With herds of elephants, wild buffalos, sambars and spotted deer, and giant squirrels, this Sri Lankan national park is one of the nation’s finest. In fact, for elephant watching, Uda Walawe often surpasses many of the most famous East African national parks. The park, which centres on the 308.2-sq-km Uda Walawe Reservoir, is lightly vegetated, but it has a stark beauty, and the lack of dense vegetation makes game watching easy.
Elephants are Uda Walawe’s key attraction, with around 600 in the park in herds of up to 50. There’s an elephant-proof fence around the perimeter of much of the park, (supposedly) preventing elephants from getting out into areas with a higher human population and cattle from getting in. Elephants can and do migrate into and out of the park along unfenced borders. The best time to observe herds is from 6.30am to 10am and again from 4pm to 6.30pm.
Alongside its famous elephant herds, the park is home to mongooses, jackals, water monitor lizards, lots of crocodiles, sloth bears and the occasional leopard. There are 30 varieties of snake and a wealth of birdlife – 210 species at last count; northern migrants join the residents between November and April.
The Udawalawe Reservoir is a beautiful scenic lake located just a few minutes from Seeing Green Udawalawa. It offers stunning views, peaceful surroundings, and is a great place to enjoy sunsets, bird watching, and relaxing nature walks.
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Here, orphaned or sick elephants are fed and cared for until they are strong enough to be returned to the wild.
The centre allows you to visit at the feeding times of 10.30am, 2.30pm, and 6.30pm. From behind a barrier you can watch the elephants ambling along behind a keeper, into the compound where they will be fed milk through plastic hoses with funnels attached, some stamping and trumpeting with impatience.
Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya stands majestically on a rocky mountain as ample evidence to prove that this temple has been blessed by the saintly monks who spent their time in peaceful meditation.
Situated in the Ratnapura district belonging to the Atakalan Korale Thambagamu Pattu Pallebedda Village the Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya lies on the outskirts of Ratnapura – Hambantota main road near the 24th milepost. From here a distance of about 150 yds, is the rock mountain wherein the ruins of buildings, a Bo tree, a dagoba, and a cave Deralaya have been found.
Maduwanwela Walawwa is a walawwa (colonial manor house) which is situated in the town of Kolonne, which is located between Embilitpiya and Suriyakanda in the Ratnapura district. This manor house dates back to the King Wimaladharmasuriya II. It was initially built by Maduwanwela Maha Mohottala in the 1700s and was later modified and expanded several times by the Maduwanwela family until 1905. The final expansion was undertaken by Maduwanwela Maha Disawe. Back in the day this manor house had 121 rooms, 21 inner courtyards and 80 000 acres of land surrounding it. At present only 43 rooms are left. The house was taken over by the Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka in 1974 and converted into a museum.
Wavulpane Limestone Cave is one of the largest natural limestone caves in Sri Lanka, located about one hour from Seeing Green Udawalawa. This fascinating underground cave system features impressive rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites formed over thousands of years.
The cave is also home to a large population of bats and offers a unique adventure for visitors interested in geology and nature. Exploring Wavulpane Cave gives travelers a chance to experience a hidden natural wonder and learn about the island’s ancient geological history.
It is a great destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers visiting the Udawalawa region
The Madunagala Hot Wells sometimes referred to as ‘Madunagala Hot Springs’ is a unique attraction in Hambantota, as it is the only type of attraction that has a stark resemblance to that of the Kanniya Hot Springs in northern Trincomalee. Similar to its northern counterpart, the Madunagala Hot Springs is also known for its unique healing waters, which has attracted visitors from around the country to immerse themselves in. Scientific research claims that this is due to the geothermal heating that takes place before it reaches the well, that gives the water 22 important minerals, such as sulphate, nitrate, and chloride to name but three of the prominent ones.
A UNESCO World Heritage rainforest, Sinharaja is one of Sri Lanka’s most important biodiversity hotspots. The Morningside entrance provides access to pristine rainforest trails where visitors can experience rare wildlife, exotic birds, and untouched tropical nature.
The mountain town of Ella is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular travel destinations. Surrounded by lush hills and tea plantations, visitors can explore famous attractions such as Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, and Ravana Falls.
Discover the natural beauty of Sri Lanka’s southern coastline. Kalametiya is known for its bird sanctuary and peaceful lagoon, while Ussangoda is famous for its unique red soil landscape and dramatic ocean views.
Kataragama is one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred pilgrimage towns, visited by people of many religions. The temple complex and spiritual atmosphere make it a unique cultural and religious destination.
The Ridiyagama Safari Park is Sri Lanka’s first open-range safari zoo where visitors can see animals such as lions, elephants, and other wildlife while traveling through different themed zones in safari vehicles.
