Can I see freshwater turtles in Udawalawe?

Yes, freshwater turtles, mainly the Indian Flapshell Turtle and the Parker’s Black Turtle, can be seen around Udawalawe.

These aquatic reptiles live in the Udawalawe Reservoir, as well as in smaller seasonal waterholes, and also within the Walawe River system. Most often, they are noticed sunning themselves on logs or sitting on muddy banks during the drier stretch of the year, when the water level goes down. A seasoned safari tracker is useful to spot them, because their dark shells often blend with the muddy shoreline, and you can barely tell at first.