Udawalawe National Park Day Tour
The best place in Asia to see wild elephants — herds of 50 or more roaming freely in open savanna
About This Tour
Udawalawe is the best place in Asia for reliable, close elephant encounters. Unlike Pinnawala (a semi-captive orphanage), these are truly wild elephants — herds of 20, 50, even 100 moving through open savanna grassland in full view. Calves playing at the water's edge, bulls in musth, matriarchs leading their families to the reservoir at sunset. The Elephant Transit Home is also here — a wildlife department rehabilitation centre where orphaned calves are cared for before release into the wild.
Tour Highlights
Day Schedule
Hotel Pick-Up
Depart from Colombo, Ella, or your southern hotel.
Morning Jeep Safari (3 hrs)
Enter the park at the best time for activity — the morning cool brings elephants to the water's edge in large groups. Your tracker will find the herds and position you for the best views.
Elephant Transit Home
Watch the orphaned elephant calves being bottle-fed at their scheduled feeding time — an extraordinary sight as 20 baby elephants stampede toward the milk buckets.
Lunch at Park Boundary
Local lunch at a restaurant near the park entrance.
Afternoon Jeep Safari (2.5 hrs)
Second safari session — the late afternoon brings different behaviour: elephants bathing, families at the reservoir, and excellent light for photography.
Sunset Drive
Final circuit of the reservoir bund at golden hour — often the most spectacular sightings of the day.
Return Journey
Drive back to your hotel, arriving approximately 9:30–10:30 PM.
Book This Day Tour
Contact us to check availability and get a personalised quote. We handle everything — vehicle, guide, and pick-up.
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What's Included
- Private vehicle
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off
- Two jeep safari sessions
- Experienced tracker-guide
- Elephant Transit Home visit
- Bottled water
Not Included
- Jeep hire & park entrance fees
- Meals
- Tips
- Travel insurance