Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is the best place in Sri Lanka to observe wild Asian elephants. The park holds a permanent resident herd of over 600 elephants, and the open grassland around the Udawalawe reservoir means elephants are almost always visible from the jeep track with clear sightlines. Herds of 50-100 elephants in a single half-day drive are common during the dry season. Unlike Yala, which is known for leopards, Udawalawe almost guarantees elephant encounters in large numbers, making it the recommended choice for visitors whose primary goal is elephant observation. The park also holds water buffalo, spotted and sambar deer, jackal, crocodile, and an excellent range of waterbirds around the reservoir. An elephant transit home adjacent to the park boundary rehabilitates orphaned calves before releasing them back to the wild.