Udawalawe Safaris: 15 Jeep Days with the Elephants

1.Udawalawe National Park: Elephant Safari with Expert Guide

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

Take a private 4x4 safari through Udawalawe National Park, where elephants are the main attraction and crocodiles, deer, jackals, buffalo, and birds may also appear. Your driver-guide leads the search, with guides such as Gimhana praised for spotting wildlife and explaining what you see. Choose a four-hour outing or a longer option, which includes lunch and water.

“This was the activity of a lifetime. I had a breathtaking experience on the 2pm safari. We saw so many different animals. Worth every dime. Gimhana was great. He knew all the animals and was always stopping whenever we saw even the smallest animal. I love birds so we stopped a lot and he was super helpful. I would recommend doing this safari if you love animals”

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

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

Bentota Travel Mart runs private Udawalawe day trips from coastal towns including Bentota, Kalutara, Ahungalla, and Hikkaduwa. Expect an early drive, a three-hour safari in a private jeep, and a visit to the Elephant Transit Home. Pickup, park fees, lunch, and bottled water are included. Drivers named in past trips include Danishe and Janith.

“Seeing the baby elephants feeding And the wild ones the driver was very good we had a fabulous time thank you 😊”

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3.03 Days Highlights Of Sigiriya,Kandy,Nuwara Eliya ,Ella & Udawalawe

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 61 reviews · from $265

Leave Colombo early for a fast-paced, two-night circuit through Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Udawalawe. An English-speaking driver-guide handles the transport and overnight stays; you pay separately for major sights and the safari. Drivers vary, with past tours led by guides such as Aaron, CJ and Chathu.

“The scenery throughout journey the punctuality of the driver and his skilful driving we highly recommend Roxanne??he would do anything for you and very professional service”

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4.UDAWALAWA SAFARI TOUR from HAMBANTOTA PORT (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 48 reviews · 1 day · from $51

Travel from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe National Park in a safari jeep with an English-speaking guide. Look for elephants, crocodiles, water buffalo, and birds, with binoculars, water, and cool drinks provided. The Elephant Transit Home is part of the experience description, but confirm its timing and add its entrance fee, along with the park ticket, to your budget.

“Both our main driver, Hansa, and our safari driver, Pathum, were exceptional professionals. Communication regarding the excursion details and any changes in pickup times was efficient. Despite the long drive, time seemed to fly by thanks to some great conversation with Hansa. Pathum went above and beyond to ensure we had the best opportunity to see as many animals as possible. He expertly spotted wildlife and made sure we were able to get close to the animals while maintaining safety. His knowledge and passion for the wildlife truly enhanced the experience. The only downside was the cost, which felt a bit steep, especially considering it was a shared van and…”

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5.Udawalawa National Park: All-Inclusive Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 36 reviews · 1 day · from $83

Travel to Udawalawe in a private air-conditioned vehicle, then spend three hours in a safari jeep with an English-speaking driver-guide. Guides including Pathum and Koshala have led trips with close elephant sightings and wildlife spotting. Park entry, highway tolls, and a snack are included; pickup is available from select locations.

“Overall great safari trip. We were picked up on time by our friendly transfer driver, Janaka. On arrival we had a nice lunch included and then our guide Pathum drove us round the park. He was an excellent driver, helped spotting animals and made our experience perfect. We saw so many different types of animals and birds. Highly recommend this activity.”

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6.VALUE PACK! One Day Safari Tour to Yala and Udawalawa Parks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · from $100

Set aside 10 to 12 hours for this private safari day from Bentota: a five-hour 4x4 drive in Yala, a picnic lunch, three hours in Udawalawe, and a visit to its Elephant Transit Home. Transport, a safari jeep, bottled water, and an English-speaking driver-guide are included. Park entrance fees are extra.

“We had a fantastic time on the safari! Our tour guide, Nipun, was wonderful. We saw an abundance of wildlife including the sloth bear! I would definitely recommend to anyone!”

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7.All inclussive Udawalawa National Park Safari From Colombo

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 11 reviews · 12 hours · from $225

Leave Colombo early for the roughly five-hour drive to Udawalawe National Park. Spend about three hours on a shared jeep safari, then stop for lunch at your own expense and visit the Elephant Transit Home. Transport, park tickets, transit-home entry, and bottled water are included. The operator does not provide a guide’s name in advance.

“Excellent ! Je recommande vivement. Merci à notre guide c’etait juste incroyable commise journée”

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8.Udawalawa Safari & Elephant Transit Home Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 11 reviews · 12 hours · from $128

Leave Colombo by private, air-conditioned vehicle for the four-hour drive to Udawalawe. A jeep safari searches for elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife, followed by a visit to the Elephant Transit Home. An English-speaking guide leads the trip; names associated with the tour include Koshala and Pathum, though assignments can vary. Lunch and entrance fees cost extra.

“The location was beautiful, seeing the baby elephants at ETC and those in the park”

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9.All Inclusive Udawalawe National Park Safari Day Tour from Colombo and Negombo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $335

Ride from Colombo or Negombo in private air-conditioned transport with an English- or German-speaking chauffeur guide, then join a separate private 4x4 safari at Udawalawe. The park is known for its Asian elephants, with crocodiles, spotted deer, water buffalo, and mongooses also possible. Guides named on the tour include Dilan and Mindika, though assignments can vary.

“Was an amazing trip. The driver was an excellent driver, Dilan was an excellent narrator and guide. He knew about all the animals and was alert to our needs. We saw elephants, crocodiles, mongooses, spotted deer, water buffalo, and dozens Read more”

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10.Private Udawalawe Safari Tour with Elephant Transit Home

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $172

From Bentota and nearby coastal towns, ride in an air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe for a private three-hour jeep safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home to learn about elephant care and see baby elephants being fed. Park and transit-home fees are included. Guides named Tony and Dom have earned praise for clear explanations and fluent English.

“Tony was excellent, very knowledgeable and explained everything perfectly. A trip not to be missed. As we English say…perfect. Thank you for a memorable experience”

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11.Udawalawe Safari Day Trip from South Region & Transfer to Ella

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $180

Travel by private vehicle with a driver-guide to Udawalawe National Park, then explore by safari jeep for about three to three and a half hours. Look for wild elephants, deer, monkeys, crocodiles, and birds before visiting the Elephant Transit Home. Transport, entry fees, lunch, and bottled water are included. Confirm the final drop-off in Ella before booking.

“Easy pick up from right outside the cruise ship then smooth transfer onto the jeeps. Great lunch afterwards then onto the elephant orphanage… all smooth and very professional”

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12.Half Day Udawalawe Safari from Kalutara (Entrance + Lunch)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $190

Leave Kalutara, Wadduwa, or Bentota at 6:00 am in an air-conditioned vehicle for Udawalawe National Park. A private Jeep and driver-guide take you on a three-hour safari to look for elephants, wetland birds, and other wildlife. Park entry, water and refreshments, lunch, and return transport are included. The outing lasts about 12 hours.

“It is a great opportunity to see the amazing wildlife - elephants, crocs, birds, deers, chameleons... Fully enjoyed the beauty of the natural park with a knowledgeable guide”

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13.All Inclusive Udawalawa National Park Day Tour From Negombo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $275

Leave Negombo at 6:00 am in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur, then visit Udawalawe National Park by safari jeep. Pickup, drop-off, bottled water, park fees, and a Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch are included. You travel with your own group, with about 12 hours set aside for the full day.

“A very long day but well worth it . Collected from hotel and we had our own driver for the whole day. Drove through some amazing countryside . The park was incredible, saw lots of elephant and birds . Great food in an amazing restaurant before home .”

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14.Udawalawe Elephant Safari: 3h Jeep Adventure (All Inclusive)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $172

From Bentota, travel by air-conditioned car to Udawalawe’s Elephant Transit Home, then take a 3-hour 4x4 safari with a local wildlife guide. Park tickets, bottled water, and fees are included. The full day takes about 10 to 12 hours. Lunch is optional, so choose a package that includes it if you want a meal covered.

“We really enjoyed the Udawalawe safari park. We saw many elephants, peacocks and other animals and we had a great day. Thank you for being our guide.”

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15.2 Days Tour of Double Safari (Yala & Udawalawe) – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $375

Spend two days with a private English-speaking driver-guide, a Yala evening safari, and a morning safari in Udawalawe, known for its wild elephants. The package includes a three-star hotel, meals, park fees, safari jeep, and pickup and drop-off across a wide stretch of Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts. An elephant facility and a hilltop temple add two different stops.

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