Experience wildlife, responsibly
- Excellent knowledge of the animals and offering truly magical experiences for their clients
- English speaking guides
- Udawalawes first female safari guides
- Excellent safety standards
- Uncompromising respect of the animals
- Tailor made experiences available
Udawalawe
A wild safe haven for animals
Udawalawe National Park opened in 1972, covering an area of 308.2 square kilometres to provide a wild safe haven for animals displaced by construction. The National Park is connected to the other National Parks in Sri Lanka by a network of ‘elephant corridors’ that allows free movement for the animals.
With so much to see, check out some of the animals that live here
What to expect
- We deliver exceptional safari services and we can tailor our service to create your very own dream safari.
- We recommend either a 6 hour safari starting at 0600 or 1200, or a full day safari commencing at 0600 and finishing at 1700. This allows enough time to get away from the crowds and experience nature in the wild.
- 5 hour safari starting at 0600 or 1300 is also a great option to experience the animals, without any hurry, away from the busiest areas of the park.
- Alternatively, we can offer 4 hour safaris starting either at 0600 or 1400.
- Water and snacks are provided on all our safaris.
- We can arrange delicious meals for you to have on safari, within the park with stunning views.
- We will tell you about the habits of the animals, identify the animal and bird species for you and we know the best places to go in the park to find the animals, considering the time of day and weather conditions.
Get in touch
We love to help our clients create their personalised safari experience, please contact us with any special ideas you have…. be that a romantic breakfast by the river or lake, or a stop on the way back to your hotel to watch the evening sunset, we will be delighted to discuss it all with you.
Travel
As standard we offer pick up and drop off at most hotels in Udawalawe. Pick up is usually between 15 and 30 minutes before the start of your safari.
We can take a welcome photo of your group with our jeep so that you have magical lasting memories of your safari with us. Our team will be delighted to take more photos throughout your experience, at your request.
We can also arrange competitively priced private transfers to and from Udawalawe from other areas in Sri Lanka. Just ask us for a quote and let us handle the arrangements for you!
We put animals first
We enjoy a special relationship with the park rangers, communicating frequently about the condition of the animals and always report any injuries or concerns immediately. This has resulted in numerous elephants and other animals receiving help quickly.
We understand the habits of the animals very well and this enables us to get you an up-close experience without stressing the animals.
Services & Prices
We prioritise safety with meticulously maintained vehicles for both safety and best fuel economy to minimise the impact on the environment. This includes seats fitted with lap belts for your comfort and safety and comprehensive first aid kits carried on the jeeps.
Clear and fair pricing – we will fully explain the price of the safari, the park entrance tickets and any special requests that you may wish to add such as meals.
You are of course free to show your appreciation for our guides and drivers if you have been satisfied with the service delivered but we will never add any hidden costs and will never overcharge clients. We have the upmost respect for our clients and our good reputation is extremely important to us.
A true family-owned company
Our Story
It all started with Nadeera the eldest of the 3 siblings in 2016 when he started off as a safari driver. Nadeera is a huge animal lover and he quickly decided he had to start up on his own. He learnt English and studied the natural behaviours of the animals and before long he started out on his own, determined to offer the best service to the clients whilst respecting the animals.
Nadeera has now been joined by his sister Avishka, younger sister Sashini is currently studying and hopes to join the business soon. The sisters part own the company and are the first female safari guides in Udawalawe making Udawalawe Ethical Safaris a very unique and forward thinking family business.
Avishka
Avishka has returned home to join Udawalawe Ethical Safaris following an exciting career in Television and Broadcasting in Negombo. She loves her job as a Safari Guide as she absolutely loves animals and is excited to share her knowledge of the elephants and local species with you.
Nadeera
Eldest sibling and founder of the company. Nadeera offered safari services on his own initially before bringing his sisters on board, enabling them to actually own part of the company and build a rewarding career for themselves. Nadeera adores animals, he has dogs at home and has rescued numerous injured or orphaned animals including relocating snakes from built up areas and taking in a baby Mongoose which had become trapped in a well, which the family called Timmy.
Nadeera is passionate about the welfare of the animals in the National Park and ethical, sustainable tourism at Udawalawe. He is an active member of the Udawalawe Jeep Association and has previously served as the associations Secretary.