Udawalawe Safari Transfers – 3 to 5 Hours

1. 1

   Pickup & Transfer

   Pickup from your hotel in Galle, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Weligama, or Mirissa. Comfortable 3-5 hour journey to Udawalawe National Park.

2. 2

   Safari Experience

   Arrive at Udawalawe and enjoy your safari experience (jeep and entrance tickets can be arranged separately or included in full-day package).

3. 3

   Return Transfer

   Return transfer to your hotel on the same day.

Morning safari

Starts at about 6:00 am and runs three to four hours. It means an early pick-up: from the south coast the drive to the park gate takes roughly 1 h 40 min to 2 h 40 min depending on where you stay, so you leave while it is still dark. You are back on the road by mid-morning, with the rest of the day free.

Afternoon safari

Starts at about 3:00 pm and also runs three to four hours, finishing as the park closes. The drive home is after dark, so it suits travellers who would rather not get up at 3 am.

Where the Transit Home fits

The noon feeding pairs naturally with a morning safari, and a midday arrival lets you catch it before an afternoon one. The 9:00 am and 3:00 pm feedings overlap with the safari slots, so they suit a day built the other way round.

Jeep hire and park tickets are arranged separately, or included in a full-day package on request. Meals are not included.

Feeding times

9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm, as published by four independent guides. A few listings show different times (for example 10:30 am, 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm), so treat the schedule as a guide and confirm it on the day.

How long to allow

The feeding itself lasts about 20 to 30 minutes. Plan 30 to 60 minutes in all, and arrive 10 to 20 minutes early to get a good place at the viewing area.

Entrance

Paid at the gate, and separate from the national park ticket. Published guides give about US$5 for foreign adults and less for children aged 6 to 12; confirm the current rate when you arrive.

House rules

Visitors may not touch the calves or pose for photographs beside them. Weekends and school holidays are the busiest times.

After a morning safari

Stop at the Transit Home for the 12:00 pm feeding on your way out, then take a late lunch wherever suits you. Meals are not included, so you are free to choose.

After an afternoon safari

Expect to drive back after dark. A comfortable air-conditioned vehicle and a driver who knows the road matter most here, which is why this is a private transfer rather than a shared one.

Back at your hotel

You are returned the same day to the hotel you were collected from, by the same road. The map below shows each pick-up point and the typical driving time.

• Udawalawe National Park
• Wildlife viewing
• Private transport
• Flexible timing

• Department of Wildlife Conservation, Sri Lanka — The authority that manages the park
• Udawalawe National Park — Park background and the Transit Home's history
• Elephant Transit Home: feeding times and tickets — Schedule, ticket prices and visit length
• Udawalawe jeep safari guide — Safari slots, duration and what to expect
• FAQ about the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home — Arrival tips and visitor rules
• Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home: visit guide — A second published feeding schedule
• Best time to visit the Elephant Transit Home — More on timing a visit

Driving times and the route map are estimates built from OpenStreetMap road data. Feeding times and entry fees are published by third parties and change, so confirm them on the day.