Description

Udawalawe National Park is one of Sri Lanka's most visited wildlife reserves, renowned for its large resident elephant population. Situated on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces, the park covers 30,821 hectares of open scrub jungle, grasslands, and forests surrounding the Udawalawe Reservoir. Unlike many parks, elephants at Udawalawe can be spotted throughout the year in large herds, often numbering 50 or more animals. The park also shelters water buffalo, sambar deer, jackal, mongooses, and over 180 bird species. The Elephant Transit Home nearby rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves before releasing them into the wild.