Plants, Trees & Vegetation

Udawalawe has this classic dry-zone ecosystem, basically led by drought-tolerant scrub jungle, open grassland areas, often called pathana, and a scattering of deciduous trees. The plants have really adjusted to endure harsh dry periods; then, when the monsoon arrives, heavy rains come in too, and they still manage to keep going.

What grows there depends a lot on where you are inside the park:

• In the grasslands, Imperata cylindrica (Cogon grass) and Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) take over the open plains, and they act like the main feed source for many herbivores.
• Along the riverine forests, close to the Walawe River and reservoir, you’ll notice larger evergreens doing well because the water table stays more stable there.
• For scrub jungle, you find thorny bushes and tough shrubs such as Lantana camara making tight, dense thickets that offer shelter for smaller wildlife too.