Stratification: Dry Monsoon forest

Size: 30,821 Ha

Status: National Park  (Department of Wildlife Conservation - DWLC)

Altitude: 100-400m

Temperature: Mean day & night temperature are 29 & 24 degrees centigrade respectively

Annual Rainfall: Mean annual rainfall is about 1520mm

Best time of year to visit: All year round park, November to March migrant birds can be observed.

Optimum duration of stay: 1-3 nights

Accommodation Options: Kalu’s Hideaway, Centuria Inn, Luxury camping with Kulu Safari & Leopards Safari. Standard camping with Mahoora.

Highlights: Guaranteed sightings of Asian Elephants all year round. One of the best places to see Raptors in Sri Lanka and especially good during the migrant season (Nov to March). Excellent for Photography. 

Established in 1972 as Sri Lanka’s 5th National Park, Udawalawe is located in the Sabaragamuwa & Uva Provinces and includes the Udawalawe Reservoir. The park is approximately 30,821 hectares. Its altitude ranges from 100m on the plains to 373m at the top of Ulgala, the highest point within the park. The park is situated in the Dry Zone with its western sector lying in the Intermediate Zone. The park experiences an annual drought coinciding with the southwest monsoon commencing in May. The annual rainfall is about 1524 mm. Uda Walawe National Park is an all year round park with Elephants seen any time of the year. Bird watching is best during the Northern hemisphere winter (October to March) when the migrant birds can be seen in the park.

The park is mainly thorny-shrub jungle with grasslands. The savannah grasslands are dominated by Mana, Illuk and pohon. There are remnants of the Teak plantations that were planted during the time the Uda Walawe Reservoir was built. In the riverine forest Kumbuk and the endemic mandorang trees are dominant.

Udawalawe is undoubtedly the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild Asian Elephants throughout the year. Unlike other parks, Udawalawe does not have a seasonal variation in elephant numbers and it is easy to encounter a few of them at any time of the year. Morning and evenings are the best time to visit the park and late evenings give the best lighting for photography with amazing sun sets. Other mammals that can be seen include Wildboar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Jackal, Samber, Water Buffalo, Black-naped Hare, the endemic Toque Macaque and Gray Langers. If lucky, you can also see Leopard and some of the other smaller cats like Fishing cat & Jungle cat.

Udawalawe can be one of the best places to see the dry zone avifauna of Sri Lanka. By spending just two days in the park you can easily see over a 100 species during the migrant season. Udawalawe is specially known for its many species of Raptors. Some of the common birds seen include Spot-billed Pelican (Globally threatened) Little Cormorant, Grey Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Large Egret, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Green Bee-eater, Crested Tree-swift; Common, White-throated, Pied and Stork-billed Kingfisher; Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Ceylon Green Pigeon, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Crimson-backed Woodpecker, Black-shouldered Kite, Brahaminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Serpent Eagle, migrants include Booted Eagle, Common Kestral, Harries, Rosy Starlings, Black-capped Kingfisher, Wood Sand Piper, Common Sand Piper, Little Ringed Plover, Whiskered Tern, Yellow Wagtail, Forest Wagtail & Citrain Wagtail.

Being in the Dry Zone Udawalawe is home to many species of butterflies of Sri Lanka including the beautiful Banded Peacock that is attracted to the host plant - the Satin Tree which is found in the park. Other species found here include the Common Jezebel, Common Indian Crow, many species of ‘Yellows and Whites’ Common Mormon, and in the riverine forest areas Common Blue-bottle can also be seen. Uda Walawe has become a haven for Butterflies in the resent past with the large number of ‘Lantan’ trees which have taken over the vegetation of the park. This being an invasive species to the park it is considered a pest; extensive work is being carried out by the park authorities husband this tree. It cannot be eaten by any of the herbivores in the park and competes with the endemic trees. However the flowers the Lantan are a big favourite of all the butterflies and the birds.

Kalu’s Hideaway, Uda Walawe: A five bedroom eco-friendly hotel, Kalu’s Hideaway is conveniently located just 15-min drive from Uda Walawe National Park and the reservoir.   Owned by Romesh Kaluwitharana, the former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper, Kalu’s blends well into the surrounding natural environment with its with saffron colored walls, cool cement floors and open-sided dining and seating area.  The hotel offers clean and comfortable accommodation and is currently the best option outside of the Uda Walawe National Park. (More)

Kulu Safaris, Uda Walawe: Kulu Safaris are a high-end wildlife company that specialises in mobile luxury camping safaris inside the three major national parks in Sri Lanka; Uda Walawe, Wilpattu and Yala.  Kulu offers a wonderful experience that allows you to really savour and enjoy the remarkable beauty of the wilderness. (More)

Leopards Safaris, Uda Walawe:   Leopard Safaris is the vision of its owner Noel Rodrigo, a wild life specialist whose knowledge about the Sri Lankan leopard, or kotiya as it is locally known, is second to none. This luxury camping package includes accommodation, all meals, BBQ and snacks, alcoholic beverages, unlimited game drives accompanied by a wildlife specialist and entrance fees to the National Parks. (More)

Camping with Mahoora, Uda Walawe:  Mahoora Safari Camps, managed by Eco Team, one of the premier wildlife companies in the island, offers camping inside a range of national parks including Uda Walalwe.  Mahoora offer two grades of camping: luxury and standard and unlike the other competitors, Mahoora offers one-night stays in the parks which are useful when trying to keep down costs. But a two-day stay inside the parks is still recommended. (More)

Centuria Inn, Embilipitiya:  The Centuria Inn is situated close to the small town of Embilipitiya about 30-40 minutes drive from Uda Walawe National Park.  The Centuria is a simple two-plus star hotel, with 51 rooms, and is valuable for its basic comforts and close proximity to the national park. It has an appealing natural setting, with the Suriya Kanda range rising beyond Chandrika tank, best appreciated from the swimming pool and outside cafe-bar. (More)

The park entrance is on the B427 between Timbolketiya and Tanamanvila, near the 11km post. From Colombo take the A8 to Rathnapura, A4 to Palmadulla and A18 to Timbolketiya. It takes around 3.5 hours from Colombo to drive the 180Km.

Lanka Library: Click Here

Information on the beginnings of Uda Walawe National Park.