Wildlife

Udawalawe National Park

South Coast 4.6
06:00 to 18:00 $42 to 45 $$ Family-friendly

Udawalawe National Park is the most reliable place in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants up close, around a vast reservoir. Pair it with the Elephant Transit Home feeding. Getting there: On the Ratnapura to Tissa road; 2 hrs from Ella. Open 06:00 to 18:00.

Best on a dawn or dusk safari. Book a jeep and keep a respectful distance.

Good to know

Hours06:00 to 18:00
Getting thereOn the Ratnapura to Tissa road; 2 hrs from Ella.
Get around Trains, buses & Metro · Journey times

Make a day of it

4 stops nearby · ~46 km · approx $48/person

  1. 1 Udawalawe National Park You’re here
  2. 2 NAQDA Carp Breeding Center - Udawalawa 7.6 km
  3. 3 Embilipitiya 12.4 km
  4. 4 Sri Sankapala Rajamaha Viharaya - Kolambageara | ශ්‍රී සංඛපාල රජමහා විහාරය - කොළඹගේආර 14.3 km

Rough per-person estimate from sourced rates (PickMe/km, meals, entry). Confirm locally.

Directions Open the route in Google Maps

Nearby

NAQDA Carp Breeding Center - Udawalawa ★ 4.6 7.6 km away Srilanka Best Safari Udawalawe8 kmSrilanka Best Safari UdawalaweEmbilipitiya12.4 kmEmbilipitiyaSri Sankapala Rajamaha Viharaya - Kolambageara | ශ්‍රී සංඛපාල රජමහා විහාරය - කොළඹගේආර14.3 kmSri Sankapala Rajamaha Viharaya - Kolambageara | ශ්‍රී සංඛපාල රජමහා විහාරය - කොළඹගේආරJailani Mosque21 kmJailani MosqueRidiyagama Safari Park23.9 kmRidiyagama Safari Park

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Common questions

How do I get to Udawalawe National Park?

On the Ratnapura to Tissa road; 2 hrs from Ella.

What are the opening hours at Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe National Park is open 06:00 to 18:00. Hours can change on poya days and public holidays, so confirm before you travel.

Is Udawalawe National Park suitable for children?

Yes. Udawalawe National Park works well for families, though younger children will need supervision and shade breaks.

Is Udawalawe National Park wheelchair accessible?

No. Udawalawe National Park involves steps or uneven ground and is not step-free, so it is difficult for wheelchair users.

How current is this information?

These details were last verified in 2026-06. Time-sensitive details such as fees and opening hours should always be confirmed with the official source before you travel.

Last verified: 2026-06 Source ↗