Udawalawe is a small town in the south of Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, about 165 km south-east of Colombo. It exists mainly as the gateway to Udawalawe National Park, a 308 sq km dry-zone park on the Walawe River that was established in 1972 and is known for its Sri Lankan elephants.
The landscape is flat and open: grassland, scrub and remnant forest around a large irrigation reservoir, with hills in the distance. That openness is why elephants are easy to see from a jeep, and why a short visit works. One safari and a visit to the Elephant Transit Home fill a day, and two nights is plenty.
It is a quiet place rather than a resort. There is no railway station and no airport in the town, so most visitors arrive by road from Colombo, the south coast or the hill country, often on the way between Ella and the beaches. The town has simple guesthouses and some larger lodges, but few formal restaurants, so you will rely largely on your hotel for meals.
For Indian families and seniors, the planning points are the ETA before arrival, the heat of the dry zone, dusty and bumpy jeep tracks, and limited medical facilities in the town. Vegetarian rice and curry is easy to find; fully vegetarian or Jain kitchens are not, so tell your hotel what you need in advance.
Before you plan
Udawalawe at a glance
- Best months
- Roughly February and June to…Roughly February and June to September are the drier spells; the park's main rains fall from October to January and March to May
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 nights1 to 2 nights; one safari plus the Elephant Transit Home
- Airport
- No airport at UdawalaweNo airport at Udawalawe. Most visitors fly into Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB) and continue by road, about 165 km; Mattala (HRI) has few scheduled flights
- Railway station
- No railway station at Udawalawe and…No railway station at Udawalawe and no useful train service to the town; reach it by road
- Getting around
- Hired car with driver or…Hired car with driver or hotel-arranged jeep; the town is small and spread out
- Daily budget
- Varies widely between simple…Varies widely between simple guesthouses and lodges; jeep and park fees add a fixed cost. Check current prices in rupees.
- Senior comfort
- Good if you accept hot weather and…Good if you accept hot weather and bumpy jeep rides; level viewing, few steps, but little shade and limited nearby medical care
- Language
- Sinhala and Tamil are the official…Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages; English is widely understood in tourist services
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Udawalawe: February, July, August. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Udawalawe itinerary
One good day
1 day in Udawalawe
Take an early jeep drive in Udawalawe National Park, return for breakfast and rest through the heat, then visit the Elephant Transit Home if it is open. Finish with a look at the reservoir and dam in the late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Udawalawe
Arrive by road, check in, rest and walk or drive to the reservoir and dam in the late afternoon. Book the safari for the next morning.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Udawalawe
Arrive by road, rest through the heat and visit the dam in the evening.
Day-by-day plan →
