Wildlife safari, Udawalawe national park

Wildlife safari, Udawalawe national park

    Udawalawe national park is famous for its large herd of the Asian elephant and water buffaloes, situated 165 km from Colombo in the southeastern part of the country. The park is covered with open grassland and thorny – shrub jungle which remembering the Game Parks in Africa. Due to this landscape, Udawalawe is the best park to watch and photograph a large herd of wild Asian elephants.

    The large scattered areas of grasslands and thorny-shrubs while tall trees close to Walawe River most favours for birdlife where Large prinia, White-browed prinia, Ashy prinia, Franklins prinia, Yellow-eyed babbler, White-throated babbler, White-rumped shama, Brown-capped babbler, Black-fronted babbler, Common & Marshall’s Iora, Ceylon grey hornbill, Blue-faced malkoha, White-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Blyth’s Pipit, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, etc. are common.

    Udawalawe national park is famous for its large herd of the Asian elephant and water buffaloes, situated 165 km from Colombo in the southeastern part of the country. The park is covered with open grassland and thorny – shrub jungle which remembering the Game Parks in Africa. Due to this landscape, Udawalawe is the best park to watch and photograph a large herd of wild Asian elephants.

    The large scattered areas of grasslands and thorny-shrubs while tall trees close to Walawe River most favours for birdlife where Large prinia, White-browed prinia, Ashy prinia, Franklins prinia, Yellow-eyed babbler, White-throated babbler, White-rumped shama, Brown-capped babbler, Black-fronted babbler, Common & Marshall’s Iora, Ceylon grey hornbill, Blue-faced malkoha, White-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Blyth’s Pipit, Ceylon Jungle Fowl, etc. are common.

Most Striking Feature

    If you are coming from Tanamalwila – Udawalawe road, a 4 km drive on Udawalawe dam gives you the feeling that you are going to disappearing into infinity. The scenery on the Uadawalawe dam in the evening is one of the most spectacular sceneries that can be seen in Sri Lanka. On your right side huge Udawalawe reservoir, on your left spill of the reservoir and the misty Kaltota mountain range in front of you.

Landscape & Views

    Since the lands in the park used for Chena cultivation (shifting cultivation) before the establishment of the park, the park is covered with open grassland and thorny – shrub jungle which resemble the Game Parks in Africa. Due to this landscape, Udawalawe is the best park to watch and photograph large herds of elephants.

    Walawe River makes the south boundary of the park where you can see a line of old Teak trees make the surrounding calm and quiet. The escarpment of the central highland can be seen on the north side of the park that makes picturesque views on the Udawalawe Bridge in the evening.

Biodiversity & Rare Species

    Udawalawe national park is famous for its large herds of Asian elephants and water buffalos. Around 600 elephants roam within the park. Other than elephants and water buffalos, water monitors, lizards, sambar deer, monkeys, wild boar, serpents, golden palm civets and the occasional Leopard can be seen. There are about 43 mammals, 33 reptiles, 12 amphibians, 135 species of butterflies, and 184 species of birds that can be seen in the park.

Access

    Udawalawe national park is located 1 and a half hours’ drive from Tangalle and Hambantota and 2 and half hours’ drive from Bandarawela and Ella, the main tourist destinations in the country.

    The entrance for the Park is at the 7th miles post from Udawalawe junction on the Tanamalwila road.

    Visiting hours for the Park - 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Mode of safaris - Only Jeep safaris

    Best time of the day to visit the Park - 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

    Best months to visit the Park - Throughout the year.

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