A memorable tour offers an experience that rejuvenates travelers, leaving them with fresh energy and a new perspective. Whether through cultural immersion, natural wonders, or historical sites, the impact of exploration extends beyond the journey itself. When it comes to achieving those 2 aspects within yourself, hardly anything can compete with a tour of nature.

Nature breaks the mundane city image we all have in our minds while also allowing us to breathe in the fresh air that is so absent in cities and towns. When it comes to enjoying nature’s beauty, there are several places in the world that can provide you with such an enriching experience.

However, hardly anything competes with the island nation of Sri Lanka when it comes to a nature tour. This is among the best places to visit in Sri Lanka for a trip in nature. The Udawalawe National Park is one of the best. So, let us take a look at the ultimate guide to enjoy your Udawalawe National Park trip.

How to Reach Udawalawe National Park

Before we delve deeper into the Udawalawe National Park, let’s look at how you can arrive in this paradise of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. This national park is a large 30,821-hectare natural reserve located between the borders of Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces. This puts Udawalawe National Park approximately 103 miles away from Colombo.

Luckily, despite this, there are plenty of options for tourists to visit Udawalawe National Park from Colombo, which include:

Domestic Flights

The Dickwella Airport is the closest airport to the Udawalawe National Park. From here, it will take around an hour to reach the national park. For tourists who arrive in Colombo, you can board a plane that can take you to this airport. This making it the fastest travel method for reaching Udawalawe National Park from Colombo.

Be mindful of the fact that this is also the most expensive method to cover the distance. But it does come with the benefit of being able to see the large area of the reserve from a high altitude which can be a very memorable view.

Bus Travel

For tourists who don’t mind the use of local public transport, traveling via bus is also a great option that can save a lot of money. The bus trip takes around 5-6 hours to finish the journey. It can be easily booked before you even arrive in Colombo. If you choose to take a bus, then choose the bus that is traveling to Monaragala. This particular bus makes a stop at the Udawalawe junction.

Travel via Cabs or Tuk-Tuk

The final option you have for traveling to Udawalawe National Park is to book a cab or board a tuk-tuk. Tuk-tuks are easy to hire as they are available in large numbers in Colombo. For cabs, you will have to book them beforehand so that you do not need to search for an available cab.

What is the Best Time to Visit Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe National Park can be visited year-round, as there is no single best time to explore this wildlife reserve. Each season offers unique experiences, from lush greenery after the rains to better wildlife sightings during drier months when animals gather near water sources. The wildlife species remain in the reserve throughout the year and nothing changes in your travel experience between different weather conditions of the year.

The only noteworthy thing about the time of year you can visit Udawalawe National Park is that during the winter season, the water levels in the reserve are lower which is the signal for elephants to start the mating process.

Due to this, large herds of elephants can seen roaming around during this time of the year. This making this the best time to visit the Udawalawe National Park for those who wish to see a large herd of elephants.

Wild Animals Living Within the Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park provides refuge for several endangered species facing habitat loss due to expanding human settlements. Conservation efforts within the park help protect these animals and maintain biodiversity in the region. There are plenty of wild animals in this reserve with the most famous of these being the spotted deer, leopards, wild cattle, and peacocks.

However, there are also many insects like butterflies and reptiles like lizards which also reside within the boundaries of this natural reserve. The rarest wild animal in this place is the leopard since there are only around 10-12 leopards in the entire reserve. Despite this though, they are not the most popular animal in the area.

The most popular wild animal in this area is the elephant. There are around 600-700 of them in this area. This making it a certainty that you will see them throughout the year.

Even if you have a better chance of seeing them in the winter due to their mating season. Sri Lanka is the only country in the world that provides a guarantee for sightseeing elephants during all safari adventures. This ensures that everyone will see at least one elephant in each of these safari adventures in Sri Lanka.

How to Best Enjoy a Trip In the Udawalawe National Park?

Udawalawe Safari Adventure

Tourists have 3 main ways they can enjoy their time in the Udawalawe National Park out of which the best option is to go on a safari adventure of the Udawalawe National ParkThis safari adventure lasts up to 1 day but can extended upto 2 days. During this adventure, you will be able to see almost every wildlife animal that is preserved within this national park.

Multiple companies offer a safari package inside the Udawalawe National Park. So choose carefully according to your needs and the value of the package compared to the other available options.

Walk Alongside Elephants Udawalawe National Park Elephant Trail

Other activities in this place include walking along the elephant trail of Udawalawe National Park. Along this trail, you can walk alongside the elephants from the safety of these fences and spend a long time with them. This trail also leads to the grazing grounds for elephants where you can see baby elephants more clearly in the herd.

Authorities installed elephant-proof fences along some borders of Udawalawe National Park to prevent elephants from entering nearby villages and keep domestic cattle out of protected areas. These barriers help reduce human-wildlife conflict and support conservation efforts. These barriers help minimize human-wildlife conflict and support conservation efforts.

Learn How Injured Elephants are Cared for at Elephant Transit Home

Your final option is to spend some time in the elephant transit home. This is a place that is dedicated to helping raise those elephants that cannot survive in the wild without help. Here, tourists can observe how wildlife health experts treat injuries and sickness within elephants. Travellers also witness how elephants are raised to become capable of surviving in the wild.

The staff here generally treat around 20-30 teenage elephants at once. These elephants are fed up to 4 times in one day. Before being released into the wild, these elephants are also fitted with trackers. So that they can be monitored further to ensure that they are capable of living alone in the wild.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka is one of the most naturally diverse countries in the world. Due to the diverse landscape of the island nation, it is capable of supporting a vast array of flora and fauna.

While there are several excellent tourist destinations in Sri Lanka that allow tourists to enjoy the nature preserved within Sri Lanka. The Udawalawe National Park is one of the best ways to appreciate the natural wildlife of Sri Lanka. This large natural reserve is one of the best places to spend time with the Asian elephants. Which this place is dedicated to preserving and repopulating.

It also houses several other wildlife species including mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. So, if you wish to visit the Udawalawe National Park, start by applying for your Sri Lanka tourist e-visa early on and book all your reservations in advance since there are very few places for rest near the Udawalawe National Park.

READ MORE:
Sri Lankan cities are filled with architectural masterpieces and incredible urban destinations to enjoy a luxurious touring experience. To prepare an incredible itinerary to explore the best cities in Sri Lanka, this list will come handy. Learn more at A Glimpse At Sri Lankan Cities – The Most Divine Cities In Sri Lanka To Visit.


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