Udawalawe Safari from Bentota: 3-hour jeep wildlife tour

Three hours tracking elephants and water birds through marshes and grassland

A full-day safari tour from Bentota to Udawalawe National Park includes hotel pickup, a three-hour jeep safari with an English-speaking guide, and return transport to your hotel. The park covers 120 square miles of plains, grasslands, forests and marshes bounded by mountains, with the Walawe River and its tributaries running through it. You choose between transport only or transport with park entry tickets at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Udawalawe National Park Safari from Bentota

• Hotel pickup in Bentota
• Travel to Udawalawe National Park
• Meet safari jeep and guide
• Enjoy three-hour jeep safari
• Spot elephants and wildlife
• Return to vehicle
• Travel back to hotel in Bentota

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Bentota hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, then a drive inland to Udawalawe National Park. Once you arrive, you transfer to a safari jeep for the core experience: three hours moving through the park's marshes, forests and grasslands with a guide who knows where the wildlife congregates. The park is known for its large population of Sri Lankan elephants, and the guide positions the jeep to spot them alongside water birds, other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies in their natural habitat. After the safari ends, you return to the vehicle for the drive back to Bentota.

Udawalawe sits on the boundary between two provinces and covers nearly 120 square miles, with the Walawe River and its tributaries providing water that draws animals across the terrain. The landscape shifts between open grassland, dense forest and marshes, which is what creates the range of species the park is known for. The three-hour window gives the guide time to move through different zones rather than staying in one spot.

You'll need to decide at checkout whether you want transport only or transport with park entry tickets included. Either way, the chauffeur guide travels with you the whole day, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the drive itself is comfortable even in the heat. Gratuities for the guide are optional.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Bentota.
• service of an English-speaking chauffeur guide throughout the day.
• transport in an air-conditioned vehicle to and from the park.
• the three-hour jeep safari through Udawalawe National Park (park entry tickets available as an add-on option at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Transport only, tickets not includedGuide in English · 09:00Transfer to Udawalawe in a standard air-conditioned vehicle, followed by a half-day evening safari in Udawalawe National Park. Pickup is included.

Transport with TicketsGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Lakpura LLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full-day wildlife safari from your hotel without driving yourself: the guide navigates the park while you scan for elephants and birds from the jeep.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What animals am I most likely to see on the Udawalawe safari?

Sri Lankan elephants are the main draw (the park has a large population), and you'll also have chances to spot water birds, other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies. The guide knows the routes where animals are most active during the time of day you're there.

Do I need to buy park entry tickets separately, or are they included?

You choose at checkout: the Transport Only option covers the vehicle and guide, while Transport with Tickets includes park entry. Either way, pickup and drop-off from your Bentota hotel are included.

What's the landscape like in Udawalawe National Park?

The park covers nearly 120 square miles with plains, grasslands, forests and marshes, bounded by mountains along the northern edge. The Walawe River and its tributaries run through it, which is why water birds and other wildlife concentrate there.

Is this tour suitable if I have mobility concerns?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the drive and safari.