Quick answer
The Udawalawe version of the 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary replaces the night at Tissamaharama with a night beside Udawalawe National Park, roughly two to two and a half hours from Ella. An afternoon jeep safari of around three hours almost always finds wild elephants on the open grassland around the reservoir, and the Elephant Transit Home next door lets you watch orphaned calves at feeding time. Day 8 drives roughly two to two and a half hours to Mirissa. Leopards, however, are rarely seen.
Key takeaways
- Udawalawe National Park is roughly two to two and a half hours from Ella, similar to the drive to Yala.
- Wild elephants are seen on almost every Udawalawe safari, thanks to open grassland around the reservoir.
- The Elephant Transit Home, beside the park, rehabilitates orphaned calves for release and allows viewing only at feeding times.
- Udawalawe usually has fewer jeeps than Yala's Block 1, which makes for a calmer drive.
- The trade-off is leopards: they live in Udawalawe but are rarely seen, unlike in Yala.
What changes in the Udawalawe version of the 10-day route
The Udawalawe version of the 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary changes only days 7 and 8. Everything from the airport to Ella, and from Mirissa to Galle and the airport, stays the same, and the night count is identical: Sigiriya three, Kandy one, Ella two, Udawalawe one, Mirissa two.
The drive times are almost the same too, because Udawalawe sits south-west of Ella on a direct line towards the south coast, while Yala sits south-east.
- →Day 7: Ella to Udawalawe, roughly two to two and a half hours; Elephant Transit Home feeding; afternoon safari.
- →Day 8: optional early safari, then Udawalawe to Mirissa, roughly two to two and a half hours.
- →Days 9 and 10: unchanged; whales or beach, then Galle and the airport.
Why choose Udawalawe over Yala
Udawalawe National Park is built around a large reservoir surrounded by open grassland and scrub, which makes wildlife easy to see. It supports a large elephant population, and family groups grazing, bathing and playing near the water are seen on almost every drive.
Yala is more varied and holds leopards and sloth bears in much greater numbers, but its most visited section, Block 1, can be crowded, and a safari there can feel like a hunt for one animal. Udawalawe is calmer, more predictable and better suited to anyone for whom the elephants are the point.
- →Choose Udawalawe for near-certain elephants and a calmer safari.
- →Choose Yala for the best chance of a leopard and a wider range of animals.
- →Choose Udawalawe if Yala is closed, usually for part of roughly September to October.
The Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe
The Elephant Transit Home, on the edge of Udawalawe National Park, cares for orphaned and injured elephant calves and releases them into the wild once they are old enough. Visitors watch from a viewing platform at set feeding times, when the calves come in to drink milk, and there is no riding, bathing or touching.
Feeding times are fixed several times a day; confirm them locally and time your arrival from Ella to catch one before the afternoon safari. It is a short visit, roughly 30 to 45 minutes, and particularly popular with children.
Who the Udawalawe version suits best
The Udawalawe version of the 10-day route suits families with young children, since the sightings are reliable and the calves at the Transit Home are a highlight. It also suits older travellers, first-time safari-goers and anyone who dislikes busy jeep tracks.
Wildlife enthusiasts and photographers chasing leopards should stay with Yala, ideally with two drives. Travellers who want both can extend the trip by a night and visit both parks, which the two-week extension of this route covers.
- →Families with young children: reliable elephants and a shorter, calmer drive.
- →Older travellers: open, flat terrain and fewer rough tracks.
- →Leopard hunters: stay with Yala.
Where to stay for the Udawalawe night
Udawalawe has a smaller range of accommodation than Tissamaharama, from simple guesthouses to a handful of comfortable safari lodges and tented camps, most within a short drive of the park entrance. Book early in the December to April season.
Some travellers stay on the coast instead and drive to Udawalawe as a long day trip, but it adds several hours of driving and misses the relaxed evening near the park. On the 10-day route, a night beside the park is the better plan.
Planning the Udawalawe version
Arrange the jeep through your lodge or a reputable operator, ask for a driver who keeps a respectful distance, and check Elephant Transit Home feeding times the day before. Park entry is paid at the gate and charged at a higher rate for foreign visitors.
Lankan Stays & Trails recommends the Udawalawe version to many of our family guests, and we arrange jeeps with drivers who switch off the engine near the herds. The site's Udawalawe safari guide covers the park in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Is Udawalawe better than Yala?
For elephants, yes: sightings in Udawalawe are close to certain and the park is calmer. For leopards and variety, Yala is better, with one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Choose by what you most want to see and how you feel about busy jeep tracks.
How far is Udawalawe from Ella?
Roughly two to two and a half hours by car, via Wellawaya or the road through Kumbalwela. The descent from the hills is winding at first. From Udawalawe to Mirissa is a further two to two and a half hours, which makes it an easy fit on a 10-day route.
Can you see leopards in Udawalawe?
Leopards live in Udawalawe but are rarely seen, because the park has fewer and more elusive individuals than Yala. If a leopard sighting is a priority, choose Yala and take two drives. Udawalawe is the park for elephants.
Is the Elephant Transit Home ethical?
The Elephant Transit Home rehabilitates orphaned calves and releases them into the wild, and visitors only watch from a platform at feeding times, with no riding or contact. It is widely regarded as one of the more responsible ways to see young elephants in Sri Lanka.
Is Udawalawe good for kids?
Yes, it is one of the best parks in Sri Lanka for children. Elephant sightings are almost guaranteed, the terrain is open and easy to see across, and the calves at the Elephant Transit Home are popular. Afternoon drives of around three hours suit most families.
Can I visit both Udawalawe and Yala?
Not comfortably in 10 days without losing a beach night. With 11 or more days, spend one night at each: Udawalawe after Ella, then Yala, then the coast. The two-week extension of this route shows how that works.