Half-day Udawalawe safari from Kalutara with elephants and lunch

Three hours tracking wild elephants in a park built for them

A half-day safari from Kalutara to Udawalawe National Park with hotel pickup, a three-hour jeep drive, park entry and lunch included. The park is home to at least 250 Asian elephants year-round, with hundreds more migrating in seasonally from nearby reserves. Morning departures often bring rare bird sightings alongside the elephant herds. The tour runs 12 hours total, including the drive, safari and return to your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Udawalawe Safari and Lunch

• Pick up from hotel in Kalutara area
• Travel to Udawalawe National Park
• Enjoy 3-hour safari in Udawalawe Park
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Return to hotel in Kalutara area

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Kalutara, Wadduwa or Bentota at 6 a.m., then a drive to Udawalawe National Park. Once you arrive at 10 a.m., you spend three hours in a jeep with a driver who knows where the elephants move. Udawalawe was created specifically to protect elephants displaced by the Udawalawe reservoir, and the park's water sources support a permanent herd of at least 250 Asian elephants. Hundreds more migrate in from nearby protected areas each year, so sightings are frequent rather than lucky. The park is also an important bird area, with aquatic birds, birds of prey and land birds in abundance: morning safaris often turn up rare species.

After the safari ends at 2 p.m., you're driven to a local restaurant for lunch, then transferred back to your hotel by 3 p.m. The jeep is air-conditioned, and refreshments and water bottles come with you during the drive. You'll need to bring a valid passport for park entry and wear comfortable clothes for the jeep ride. The itinerary asks you to be ready in your hotel lobby 15 minutes before pickup.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kalutara, Wadduwa or Bentota.
• park entrance fees.
• a three-hour jeep safari with a driver.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• refreshments and water bottles during the drive.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Overa Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a focused morning or early-afternoon trip without a full day away from your hotel. The half-day format fits easily between other plans in Kalutara, and the fixed schedule: pickup at 6 a.m., back by 3 p.m. Means you know exactly when you'll return.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many elephants will I actually see at Udawalawe?

Udawalawe is home to at least 250 Asian elephants permanently, with hundreds more migrating in seasonally from nearby reserves. Sightings during the three-hour safari are frequent, though the exact number you see depends on where the herds are on the day you visit.

What's the best time of day to spot rare birds?

Morning safari departures are known to include rare bird sightings frequently. The park is an important bird area with aquatic birds, birds of prey and land birds in abundance, so early drives offer the best chance of seeing species you won't find elsewhere.

How long is the drive from Kalutara to the park?

Pickup happens at 6 a.m. from your hotel, and you arrive at Udawalawe National Park at 10 a.m., so the drive takes roughly four hours. The return journey after lunch is similar, getting you back to your hotel by 3 p.m.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the safari jeep, park entrance fees, a three-hour guided drive, lunch at a local restaurant, and refreshments and water bottles during the safari are all included. Government taxes are covered as well.