Overview
Our private Udawalawe safari takes you into Sri Lanka’s best park for wild elephants in your own 4×4 jeep, with pickup from your hotel near Udawalawe National Park. Just your group, up to six people, with an experienced safari driver who knows where the herds are feeding. Udawalawe safari booking takes a couple of minutes online or on WhatsApp.
Choose a morning safari from about 6:00 to 11:30 am, an afternoon safari from about 2:00 to 6:00 pm, when herds often come down to the water, or a full-day Udawalawe safari from about 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. A half-day Udawalawe jeep safari costs US$60 per jeep and a full-day safari costs US$120 per jeep, including a meal and refreshments, both for 1 to 6 people. Udawalawe National Park entrance tickets are not included and are paid at the gate on the day.
Udawalawe safari booking: how it works
- Choose your session – morning, afternoon or full-day safari.
- Pick your date and hotel – search for your hotel in the booking box, or type its name.
- Confirm your booking – click Check Availability, or book through WhatsApp if you prefer to chat.
- Get your pickup time – we confirm the exact pickup time and send your driver’s details before the safari.
You can pay on the day of the safari or in full in advance, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before pickup.
What you can see on a Udawalawe safari
Udawalawe’s open grassland around a large reservoir makes elephants easy to see, and family herds with young calves are found on almost every drive, all year round. Look out too for water buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles, jackals, eagles, bee-eaters and peacocks. Read more about Udawalawe National Park, or add a stop at the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned calves are fed just outside the park.
Not staying near Udawalawe?
Udawalawe is about 2.5 hours from Ella and 2 hours from Tissamaharama, so it fits easily between the hills and the south coast. We can add your safari to a transfer, book our Udawalawe safari from Colombo day tour, or include it in one of our Sri Lanka safari packages. Just ask.
More safaris in Sri Lanka
This is one of our private safari tours in Sri Lanka. If you are travelling on, these are easy to add to your trip.
Highlights
- Easy Udawalawe safari booking online or on WhatsApp
- Half-day Udawalawe safari · US$60 per jeep for 1–6 people
- Full-day Udawalawe safari · US$120 per jeep, meal and refreshments included
- Private 4x4 safari jeep, just your group
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Udawalawe or Embilipitiya
- Wild elephant herds with calves on almost every safari
- Water buffalo, crocodiles, eagles and peacocks by the reservoir
- Park entrance tickets paid at the gate on the day
