sri Lanka - 17 Days
Exclusive Sri Lanka - 16 Days
Discover Sri Lanka - 11 Days
Bird Watching in Sri Lanka - 17 Days
Yala Safari
Gallery Highlights
Things to Do
4 Hours
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home & Game Drive
Watch bottle-feeding of rescued elephant calves and take a grassland safari to spot freely roaming herds.