Private Tour
Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a guided safari with our naturalist, Ruwan joining you in the back of the jeep and provide uninterrupted commentary during the safari, where you have a chance to explore the amazing Udawalawe National Park. Travel through the marshes, forests, and grasslands of the park that was created as a sanctuary for wildlife in the 1970s.
The park is famous for its Sri Lankan elephants and with Ruwan you can learn all about the gentle giants and what makes the Sri Lankan elephant different from its Indian and African cousins.
Although famous for its elephants, Udawalawe National Park is a famous birdwatching hotspot. Ruwan is a trained bird watcher with a hawk eye to spotting Udawalawe's most exotic collection of birds. Be sure not to miss out on the park's avian life.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
This short but unforgettable safari will take you to some of the best haunts of wildlife within the Udawalawe National Park. With the support of your safari guide you will be able to catch sight of a number of flora and fauna native to Sri Lanka. The safari is designed to give you an understanding of animals in the wild, and will bring you many steps closer to raw nature. You will be travelling in the rough terrain open Safari Jeep for the most part. But there may be points where your guide may suggest getting off and walking closer for a clear view of birds and other small wildlife. However, the safari takes serious consideration of your safety and therefore, with regards to the wild elephants and other larger wildlife, it is strongly advised that you do not descend from your jeep for safety purposes (especially when coming upon lone elephants, which may get aggressive when disturbed).
What‘s Included
Park entrance tickets are included when "Jeep With Tickets" selected.
Experienced safari driver.
Complimentary Hotel pickup and drop-off from a hotel located withing 5km from park entrance gate.
Experienced English-speaking naturalist.
4x4 Safari Jeep (Maximum of 6 Passengers per jeep).
Hotel pickup and drop-off if outside of 5km of park entrance gate.
Park entrance tickets are excluded when "Jeep with No Tickets" selected.
Food and drinks.
Gratuities.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Jeep with No Tickets (6 hrs)
LK50A02F00: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with No Tickets (6 hrs)
Pickup included
Jeep with No Tickets (3 hrs)
LK50A02C00: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with No Tickets (3 hrs)
Jeep with Tickets (6 hrs)
LK50A02F01: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with Tickets (6 hrs)
Pickup included
Jeep with Tickets (9 hrs)
LK50A02I01: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with Tickets (9 hrs)
Jeep with Tickets (3 Hours)
LK50A02C01: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with Tickets (3 hrs)
Jeep with No Tickets (9 hrs)
LK50A02I00: Udawalawe National Park Private Safari with Naturalist including Jeep with No Tickets (9 hrs)
Pickup included
Reviews
31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing Experience!
Idreamtmusic,,Jan 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most amazing experience. Kanishka was super friendly and handled everything for us. The day of the safari our driver, Asanka, went above and beyond to make sure we had the best time. This was a highlight of our trip. Highly recommended.
Amazing experience
Miroslav Markov,,Jan 30, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Guaranteed to see elephants! We saw 6 elephants, lots of peacocks, green bee eater, storks, great egrets and many other birds, spotted deers, water buffalos, mongoose, lizard and some crocodiles. Our guide (naturalist) was well experienced, sent to us huge information about park and animals. The driver was perfect for this off road trip.
Magical sunset elephants and wildlife
Wendy T,,Aug 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a magical experience for our whole family! To see elephants at sunset was one of the highlights of our entire trip. The guide and driver were both really experienced and answered all the questions we had about birds, wildlife and of course, elephants! My daughter kept a tally and we saw 30 elephants in 6 or 8 distinct groups. In addition to elephants, we saw numerous green bee eaters, kingfishers, storks, egrets, hawks and eagles. We watched as a crocodile caught fish and an eagle ate lizards from a tree. There were mongoose, hares and tons of adorable monkeys. We learned a lot about how old the elephants are and about their lives, as well as understanding more about how climate change is affecting their water supply and population.
Great Safari!
Rachel 27487,,Aug 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I booked a private safari for 12 people as part of a company gathering with a team of different nationalities and ages. Ashan was very responsive throughout the easy booking process and made my life much easier! The team really enjoyed the tour and loved seeing the elephants but all of the different animals they wouldn't have spotted on their own. Great experience all round
Great day out with experienced naturalist
jouwei,,Feb 22, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent day out with Ruwan! Very knowledgeable and friendly naturalist. Spotted a load of animals we wouldn't have noticed.
An unforgettable and catch-free experience
tfpbl,,Mar 23, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00In a few words: Ruwan is a competent and dedicated guide, plan 6 hours if you can (you have to be patient), and this Service allows you not to have to manage costs, find a guide, or be disappointed by unpleasant surprises. The Udawalawe Park is really a must on a trip to Sri Lanka, and to be sure to make the most of it, I strongly recommend entrusting this experience to Ruwan, a patient, dedicated, passionate and extraordinary guide! We opted for a 6am excursion, and were not disappointed, far from it! Rather than having to navigate the various costs and services on our own (park entrance, hire the jeep and driver, find a competent guide), this experience allows you not to have to stress or leave things to chance. Ruwan speaks very good English, and takes care of the itinerary and the day. He is patient, knows when to land and wait to see a baby elephant, or when to move on. He has plenty of knowledge about park animals, all birds and is a very nice person to be around. I loved it.
Amazing Safari!!
935aur liec,,Mar 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I 100% recommend this safari with Ruwan!! Ruwan was so nice and funny, we saw a lot of animals that we couldn't have seen without his amazing eyes :) The National Park is wild and super natural, you can get close to the animals while preserving their safety and well-being. Thanks so much Ruwan, hope to see you again. We had so much fun with you! The 2 frenchies
Amazing experience with a really knowledgeable guide
780nadines,,Jan 6, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I can not recommend Ruwan and this safari, more highly, it was a truly amazing and perfect trip! Ruwans knowledge and experience really made this extra special. He knows where to go and what to look out for, and enabled us to see so much of this beautiful national park. HIs English was great and he was very funny and engaging.
Great, would do it again
MarcellO256,,Dec 1, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a really good time on this safari. We were picked up punctually at the national park gates, actually we were the first ones to enter the park. Our guide was very knowledgeable and also spoke good English. We saw elephants (really up close, within touching distance), crocodiles, a lot of birds, dear, wild boar. The tour took 3 hours which was enough. I can recommend it very much. I would suggest doing the morning tour as it gets very hot.
Incredible Safari with an Amazing Guide
woodford10,,Mar 22, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We (two of us) booked the 6 hour tour only a couple days before we wanted to take the Safari, Lakpura confirmed our tour very quickly and Ruwan kept in contact the whole time meaning they picked us at our hotel at half 5 in the morning no problem. They took us to the park and our driver ran to pick up our entrance tickets, which are in addition to the driver and car fee (what you pay for online), so was just less than 8000LKR (the driver gave us our change), they give you the option to go pick up your tickets yourself but you'll end up further back in the queue, unless you sprint. On a side note I was reluctant to book a whole jeep for just two of us but actually it seems like almost everyone does this. You're then in the park and it's pretty incredible, we saw elephants almost immediately. This is where Ruwan really came into his own, the amount he spotted was crazy all manner of birds and animals, letting us use his binoculars to get a better view. I honestly don't think we would've noticed all the crocodiles without Rowan, he also clearly knew all the best haunts for elephants and the like. I really can't write enough praise for Rowan, his passion made the Safari, and also took loads of pictures of us and sent them across. My last comment is that I recommend the 6 hour trip, it made sure we saw loads of animals and you have that extra more quiet period in the park where the 3 hour tours leave.
Related Experiences
Operated by Lakpura LLC