Udawalawe National Park Safari – Wildlife, Elephants & Travel Guide

Udawalawe National Park is one of the most popular and well-known national parks in Sri Lanka. It is a protected area rich in wildlife and plant life, and it plays a key role as a habitat for Sri Lankan elephants and many aquatic birds. Located about 165 kilometers (103 miles) from Colombo, the park covers a total area of 30,821 hectares (119 square miles), including the Udawalawe Reservoir, which spans 3,405 hectares at full capacity. The park lies along the border of the Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Its southern edge borders the Udawalawe–Thanamalwila road, with the Sewanagala sugar plantation situated just beyond that. The southeastern boundary connects with Lunugamwehera National Park. The western section, on the left bank of the reservoir, is part of the Ratnapura District, while the eastern side, on the right bank, falls within the Monaragala District. Today, Udawalawe National Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Sri Lanka and is the third most visited national park in the country. Its beautiful and diverse ecosystem continues to capture the interest of visitors from around the world.

Udawalawe National Park was officially declared Sri Lanka’s fifth national park on June 30, 1972, during a ceremony led by the Ministry of Shipping and Tourism, as announced in Government Gazette Notification No. 14. The park was established following the completion of the Udawalawe Reservoir project. The main purpose of creating the park was to protect the reservoir’s catchment area and to provide a safe haven for wild elephants. A second reservoir, called the Maw-Ara Tank, was later built within the park between 1991 and 1998. Before the area became a national park, local people used the land for their daily living through shifting or Chena cultivation. These farming activities took place before the official designation of the park. Once the area was declared a national park, the people left and moved to other areas to build new homes that better suited their needs.

The dry seasons (May–September, December–March) offer peak visibility as wildlife congregates near water. While the landscape turns green after rains, sightings remain excellent, and early morning or late afternoon safaris are the best times for wildlife activity Highlights

Located near the park entrance, the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) cares for orphaned baby elephants, preparing them for release back into the wild. Established in 1995, visitors can watch feeding sessions and learn about conservation efforts in an ethical way