The 13 Udawalawe National Park Safaris in Hambantota That Earn Their Price

1.Udawalawe Safari Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · from $18Our pick

Ride through Udawalawe National Park with an experienced safari driver, watching for elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, buffalo, peacocks, and birds. Lahiru Prasad is a frequently praised guide, though guide assignment is not guaranteed. The 3-hour safari starts and ends at the park entrance.

“We had a unique experience. With Lahiru Prasad ( he is a legend). We were lucky to see many different kind of animals like elephants, wild buffalos, monkeys, peacocks, lizards and many different kind of birds! We even saw one crocodile anRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Udawalawa Safari & Elephants Orphanage Tour from Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $57

From Hambantota port, ride to Udawalawe National Park for a 4WD safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Expect elephants, deer, monkeys, peacocks, buffalo, crocodiles, and birds, with guides such as Madu, Yasanka, Maduka, or Ishan leading the day.

“Loved driving through Sri Lanka to the park. Elephant orphanage a cute experience with a few characters amongst them. Park was full of elephants wandering about. Guide (Madu) was amazing and a real character. Wonderful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Udawalawe National Park 6-Hour Private Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $55

Spend six hours in Udawalawe National Park in a private 4x4 jeep, with an experienced local driver-guide such as Naveen. Look for elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, peacocks, and birds near grasslands, forest, and the reservoir. Pickup, snacks, and tickets depend on the package you choose.

“We had a great private safari experience at the Udawalawe national park. Our driver Naveen was very helpful and showed us all the animals we wanted to see. The tour operator was flexible when we wanted to come in early for the safari.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Udawalawe Safari Day Trip with Return Transport – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $180

Spend 9 to 13 hours on a private Udawalawe day trip from Sri Lanka’s south or west coast. Your package includes hotel pickup, return transport, a 3 to 3.5-hour jeep safari, park and Elephant Transit Home fees, lunch, and bottled water.

“Amazing trip with everything so well organised that we could fully enjoy the whole day. Pick up was absolutely on time, gentle and took care of everything. Safari guide had an eye for even the small birds with some insights and side stories. We would definitely recommend this trip as a perfect experience”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Udawalawe Private Safari frm Hambantota Port by BTM-All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $135

Travel privately from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe National Park in an air-conditioned vehicle, then switch to a private safari jeep. Choose a half-day or full-day outing, with picnic lunch included on the longer option. Expect elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, monkeys, deer, and plenty of birds.

“An amazing and unforgetable experience. Our guide, Domica was professional, knowledgable, patient and kind. We saw many elephants (up close and personal!), water buffalo, monkeys, monitor lizards, iguana and beautiful birds (we especiaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Yala and Udawalawa Safari Tour From Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $47

Travel from Hambantota port or a nearby hotel in a private safari jeep for about six hours. Your guide searches Yala for leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and birds, with free binoculars, water, and cool drinks. Yala may be replaced by Udawalawe if timing meets the park’s noon closure.

“Good tour of the park, although we are surprised that from 12am to 2pm the park “closes” and you have to stay in a rest area, next to a beach. Otherwise the vehicle is quite comfortable, although it moves a lot through the potholes of the park's dirt roads. Highly recommended, spectacular nature.Auto-translated”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Udawalawe National Park Safari | From Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $75

Leave Hambantota Port at 8:00 am for a private jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park. Your English-speaking driver and tracker handles the transfer, park entry, and three-hour game drive. Expect elephants, buffalo, deer, crocodiles, birds, and a flexible return to port.

“We went to see Udawalawa National Park and we saw many special things. We went on a safari in a jeep. The driver who went with us was a very friendly person. The details about Udawalawa were told. After having a Udawalawa safari, we went to the boat.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Udawalawe Safari & Elephant Orphanage visit from Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $49

Travel from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe for a wildlife jeep safari and a visit to the Elephant Transit Home. You get port pickup, drinks, snacks, binoculars, and a small group of up to six. Guides such as Darshana and Madu are noted for sharp animal spotting and friendly explanations.

“Great experience. Convenient pick up from the Cruise Port gates, comfortable journey to the Elephant Sanctuary, following by an amazing Elephant safari, with lots of other animals too. The guide was very helpful and informative, the trip was great value. Highly recommended for cruise passengers”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Udawalawe Safari & Elephants Orphanage tour from Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $45

You’ll leave Hambantota port with a driver, bottled water, snacks, binoculars, and a Toyota Hilux safari jeep. Explore Udawalawe National Park for up to seven hours, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Jeeps carry up to six people, with private use for groups of five or more.

“Brilliant trip and we saw so many elephants. Everything ran smoothly and we loved it. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Udawalawe Safari & Baby Elephants Visit from Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $47

You’ll ride from Hambantota Port in a comfortable vehicle, visit the Elephant Transit Home, then spend about five hours in Udawalawe National Park aboard a safari jeep. Expect a small group of up to six, an experienced driver-guide, binoculars, water, and drinks. Park and transit-home tickets cost extra.

“The baby elephant orphanage was the best. They came out to feed and they were so much fun to watch! The safari was a highlight as well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $60

Travel from Hambantota Port in a private party to Udawalawe National Park by safari jeep. A driver-guide leads the roughly three-hour wildlife drive, followed by a 30-minute visit to the Elephant Transit Home. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

“Driver/tour guide did not turn up today at the Port in Sri Lanka at the designated time. At least I have not been charged for it. Very disappointing- have never had a problem when booking tours with Viator before.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Udawalawe Elephant Safari and Orphanage Tour Shore Excursions

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $180

From Hambantota Port, you ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour 4x4 safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home feeding program. Guides such as Chathu, Cham, and Sam are noted for clear communication, though guide commentary can vary.

“We saw so many elephants, this was amazing. Disapointed the van we travelled in to and from the port had windows tinted so dark it was hard to see and impossible tp take any photos. Van driver was friendly but spoke very little english and the safari driver also spoke vRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Ahangama: Udawalawe National Park Safari with Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $110

Travel privately from Ahangama to Udawalawe National Park, then spend three hours in a safari jeep with an English-speaking guide. Expect marshes, forest, grassland, water birds, elephants, and possible sightings of other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. Entrance fees and meals cost extra.

“Superb/seamless safari day out from Ahangama. We booked late and we received a WhatsApp response with pick up details within minutes. We went car 12pm (2hrs approx) to Safari Jeep drop off near national park (3.5hrs) to car back drop off 8pm. Udawalawe park was beautiful with numerous mammals and birds spotted (no spoilers). Guide very knowledgable and stopped at great locations. Useful info; you can stop for toilet break and lunch if desired at cafe near park at vehicle swap. This was a local buffet style lunch but we packed our own. Park entrance fees on arrival can be paid for in local currency or on card. Fees priced…”

Check availability →Read our full review