Est. 2026 · Udawalawe, Sri Lanka
A camp at the edge of Sri Lanka's elephant capital. Open grassland, expert naturalists, and a herd that has never learned to fear the jeep.
"Sri Lanka's
elephant capital."
Live from Udawalawe · Sighting Status: Active
Udawalawe Reservoir — North Bank
06:20Bull elephant herd, 23 individuals, bathing at the reservoir edge. Calves present.
Elephant Corridor East
500+
Wild elephants in the park
308 km²
Open grassland, forest and reservoir
Year-round
No seasonal closure — book any month
Guaranteed
Elephant sightings on every safari
The Sanctuary
Udawalawe National Park holds the largest concentration of wild Asian elephants in Sri Lanka — over 500 individuals across 308 square kilometres of open grassland, thorn scrub, and the vast Udawalawe Reservoir. Unlike Yala, there are no crowds waiting for a Block One slot. The elephants move freely across the main tracks. They approach the jeep.
The camp sits at the park boundary near Embilipitiya, where the grassland begins and the sounds of the forest take over from the road. Four tented suites, an open dining deck facing the scrub, and naturalists who have spent years reading elephant behaviour, not chasing sightings.
Udawalawe Safari Camp
Park Boundary Road, Embilipitiya
Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
Choose your experience
Bull elephant at sunrise, Block C
Departs 5:30am · Returns 9:00am
Elephants are most active at dawn before the heat settles. The grassland is quiet and the light is golden. This is when the herds move between the forest and the reservoir.
Average 80+ elephants per drive
Rescued calf at morning feeding
Morning feeding: 9:00am
Four kilometres from camp, the Elephant Transit Home rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants before releasing them back into the park. Feeding sessions are open to visitors. Unlike elephant sanctuaries elsewhere, these animals are destined for the wild.
148 elephants released since 1995
Reservoir at golden hour with herd
5:30am to 6:00pm · With lunch break
The full day lets you follow a herd across the grassland as the light changes. Lunch is served at a viewpoint overlooking the reservoir. The afternoon drive catches the elephants returning to water before dark.
Both golden hours. One long day.
The Park
500+
Wild elephants
308 km²
Park size
200+
Bird species
0
Park closures (year-round)
Udawalawe sits inland from the south coast between Hambantota and Ratnapura. The Udawalawe Reservoir — built in 1968 — forms the park's heart, creating a permanent water source that keeps elephants here year-round. In Yala, you track the leopard. In Udawalawe, the elephants find you.
The park sees far fewer jeeps than Yala. The tracks are wide and open. Sightings aren't a matter of luck — they're a matter of when, not if.
Read the full park guide →Transit Home, 9am feeding
Conservation
Four kilometres from camp, 148 rescued elephants have passed through the Transit Home since 1995. Morning feedings are open to visitors.
Learn about the Transit Home →Reserve
Dawn drive departures fill 2-3 weeks ahead in peak season (May-September). Contact us on WhatsApp to check availability.