Where to Go After an Udawalawe Safari

October 31, 2026

Udawalawe does not generate many day trips of its own. The park is the reason to be here, and a morning drive plus the Elephant Transit Home fills a day well. The few outings that do exist are best sorted by direction of travel, and several work better as the next leg of a route than as a round trip. Journey times below are by private car and approximate.

East: Tissamaharama, Yala and Kataragama

Tissamaharama, the town most visitors use as a base for Yala National Park, is about 71 km away and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. That is long enough that Yala suits a move east, with the safari on the second day, more than a same-day return. Yala closes blocks in the dry season for rest: Blocks 1 and 2 were shut from 14 September to 15 October 2026. Closures come back year after year, so look at the Department of Wildlife Conservation site before booking.

Kataragama lies about 16 km beyond Tissamaharama, so roughly 90 km from Udawalawe. It is sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, and Vedda people visit as well. The Kataragama Devalaya and the Kiri Vehera stupa are the main places. Come as a pilgrim would: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where asked and speak quietly. Evening puja takes place, so ask on the spot about timing.

South-east: Bundala

Bundala National Park is a coastal wetland near Hambantota, with its entrance about 18 km east of the town. It became a Ramsar site in 1991 and a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2005. Waterbirds are best from September to March. Flamingo numbers vary between years. Allow about 2 hours from Udawalawe, and ask your driver to confirm. Fees and opening times differ between sources, so check before you leave.

North-east: Buduruwagala and Ella

Ella is about 100 km and 2.5 hours from Udawalawe, which makes a return in one day a poor use of daylight. Treat it as a one-way transfer and break the journey. Buduruwagala, a set of Mahayana-style rock carvings near Wellawaya on the Wellawaya to Thanamalwila road, sits about 5 to 9 km from Wellawaya and is usually dated to the 10th century. Ravana Falls is about 5 km from Ella on the road to Wellawaya and is commonly described as about 25 m high.

On trains, the Nanu Oya to Ella to Badulla service runs, but there is no through Kandy to Ella journey after the cyclone damage, so check railway.gov.lk before planning a rail leg.

South coast: not a day trip

Galle is about 130 km and 3 hours away, and Mirissa about 110 km and 2 to 3 hours. Both would eat most of a day on the road. Tangalle is closer at about 54 km and 1.5 hours and works well as a beach finish after a dawn safari. Whale watching off Mirissa runs from November to April.

Planning notes

Take the dawn drive first. Most of the interesting wildlife time is before 10:00, so leave other trips for after lunch or for the following day. Sleeping inside the park is not allowed, so use Udawalawe town or a lodge nearby as your base. Heavy rain can cause floods and landslides in this season, so check FCDO advice and the forecast before long drives.

Check which Yala blocks are open on the Department of Wildlife Conservation page , and read current advice on the FCDO Sri Lanka page . Tours that start from nearby towns are listed on Viator .