Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park is a prime wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka, covering about 30,821 hectares and becoming world-renowned for a large number of wild Asian elephants. It was set up in 1972, mainly to safeguard the catchment area of the Udawalawe Reservoir. Inside it, you get a mix of open grasslands, scrub jungle, and riverine forest edges.

People often liken it to East Africa’s savannahs, because the land stays fairly exposed and wildlife spotting feels surprisingly approachable. Together with the well-known elephant herds, the protected area also holds water buffalo, sambar deer, crocodiles, plus a good variety of birdlife. With animal sightings that tend to stay steady across the year, it has become a go-to place for eco-tourism and wildlife photography in South Asia.