Udawalawe National Park was designated as the Fifth National Park in Sri Lanka on June 30, 1972. This officially declared the Udawalawa area as a National Park. Covering an area of about 3,500 hectares. Udawalawe National Park Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the area and is known as the “Walawe Reservoir”.
Geography
The total land area of ​​Udawalawe National Park is nearly 31,000 hectares and this park becomes one of the largest parks in the island. The most common habitats in Udawalawe are dry grasslands and scrubland. Udawalawe is rich in tall grasses, shrubs and trees. These are the favorite environmental conditions of Udawalawe elephants for a significant part of the year. Grasslands, scrub land and similar plains are predominant in the park, but hilly and rocky areas are also not common.
Sri Lankan elephants can be seen in the morning. Even during the day and the high probability of experiencing the majestic animal in its natural habitat is the most attractive feature of the park. Elephants or even herds of elephants can be seen from time to time in Udawalawe. The chances of seeing a herd of Sri Lankan elephants are extremely high near the rivers and Udawalawe Reservoir. The best time to visit Udawala is during the dry season in the region, which is usually between May and September. Maximum three hours spent for udawalwe safari.
Visit around Udawalwe national parks
Moreover, the journey from Colombo or other major cities in Sri Lanka in the Western Province is long but not tiring. Also, the surrounding areas of Udawalawe are full of other famous attractions and tourist destinations. For example, the Wadulpane limestone caves, hot springs and elephant sanctuary are located near the Udawalawa National Park. Also these factors contribute to enhancing the overall brilliance and importance of Udawalawe as one of Sri Lanka’s leading tourist destinations.
