Can I visit Udawalawe before going to Yala?

Yes, going to Udawalawe before Yala is a pretty sensible and often-used route for travellers moving from Sri Lanka’s central highlands or the west coast towards the deep south.

A lot of plans include coming from Ella to Udawalawe for an afternoon safari, and staying overnight there, before driving to Tissamaharama the next morning to set up a visit to Yala National Park. That order works really well for wildlife watching, so you can give your full attention to Udawalawe’s elephants first before shifting focus to Yala’s leopards.