Start with a safari.
06:00–10:00, four hours. For travellers who want their safari at the start of the day. Plan your arrival and any overnight stay around the confirmed departure time.
UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK · SRI LANKA
Your Udawalawe
safari guide.
Understand shared jeep prices, plan your arrival from Udawalawe, Mirissa, Ella or Tangalle, and choose a four-hour morning/afternoon or three-hour evening safari.
Explore safari seats
THE PLACE
Grasslands.
Water. Wildlife.
Udawalawe’s open grasslands and woodland surround the reservoir on the Walawe River. Asian elephants are one of its best-known residents.
Keep an eye out for spotted deer and water buffalo, birds around the water, and crocodiles near the reservoir. Wildlife is free to move; sightings are never guaranteed.
About the park · Sri Lanka wildlife department publication ↗MAKE IT YOUR DAY
Morning or afternoon safari?
Daily morning 06:00–10:00 and afternoon 13:00–17:00 safaris last four hours. Evening 15:30–18:30 lasts three hours. All times are Sri Lanka time. Choose around your arrival, pickup and onward journey. A morning safari may suit an overnight stay in Udawalawe; an afternoon session leaves more time to travel beforehand. There is no guaranteed best session for wildlife sightings.
Leave the morning free.
13:00–17:00, four hours. A later option if you prefer to travel or relax beforehand. Leave enough time to reach the meeting point.
A later-day option.
15:30–18:30, three hours. Check current seat availability. This is not a night safari.
No session guarantees particular animals or weather. Confirm the departure time with our team before travelling.
PLAN THE JOURNEY, TOO
Getting to Udawalawe
for your safari.
A shared safari seat covers your place in the safari jeep. Plan your journey to the park around your confirmed session, with time for pickup and the return or onward trip.
Staying in Udawalawe
Free hotel pickup and drop-off are included within Udawalawe. Send your accommodation name and map location to the team. Confirm the pickup point and time before setting off; your hotel address alone is not a confirmed pickup arrangement.
Ask about local pickupSafari from Mirissa or Weligama
Allow for road travel as well as your four-hour morning/afternoon or three-hour evening safari. If you want a morning session, discuss the departure time from your hotel or consider staying in Udawalawe the night before.
Ask whether a return transfer can be arranged and request its price before you commit.
Coming from Ella or Tangalle
If the safari falls between two hotel stays, confirm your pickup address, onward destination and luggage arrangements. Decide whether you need a one-way journey or a return to the same hotel.
Leave flexibility between your safari and onward travel until the team confirms the timing.
For a useful reply, send your travel date, number of adults and children, hotel or meeting point, preferred safari session and onward destination. No transfer price or departure time is confirmed by this guide.
PACK LIGHT. COME PREPARED.
A few useful things.
- Water and a snack pack are provided
- A hat, sun protection and comfortable clothing
- A charged camera or phone; binoculars are provided
- A light rain layer and a small bag for your belongings
WE ARE VISITORS HERE
Give wildlife its space.
Follow your driver’s and park staff’s instructions. Keep your voice low, never feed or approach animals, and take your litter home. Enjoy the moment without asking the driver to crowd an animal for a photograph.
PHOTO GALLERY
Wildlife and landscapes.
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Before you book.
Can a solo traveller join a shared safari?
Yes. The shared safari model lets you choose one passenger seat or several seats for your group, with up to seven passengers in each jeep. You may share with other travellers. Send a booking request and confirm safari availability with our team.
Is transport from Mirissa, Weligama, Ella or Tangalle included?
Do not assume a long-distance transfer is included in the displayed safari-seat price. Free hotel pickup and drop-off within Udawalawe. Other guests meet at the national park entrance. Agree the exact pickup or meeting time with the team. Ask the team to confirm transfer availability, pickup time, destination and any separate cost.
How does sharing lower the price?
Your displayed price includes park entry and your share of the jeep. The estimate changes with the number of people joining. It can fall as others join or rise if they cancel, and locks at the booking cutoff.
Can I choose my exact seat?
Yes. Pick an available numbered seat on the jeep, or expand the simple seat map. A selected seat is reserved only after you successfully confirm your booking.
Which session should I choose?
Daily morning 06:00–10:00 and afternoon 13:00–17:00 safaris last four hours. Evening 15:30–18:30 lasts three hours. All times are Sri Lanka time. Confirm pickup time with our team before travelling.
Are elephant sightings guaranteed?
No. Elephants and other animals move freely. Every safari is different, and no wildlife sighting is guaranteed.
Where do we meet? Is hotel pickup available?
Free hotel pickup and drop-off within Udawalawe. Other guests meet at the national park entrance. Agree the exact pickup or meeting time with the team.
How long is the safari?
Daily morning 06:00–10:00 and afternoon 13:00–17:00 safaris last four hours. Evening 15:30–18:30 lasts three hours. All times are Sri Lanka time.
Can children join?
One passenger is assigned to each seat. Contact us to confirm child tickets and seating requirements.
When do I pay?
No online payment is required. Pay the driver after your confirmed safari. Sending a booking request takes no online payment.
Can I cancel or change a booking?
Yes. Contact the safari team through the official WhatsApp support link as early as possible. Changes depend on availability and may change the shared price. Your request is complete only after the team confirms it.
Need help with your plans? Contact safari support or read the changes and cancellation policy.