Udawalawe National Park Safari from Galle with Elephants and Birds
Scanning varied habitats from a private jeep, with a tracker at your side
Scan varied habitats for elephants, crocodiles, deer and birds, some of them endemic, from a private jeep in Udawalawe National Park. This private tour leaves from Galle on Sri Lanka's south coast, and the park is the third most visited in the country.
Step-by-step itinerary
Safari and wildlife exploration
- Pickup and drive to Udawalawe Park
- Refresh before safari
- Start 4-hour safari in park
- See elephants, crocodiles, birds, and wildlife
- Optional: Visit Elephant Transit Home
- Udawalawa National Park Safari 4h
- Udawalawa Elephant Orphanage 30m
What’s included
- Private transportation.
- A jeep, a driver and a tracker guide.
- Bottled water.
- Parking fees.
- An air-conditioned luxury car.
- Every day 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00
Information
Drive out of Galle to Udawalawe, where you scout a jeep safari for elephants, crocodiles and birds, with bottled water and a tracker guide beside you.
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The experience
The day begins with the road. You settle into an air-conditioned luxury car for the run along the southern expressway, with bottled water within reach. At the park the jeep is waiting, and its driver, who doubles as your tracker guide, takes you into the wide country where the search starts. Udawalawe is the third most visited park in Sri Lanka, and its land holds a broad mix of animals waiting to be spotted.
The big draw is the elephants. A herd of 600 to 700 is believed to live here, and they are the reason many people come. Keep your eyes open for crocodiles, deer and reptiles, along with amphibians, fish and many kinds of birds, some of them endemic. The park is home to far more wildlife than any list can hold, so the search moves from one stretch of land to the next as the morning goes on.
If you want more elephants, the optional stop at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home takes you to a place where about 70 baby elephants are fed milk. It makes a gentle change of pace after the jeep, and the little ones are the perfect end to a morning among the wild animals.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 296 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 10 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.
Can I visit the elephant transit home on this trip?
Yes, as an optional side trip. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home is where about 70 baby elephants are fed milk.
Will a guide be with me inside the national park?
Yes. The safari jeep comes with a driver who is also a tracker guide, so someone who knows the land travels with you.
Do I buy park tickets myself at the entrance?
Yes, tickets are bought at the national park's counter, where you can also use the washrooms before the jeep heads in.
Which animals can I see in the Udawalawe park?
Elephants, crocodiles, deer, reptiles, amphibians, fish and many birds, some endemic, though no sighting can be promised.
How long is the drive from Galle to the park?
About 3 hours, mostly on the southern expressway, before the jeep and its driver start the safari.
Operated by Bhathiya Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Udawalawe National Park Safari from Galle with Elephants
8h–10h · EN
from US$ 105 per person
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