About this experience
Depart Hikkaduwa in a private, air-conditioned vehicle as your English-speaking chauffeur drives you to Udawalawe National Park — one of Sri Lanka's premier wildlife sanctuaries and home to a resident elephant population that rivals any African reserve. The park's open grasslands and scrub forest spread across 30,821 hectares just south of the Central Highlands, whose escarpment forms a dramatic backdrop as you enter. A 1-litre bottle of mineral water per person is included for the road.
Board a jeep inside the park and spend the safari scanning the banks of the Udawalawe reservoir, where herds of elephants gather alongside water buffalo, crocodiles, and a rich variety of birdlife. Note that park entrance tickets, meals, and gratuities are not included, so carry local currency. The full day runs approximately 8 hours, with hotel pick-up and drop-off arranged for travellers aged 5 and above.
