Sri Lanka · UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK SAFARIS

The 15 Best Udawalawe Safari Tours

45 tours  ·  from $15

Udawalawe is the reliable one: open grass, no forest to hide in, elephants on nearly every drive. These 15 safaris are priced and timed, with the transit home visit noted where it is included.

Udawalawe National Park: Elephant Safari with Expert Guide - Starting with hotel pickup and the park entrance
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Udawalawe National Park: Elephant Safari with Expert Guide

1.Udawalawe National Park: Elephant Safari with Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 641 reviews · 4 - 10 hours · from $30Our pick

Explore Udawalawe National Park in a private 4x4 Jeep with guides such as Gimhana, Jayashan, Udith, and Jaya. Choose a four-hour safari or extend your day to 10 hours with lunch and water. Expect elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, deer, jackals, birds, and a chance of leopard sightings.

“We had an excellent time with our guide Gimhana. Compared to another safari we did in Wilpattu, our experience was so much more relaxed. We did the four hour safari and Gimhana was excellent at pointing out different animal species, and getting into good positions for photos while being respectful of the animals’ space. We found him very considerate; making sure we were ready to move on from a stop before going etc. We also saw lots and lots of elephants, which all seemed very happy to get close up to the jeep!”

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Galle/Mirissa/Hiriketiya: Drop to Ella & Udawalawa Safari - The before-dawn pickup and road to Udawalawe
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Galle/Mirissa/Hiriketiya: Drop to Ella & Udawalawa Safari

Udawalawe: National park safari & Elephant Transit Home Tour - What the 4x4 safari is like
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Udawalawe: National Park Safari & Elephant Transit Home Tour

3.National Park Safari & Elephant Transit Home Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 183 reviews · 4 hours · from $21

Spend four hours exploring Udawalawe National Park in a 4x4 jeep, with hotel pickup in the Udawalawe area. Guides such as Pathum, Koshala, Mahesh, and Prasad are praised for spotting wildlife and avoiding crowded routes. Finish at the Elephant Transit Home during feeding time.

“Amazing safari in Udawalawe! We saw so many elephants and had the best views thanks to our driver Pathum. He knows the park so well and took us to the perfect spots. Super happy with the experience!”

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Ella: Shuttle to Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle w Udawalawe Safari - Switching from the road car to the safari jeep
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Ella: Shuttle to Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle w Udawalawe Safari

4.Shuttle to Tangalle/Mirissa/Galle w Udawalawe Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 166 reviews · 7 hours · from $48

Ride from Ella to Tangalle, Mirissa, Weligama, Galle, or nearby beaches, stopping for a three-hour Udawalawe safari. Guides such as Pathum, Koshala, and Mahesh look for elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and birds while your air-conditioned car handles the long transfer.

“Everything punctual, well organized. We saw many elephants and one crocodile, many birds, buffaloes. I highly recommend this trip”

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Udawalawe National Park — 4-Hour Private Jeep Safari (Pickup)

5.Udawalawe National Park — 4-Hour Private Jeep Safari (Pickup)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 161 reviews · from $30Top rated

Spend about four hours in Udawalawe National Park in a private 4x4 jeep for up to six people. Drivers such as Naveen, Navee, and Vishwa focus on elephants, birds, deer, crocodiles, and other wildlife, with morning or afternoon departures and pickup in the Udawalawe area.

“We had a wonderful trip with Naveen of Safari Fun. We were greeted on time with a gift of a Sri Lankan breakfast and biscuits. Naveen was so keen to show us the park and give us information on the animals and I now know the difference between male and female elephants (apart from the obvious). We were luck to see beautiful bee-eating birds, monitor lizards, chameleon, Jackal, water buffalo and elephants with their babies and monkeys. Naveen is so enthusiastic and we enjoyed every moment of our trip. The only downside was that we had to take a taxi from the port to the park at a cost of…”

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Udawalawa National Park Safari Tour with Experienced Guides - Meeting your driver at the hotel or park entrance
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Udawalawa National Park Safari Tour with Experienced Guides

6.Udawalawa National Park Safari Tour with Experienced Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 122 reviews · 3 hours · from $19

Meet your driver at your Udawalawe hotel or the park entrance, then spend three hours in a safari jeep with up to seven passengers. Guides such as Pathum, Koshala, and Prasad are praised for sharp animal spotting and clear explanations. The $19 price excludes the park fee and food.

“We had a amazing 3-hour safari. Communication via Whatsapp and pickup at a spot near the entrance to the park was quite smooth and easy. Our driver was very nice and the guide explained a lot of interesting things about the animals and the park. We saw lot of elephants without even standing next to a lot of other Jeeps. So it was a nice experience and we would definitely recommend it!”

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Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket with Private Safari - The choice between entry only and entry with a Jeep
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Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket with Private Safari

7.Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket with Private Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $27

Book park entry alone or pair it with a 3-hour 4x4 safari at Udawalawe. A driver-tracker such as Asunka, Shameera, Max, or Lahiru handles the route and wildlife spotting. Expect open plains, forests, marshes, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and many birds.

“Not many elephants in Sept and August they are up north in Aug and Sept. Better other times of year. Enjoyed our time with two very friendly baby elephants.”

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Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Udawalawa Safari - The early transfer from the south coast
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Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Udawalawa Safari

8.Hikkaduwa/Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Tangalle: Udawalawa Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 114 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $27

Travel from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, or Tangalle to Udawalawe National Park in an air-conditioned car. A local guide such as Pathum or Mahesh leads the 4x4 safari, with wild elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, birds, and an Elephant Transit Home visit on the plan.

“The tour through the national park was great. We were able to see most animals without being at packed spots with many other visitors. Our driver gave us plenty of time to observe the animals living there and explained all questions we had. We were picked up from our hotel from Janaka, who is a very kind person and drove safely without rush. On the way back he also took the time so we could get some lunch at a restaurant before driving us back to our hotel. We were very happy to have him as our driver!”

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Udawalawe National Park Half Day Jeep Safari (Private Tour)

9.Udawalawe National Park Half Day Jeep Safari (Private Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 112 reviews · from $22

Ride into Udawalawe National Park in a private 4x4 for about four hours, with pickup within 5 km of the hotel area. Guides such as Navee, Vishwa, and Rangana are praised for spotting elephants, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, and even tiny reptiles.

“We had the best experience yesterday at Udawalawe National Park. Our driver, Vishwa picked us up from our hotel and then took us on a four hour safari. We were fortunate enough to be able to see upwards of fifty elephants, some very close and a range of other animals such as water buffalo, deer, crocofiles, rabbits and all manner of exotic birds. It was a wonderful experience as he spoke in English and was able to talk about the animals knowledgeably and he knew exactly where to go for the best viewing opportunities. We will definitely be recommending this service.”

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From Mirissa/Galle/Hikkaduwa: Udawalawa National Park Safari - Reaching Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour drive
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From Mirissa/Galle/Hikkaduwa: Udawalawa National Park Safari

10.From Mirissa/Galle/Hikkaduwa: Udawalawa National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 106 reviews · 5 - 9 hours · from $27

Travel from Galle, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, or nearby coastal towns to Udawalawe National Park in an air-conditioned car, then ride a 4x4 jeep with an English-speaking guide. See elephants, crocodiles, deer, birds, and young elephants at the Elephant Transit Home.

“Absolutely brilliant day from start to finish. Pick up was right on time. The driver took us to pick someone else up on the way which went smoothly. The handover to our guide was easy and the day itself, including information from our young but very knowledgeable guide, was excellent. We saw many elephants, crocodiles, deer, monitor lizards and turtles. It was amazing! We also saw the baby elephants being fed at the Elephant Transit Home which was lovely to see. We had a lovely day, it was a long day (nearly 12 hours) but well worth it.”

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Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari Tours - The four-hour park drive
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Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari Tours

11.Udawalawe National Park Wildlife Safari Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · from $40

Join Kottawatta Safari Tours for a private Udawalawe National Park jeep safari of about four to four and a half hours. Your guide-driver, including experienced local guides such as Taranga, focuses on elephants, birdlife, conservation, and safe wildlife viewing. Pickup and bottled water are included, while park admission costs extra.

“The safari was an amazing experience with beautiful nature and incredible wildlife. Everything was well organized and truly enjoyable.”

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Udawalawe Safari DayTrip frm Bentota/Kalutara/Ahungalla/Hikkaduwa - The private drive from the coast
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Udawalawe Safari DayTrip frm Bentota/Kalutara/Ahungalla/Hikkaduwa

12.Udawalawe Safari DayTrip frm Bentota/Kalutara/Ahungalla/Hikkaduwa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · from $200

Travel from Bentota, Kalutara, Ahungalla, or Hikkaduwa to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour private jeep safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Early departures offer cooler conditions and better wildlife chances. Pickup, entry fees, lunch, water, and return transport are included.

“Once in a lifetime experience, could not believe how close we came to the animals in their natural environment, a day full of wonderful memories, not everything needs to be photographed, the sounds and smells are also amazing. All drivers, gRead more”

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Udawalawe Safari Adventure - The guide can make or break the outing
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Udawalawe Safari Adventure

13.Udawalawe Safari Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · from $18Best value

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”

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Udawalawe National Park Safari - From the park gate into the reserve
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Udawalawe National Park Safari

14.Udawalawe National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $27

Spend about three hours in Udawalawe National Park in an open 4x4 jeep, with an experienced driver acting as your tracker. Morning departures at 6:00 am offer cooler conditions and better wildlife-searching time. Expect elephants, birds, butterflies, rough tracks, and a private group of up to six.

“Really enjoyed our trip into Udawalawe National Park. We did a morning safari, (6am 10th March 2024). The driver was prompt and professionally friendly. The vehicle is in excellent condition. A very comfortable drive. Had a great few hours iRead more”

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Udawalawe Safari Private Day Trip with Lunch - All Inclusive - Choosing between the 4:00am, 7:00am, and 11:00am starts
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Udawalawe Safari Private Day Trip with Lunch – All Inclusive

15.Udawalawe Safari Private Day Trip with Lunch – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 69 reviews · 6 - 12 hours · from $110

Travel by private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver-guide, then spend 3 to 3.5 hours in a private jeep at Udawalawe National Park. You will also see the Elephant Transit Home milk feeding session and enjoy lunch. Dinesh and Ravin are among the drivers who may handle transfers.

“they took care of us from start to end. the pick up was on time and comfortable. the safari guide was great and knew what to look for. highly recommend.”

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New in Udawalawe National Park Safaris

★ 5.0Udawalawe National Park Safari and Elephant Transit HomeFrom $403 reviews
★ 5.0Ahangama: Udawalawe National Park Safari with Hotel PickupFrom $1104 reviews
★ 3.41-Day Tour of Both Yala and Udawalawe National ParksFrom $1184 reviews
★ 4.8Value Tour: One Day Safari Trip to Yala & Udawalawe w/ LunchFrom $5713 reviews
★ 5.0GO WILD! Double Safari Day Trip (Yala & Udawalawe) – Private & All InclusiveFrom $28023 reviews
★ 4.7Galle/Mirissa: Yala & Udawalawe Safari Day Trip with PicnicFrom $10121 reviews
★ 5.0National Park Safari & Elephant Transit Home TourFrom $1516 reviews
★ 4.8Udawalawa National Park: All-Inclusive Private Day TourFrom $8336 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawe Safari Day Trip with Return Transport – All InclusiveFrom $18032 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawe National Park 6-Hour Private Safari TourFrom $5541 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawe National Park Safari trip from Galle/Mirissa/EllaFrom $19033 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawa National Park half day SafariFrom $8532 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawe Elephant Safari: 3h Jeep Adventure (All Inclusive)From $1728 reviews
★ 5.0Private Udawalawe Safari Tour with Elephant Transit HomeFrom $17210 reviews
★ 4.5VALUE PACK! One Day Safari Tour to Yala and Udawalawa ParksFrom $10028 reviews

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