Udawalawe City Walk Guide: Wild Elephant Paradise and the Breath of the South Asian Savanna

Udawalawe is located in the southern part of Sri Lanka's Sabaragamuwa Province, approximately 165 kilometers from Colombo. It is a town that exists because of elephants. Udawalawe National Park is home to over 500 wild Asian elephants, making it one of the best places in all of South Asia to observe wild elephants. The town is surrounded by vast dry grasslands, reservoirs, and scrubland, presenting an African-style landscape completely different from tropical rainforests. Every morning and evening, herds of wild elephants emerge from the bushes and cross the grasslands to drink at the reservoir, a spectacular sight that captivates countless travelers.

Udawalawe doesn't have thousand-year-old city walls or Temple of the Sacred Tooth like Kandy or Galle. Its charm comes entirely from nature — it is a microcosm of Sri Lanka's dry zone ecosystem. Besides elephants, there are water buffalo, crocodiles, sambar deer, sloth bears, and over 200 species of birds. The town has one main street lined with simple guesthouses, restaurants, and travel agencies, all centered around one theme: Safari. The daily rhythm of this small town is entirely dictated by sunrise and sunset — depart at 5 AM to see elephants, head out again at 3 PM, and spend the hot hours in between reading a book in a hammock.

🚶 Day 1: Wild Elephant Tracking Day

Morning Safari: Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is the reason this town exists. Established in 1972, the park covers 30,821 hectares and was built around the Udawalawe Reservoir. The grasslands are open and the bushes are low, making wildlife visibility far superior to Yala National Park.

Departing at 5:30 AM is the best choice. After the jeep enters the park gate, the first thing you see is the endless golden grassland, with the reservoir shimmering in the morning sun in the distance. Before long, you'll encounter the first elephant herds — usually several females with calves leisurely grazing. Unlike the African savanna, the elephant herds here are gentler and more relaxed. They have grown accustomed to human presence but still remain wild.

The most unforgettable sight in the park occurs at the reservoir: dozens of elephants converge from all directions, calves rolling in the mud, adults spraying water with their trunks. This scene is unique across all of South Asia.

Safari Costs:

Park entrance fee: about 2,500 LKR (foreign visitors)
Jeep fee: about 5,000-8,000 LKR (half day)
Total: about 7,500-10,500 LKR

Elephant Transit Home

The Elephant Transit Home is managed by Sri Lanka's Department of Wildlife Conservation and is the world's first and largest orphaned elephant rehabilitation center. It takes in calves that have lost their mothers due to poaching, human-elephant conflict, or natural disasters, and releases them back into the wild after 3-5 years of care.

Feeding times are at 12:00 and 17:00 daily, and visitors can watch from the observation deck. Dozens of baby elephants run toward giant milk bottles — a heartwarming and moving scene. The center enforces a strict "no contact" policy. Visitors cannot touch or feed the elephants, ensuring the calves maintain their wariness of humans and improving the success rate of rewilding.

Entrance fee is about 500 LKR, including shuttle bus transport.

Evening Safari

If one safari isn't enough (most people find it isn't), you can head out again at 3:00-4:00 PM. The evening light is softer and better for photography, and the elephants are more active. You can also see herds of water buffalo, crocodiles sunbathing on the banks, and various water birds circling above the reservoir.

🚶 Day 2: Reservoir, Temples, and Countryside

Udawalawe Reservoir

The Udawalawe Reservoir is the lifeline of this town. This major hydraulic engineering project not only provides water for surrounding wildlife during the dry season but also supports local fishing and irrigation.

Walking along the reservoir in the early morning, you'll see fishermen casting nets in canoes through the mist, with silhouettes of elephants playing in the water in the distance. There are many viewpoints around the reservoir. You can rent a bicycle and ride along the dam — the full route is about 10 kilometers with open scenery and fresh air throughout.

Veheragala Temple

Veheragala Temple is located on a hill north of town and is an ancient Buddhist cave temple. The temple is built beneath a massive rock, with ancient murals and Buddha statues inside. Although not large in scale, it is peaceful and rarely visited by tourists.

From the top of the temple rock, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Udawalawe area — golden grasslands, winding reservoir, and rolling hills in the distance. At dusk, the sunset paints the entire basin in orange-red, making it truly spectacular.

Countryside Cycling

In the afternoon, you can rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding countryside. The area around Udawalawe features typical Sri Lankan dry zone rural landscapes: rice paddies (during rainy season), cassava fields, coconut groves, and small villages. The villagers are extremely friendly and often invite travelers into their homes for a cup of Ceylon tea.

Recommended cycling route: Town center → South bank of reservoir → Kiri Ibba village → Return, about 15 kilometers total, flat terrain.

Bicycle rental is about 500 LKR per day.

🚶 Day 3: Sagara and Wildlife Conservation

Sagara National Park

Sagara National Park is located upstream of the Udawalawe Reservoir. It is a newer protected area with very few visitors. The terrain here is more diverse, with hills, streams, and dense forests, making it an ideal place for birdwatching and spotting sambar deer.

Due to its lower profile, safari costs are also relatively cheaper, about 4,000-5,000 LKR for a jeep. If you've seen enough elephants and want a change of scenery, this is a good option.

Local Market

Back in town, visit the Udawalawe Market. The Sunday market is the most lively, when farmers from surrounding villages bring fresh fruits, vegetables, and spices to trade. You can buy the freshest mangoes, pineapples, and papayas at incredibly low prices — a bunch of bananas costs only 50-100 LKR.

Cooking Class Experience

Several guesthouses offer Sri Lankan cooking classes (about 2,000-3,000 LKR). You can learn to make authentic Sri Lankan curry, coconut milk rice (Kiribath), and chili paste (Lunu Miris). Classes typically include a market trip to buy ingredients, learning to cook 3-4 dishes, and then enjoying the meal together.

🍜 Food Recommendations

Must-Try List

Rice and Curry — Traditional Sri Lankan meal with rice, vegetable curry, fish curry, and various side dishes. About 400-600 LKR at local restaurants
Grilled Fish — Freshwater fish from the reservoir, simply grilled with lemon and chili. About 500-800 LKR
Coconut Fried Rice — Rice stir-fried with fresh coconut milk, vegetables, and egg. About 350-500 LKR
Hoppers — Bowl-shaped coconut crepes, with egg option in the center. About 50-100 LKR each
Kottu Roti — Chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables and meat on an iron griddle. The sizzling sound is the signature sound of Sri Lankan streets. About 300-500 LKR
Jackfruit Curry — Curry made with unripe jackfruit, with a texture similar to stewed meat. About 150-250 LKR

Recommended Restaurants

Mango Mango Garden — The most popular restaurant in town, offering authentic Sri Lankan and international dishes. Curry set meal about 600 LKR
Udawalawe Safari Hotel Restaurant — Simple but clean, good for quick meals before or after safari. About 400-500 LKR
Roadside Food Stalls — Multiple stalls on the main street, great Hoppers and Kottu Roti. 50-200 LKR

🚄 Transport Guide

How to Get There

From	Transport	Duration	Cost
Colombo	Private car/taxi	About 4 hours	About 12,000-15,000 LKR
Colombo	Public bus	About 5 hours	About 300-500 LKR
Colombo	Train + bus	About 5.5 hours	About 400 LKR
Yala	Private car	About 2.5 hours	About 8,000 LKR
Ella	Private car	About 2 hours	About 6,000-8,000 LKR
Nuwara Eliya	Private car	About 3.5 hours	About 10,000 LKR

Local Transport

Jeep: Essential for safari, book through guesthouse about 5,000-8,000 LKR/half day
Tuk-Tuk: Short trips around town about 100-200 LKR
Bicycle: About 500 LKR/day, great for countryside exploration

Best Time to Visit

Dry season (December-March): Best wildlife viewing season, animals gather near water sources
Rainy season (May-September): Grasslands are greener but animals are more scattered, safari experience is less ideal
Elephants year-round: Udawalawe's elephant population is stable, unlike Yala which has seasonal fluctuations

💡 Practical Tips

Wear dark colors: Wear khaki, olive green, or other dark colors on safari. Avoid white and bright colors
Bring sunscreen and hat: There is almost no shade on the grasslands, UV is extremely strong
Prepare telephoto lens: 200mm+ focal length is needed for good wildlife photography
Double safari is worth it: Morning + evening safari shows different animal behaviors
Do not exit the vehicle: Never get out of the jeep inside the park, wild animals are unpredictable
Cash is king: ATMs in town are scarce and often run out of money, bring enough cash
Book accommodation in advance: Guesthouses fill up during peak season (December-February)
Don't miss feeding time: The 12:00 and 17:00 feedings at Elephant Transit Home are must-see events
Mosquito protection: Dry zone also has mosquitoes, especially at dusk
Tip your driver: About 500 LKR tip for the jeep driver after safari is customary

💰 Budget Reference

Item	Cost (LKR)
Accommodation (budget)	1,500-3,000/night
Accommodation (mid-range)	4,000-8,000/night
Safari (half day with entrance)	7,500-10,500
Elephant Transit Home entrance	500
Meal	400-800
Bicycle rental	500/day
Tuk-Tuk (around town)	100-200

Three-day budget (excluding transport to Udawalawe):

Budget: About 25,000-35,000 LKR
Mid-range: About 45,000-60,000 LKR

Udawalawe doesn't need thousand-year-old temples or colonial architecture to prove its worth. The 500 wild elephants, golden grasslands, and sunsets by the reservoir are reason enough. You come here not to see history, but to quietly be a spectator in the presence of nature.