Udawalawe National Park is one of many wildlife parks within easy reach of Tangalle. Yala and Bundala also offer fantastic wildlife experiences. An hour and 15 minutes from Tangalle, Udawalawe offers exciting jeep safaris to view wildlife in Tangalle.
A much less crowded park than Yala, Udawalawe is the island’s third most visited park and is most popular for its herds of Asian elephants, which roam freely here. The park boundary to the west straddles the Udawalawe reservoir, and the Elephant Transit Home, which cares for stranded, orphaned, and injured elephants, lies just outside the park.
Located about an hour and twenty minutes from Tangalle, Udawalawe National Park is a lush green jungle setting perfect for a jeep safari in the wild. The third most visited park on the island, Udawalwe, is best visited between May and September in the morning. For the best sightings of the park’s wildlife, your trip from Tangalle will begin at 5 a.m., allowing you to enter the park around 6:30 a.m.
The park has a resident population of between 400 and 500 elephants, with migrant herds from nearby parks and jungles swelling the numbers during the dry season, coming here in search of water. With 94 plant species, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, and a staggering 135 butterfly species recorded, Udawalawe National Park promises an unforgettable exploration of Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity.
Witness the park’s diverse wildlife, such as Sambar, Axis, and Mouse Deer, who might cross your path, along with the Sri Lankan Jackal, one of the park’s main predators. Other Park residents include the water buffalo, wild boar, and Asian palm civet cat. And for the truly fortunate, a glimpse of the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard or Sloth Bear might be the ultimate wildlife encounter.
Uda Walawe National Park
7TH Milepost on Uda Walawe – Thanamalwila Road
Open: Daily 6:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tel: +94473475892
Website: https://www.dwc.gov.lk
Tickets: LKR 75-85 per person for half day Safari