08 August 2024 | 13 Min Read
08 August 2024 | 13 Min Read
Covering a widespread of landscape comprising forests, green lands and wetlands Udawalawe National Park Sanctuary promises an unforgettable venture to its visitors by offering them distinct wildlife activities to be part of. Provided habitat to the stunning wildlife creatures, the place opportunite visitors to observe them in their natural surroundings.
Udawalawe sanctuary is home to approximately 180 species of birds including migrants also. it also consists of above 40 mammals species, 30+ variety of reptiles, 20+ fish and 130+ butterflies. Let's highlight the types of adventure boast by the national park:
List of activities you can do at the park are:
Jeep Safari at the Udawalawe Park immerses you deep into wildlife beauty. You get to witness rare, unseen, giant animals, delicate birds and dangerous wetland creatures on a safari. Elephant sightseeing is a common experience at the Udawalawe animal safari. other than this you will also be able to spot the distinct wildlife creatures including crocodiles, buffalo, sloth deer and beer, mongooses, bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards etc.
Jeep Safari at Udawalawe is an excellent choice for nature lovers, and wildlife enthusiasts interested in seeing many flora and fauna.
The world's biggest concentration of Asian elephants is found in Sri Lanka where each national park in the country has its own set of elephants. As per the official records of the park from the management, there are more than 500 elephants inside the Udawalawe sanctuary.
Seeing these elephants in their natural habitat roaming freely in the park makes the sight captivating. These elephants often seem to roam in herds of up to 100. Elephant herds are best viewed between 6:00 AM and 10:30 AM and again between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
This is one of the best experiences inside the sanctuary park which is a birdwatcher's heaven. There are around 200 bird species including the endemic resident and migrants. You can view these magical bird species in their habitat and hear their melodious calls.
You can observe these beautiful creatures in their natural behaviour. You will view colourful kingfishers, majestic eagles, vibrant peacocks, and elusive waterfowl while you stroll through the park's wetlands, grasslands, and forested areas.
Udawalawe Nature and Wildlife Reserves is widely known for its picturesque landscapes. Travellers can also indulge in a nature trail at the park to create an unforgettable memory in the breathtaking surroundings. They will always remember the stunning natural scenery in their mind.
Visitors can also hire a guide at the site for their nature excursion who will guide them for the best experience and provide essential knowledge about the park’s flora and fauna and conservation initiatives from experienced naturalists and rangers.
Guests can additionally delight in with camping facility at night near Udawalawe Park. They can turn their overnight into a truly immersive experience. Overnight camping is one of its kind adventure. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest while spending the night outside beneath the stars. Wake up with the sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves.
These camping facilities are available at the site that offers a mesmerizing experience to the visitors.
There is no such specific time for the visit to Udanwalawe National Park as tourist pay their visit year-round. The sanctuary maintains its beauty 365 days a year.
However, as per some experts, January to March is considered to be the best time to travel to Udawalawe. During this period, the possibility of rainfall is negligible and the day weather is cool.
Some travellers also argue that the time frame between May to August is the best time to explore the place. They believe that in this dry season, tourists can experience additional attractions.
Here are the details of the ticket prices for the park:
You can easily reach the park from Colombo through different transport mediums, which is 165 km away from the location.
You can directly take a flight from the Colombo airport to Dickwella airport. After landing you can hire a taxi overboard on a bus that leaves you near the park. The distance of Dickwella airport from the Udawalawe National Sanctuary is approximately 80 km and 1 hour 40-minute driveway from it.
By bus from Colombo, the drive is fairly long to reach the location. From Colombo, the bus to Udawalawe will take approximately five to six hours to reach the destination.
This is the most convenient and direct way to reach the national park which takes approximately 4 hours of drive to reach the location. You can either hire a cab or taxi or drive your vehicle to the park.
You can also check out Diyasaru Park too for more a new experience.
Udawalawe National Sanctuary Park is renowned for its diverse wildlife preserves and natural beauty. It is among the third most visited parks in Sri Lanka offering visitors with exciting Jeep Safari ride, rare animal/bird/reptiles sightseeing and overnight camping experiences.
Paying a visit to the park provides a soothing experience to the visitors throughout the year. However, January to March is considered to be the best time when there is less possibility of rainfall and day weather is moderate. Some travel experts also argue that the dry season from May to August is the idle time for the visit as visitors can see the extra attractions.
For a foreign visitor, the entrance fee is $25 in peak season and $20 in the off-season. A local visitor is required to pay 365 KLR to enter the park.
You have lots of options to travel over inside and near the park. Here are the following:
It depends on the service provider you choose. In general, it can cost from 150 USD to 170 USD.
There are a variety of animals, birds, reptiles, and amphibian species inside the place. You will witness Asian elephants, mongooses, water monitor lizards, different crocodiles, eagles, peacocks, leopards, sloth beers etc.
It depends on your preference and passion level for a wildlife adventure. Visitors have their half-day to full-day tours. They can also spend about 2 to 3 days if they decide to go camping for the night.
Udawalawe National Park is located in the small district of Udawalawa in the Ratnapura district of Sri Lanka. It is 165 km from Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo and a 4 hr drive from the location.
The park lies in the dry region of the country and it remains dry except the monsoon. It is also near the Moneragala district and reachable from the capital city via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla and Colombage-ara.