Is driving to Udawalawe safe?

Getting to Udawalawe is generally safe; most of the main roads that connect from Colombo, the southern coast, and Ella are well paved and honestly quite scenic. Still, the driving culture in Sri Lanka calls for hypervigilance, because things can change quickly and you need to keep your attention wide open.

You have to be ready to share the road with aggressive buses, stray dogs, and tuk-tuks, and yes, it can feel a little intense at times. Most importantly, as you come nearer to the Udawalawe area, wild elephants often stand by the roadside. This happens especially near those electric fences, so you should ease up early.

• Drive slowly, try not to use the horn, and never stop too close to a wild elephant even for a short moment, because that can turn dangerous fast.