Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park is a dry-zone reserve in southern Sri Lanka where wild elephants feed on the grassland around the reservoir. Most visitors come for a jeep safari.
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Udawalawe National Park lies in the dry zone of southern Sri Lanka, a few hours' drive from Colombo and close to Udawalawe Reservoir. People come for its wild Asian elephants, which feed across grassland and scrubby forest and are often seen from the park tracks. The reservoir and wetlands also attract waterbirds, and crocodiles and buffalo can be seen from the roads.
The park suits travelers who want to see wildlife from a vehicle without a long trek. Most visitors book a half-day or full-day jeep safari, usually at dawn or in the afternoon, when animals are most active. The drier months, roughly June to September, are the best time to go, since animals gather around the water. Plan one or two nights nearby if you want both a morning and an evening drive.
Udawalawe National Park in five
- Get your ETA before you flyMost visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization from eta.gov.lk before arrival, and the rules depend on each passport. Check your nationality on the official site before you book flights.Visas and entry
- Book a jeep for a morning or afternoon sessionSafari jeeps are arranged per trip, not per seat, so book through your hotel or a licensed operator. The morning session is cooler, and elephant sightings are often best then.Tours and tickets
- Carry rupees for the gate and tipsPark entry tickets, jeep drivers and small guesthouses expect cash in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR). Bring small notes.Money and costs
- Stay in Udawalawe town for early startsThe town sits next to the park. Staying close to the gate cuts the drive before a dawn safari.Where to stay
- Keep inside the jeep at all timesElephants here are wild and can charge a vehicle that comes too close. Keep arms, bags and cameras inside, and let the driver judge the distance.
Need to know
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
- Entry
- ETA needed by most visitors; check the current list at eta.gov.lk Read more
- Emergency
- 119 police, 110 fire, 1990 ambulance
- Tipping
- Jeep drivers and guides expected; 10% service charge often added at restaurants
- Time
- UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRains possible
- FebruaryDry, good sightings
- MarchHot, dry
- AprilNew Year holidays
- MayHot, drying
- JuneDry, good sightings
- JulyDry, good sightings
- AugustDry, good sightings
- SeptemberLate dry season
- OctoberRains begin
- NovemberRainy season
- DecemberRains, holidays
Right now in Udawalawe National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 98%
- Wind
- 1 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Udawalawe National Park
02:11 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°23°96%Tuesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed32°23°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu31°23°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri31°23°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat31°22°100%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun31°23°100%Sunday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 02:06 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
What's on in Udawalawe National Park
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarDay trips by train
- Yala National Parka separate day to the eastThe leopard park, with its own permit and its own jeep day.Read the guide
- Tangallasouth toward the coastA quiet beach town and the usual first stop after a safari.Read the guide
- Ellauphill into the hillsThe hill-country village, a day of road and rail away from the dry plains.Read the guide
Before you go to Udawalawe National Park
Plan around Udawalawe National Park
Routes, regions and the wider trip from Colombo
Read the guideGetting around Sri LankaDrives from Colombo and the roads south
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses in and near Udawalawe town
Read the guideVisas and entryETA rules and what to check before you fly
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and tipping for park days
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile data for maps and bookings on the road
Read the guideUdawalawe National Park FAQ
Do I need a reservation to enter Udawalawe National Park?
Entry tickets are sold at the park gate. You book the jeep separately, through your hotel or a licensed operator.
How many days do I need in Udawalawe?
One full day covers a morning and an afternoon safari. Two days gives you a second chance to see herds if the first drive is quiet.
When is the best time to visit Udawalawe?
June to September, the drier months, when animals gather around the reservoir.
Can I see elephants on every safari?
No sighting is guaranteed. Herds are often seen in the cooler morning and late afternoon.
Can I visit Udawalawe as a day trip from Colombo?
It is possible but tiring, because the drive takes several hours each way. Staying one night near the park gives you early starts.