kaudulla safari price

Kaudulla Evening Safari

$  85.00 – $  360.00

Tour Start –  2:30 PM 

Meeting Point   – At your Hotel lobby or Our meeting places  

Vehicle Type – Safari Jeep (Private)

Include:   Safari Jeep | Experience Driver |  Kaudulla  Park Entrance Fee+Service fee+ Tax |  Hotel pickup & drop off

Not Include: Food & Drink /  Additional fee for pickup out area

> Please mention your vehicle details in ” Additional information” Box, if you are select ‘meet at park’ option.

• Description

Kaudulla Evening Safari Tour Summary:

Meet your driver at your hotel for a 2.5-3 hour Kaudulla Evening Safari of Kaudulla National Par k .

Experience “The Gathering” a name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Kaudulla Tan k during the dry season. According to wildlife authorities, the Kaudulla gathering is one of the world’s largest groupings of wild Asian elephants at any given time .

View the famous elephants as they graze on the grass growing on the Kaudulla tank bed. Perhaps you’ll spot any of the park’s diverse wildlife, including deer, wild buffalo, wild pigs, grey langurs, purple-faced leaf monkeys, porcupines, and assorted birds.

The Kaudulla Safari Park is a 15-minute drive from Minneriya city and a 30-minute drive from Habarana. Jeep safaris are a less expensive safari option from Habarana or Sigiriya.

At the end of the Kaudulla Evening Safari , head back to Polonnaruwa or Habarana. Depending on the location of your hotel, choose to visit the photo stop at sunset at Minneriya Tank and the standing big Buddha at Giritale.

When your Kaudulla Evening Safari tour is complete, your vehicle will return you to your hotel or original departure point.

Kaudulla Evening Safari Include:

• Private Safari jeep just for your party
• Professional Safari Jeep Driver 
• Kaudulla National Park Entrance Ticket
• Jeep & Driver entry fee
• Kaudulla National Park Service fee $10
• Kaudulla National Park VAT Tax 15%
• Free Hotel pickup and drop-off (Habarana & Minneriya city area hotels only)

Kaudulla Evening Safari  Exclude:

• Food and drink
• Tips for Safari Driver & park ranger (Recommend) 

Best period for visit Kaudulla National Park

Around the year can see some elephants, other animals & Birds. From June to October is the best season for see many elephants. 

Kaudulla Evening Safari  Departure Time Comments:

• Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
• Hotel pickups commence may prior to this time as per your hotel location. You must contact us verify your exact pickup time.
• Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 60 minutes prior to this time

Kaudulla Evening Safari  Departure Location Name:

> Pickup & drop off – We have hotel pickup and drop off by same safari jeep or by car from hotels in Habarana, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Minneriya, Giritale, Polonnaruwa, Kandalama, Kandy, Passikuddah & Trincomalee.

Directions to Departure Location: # Habarana Meeting Place: Next to Acme Grand Hotel:   ‘2QQ6+7V2, Habarana’ # Minneriya Meeting Place: Infront of Gunners Club:   ‘3W63+J37, Polonnaruwa’ # Meet at Kaudulla park’s outside car park # In Front of ‘Habarana Police Bus stop’ # Infront of ‘ Gunners Club’ (G & S Restaurant), Minneriya’ # Infront of ‘Ekho Sigiriya Hotel’, Sigiriya (Former, Sigiriya Rest House)

Kaudulla Evening Safari  Return Location: Returns to original departure point

Kaudulla Evening Safari  Suitable for children? Yes, children will love the spectacle of the gathering herds, often with many baby elephants

What to wear or bring along: Light cool clothing, a cap / Hat, sunscreen, drinking water and a camera

Important to know: Guests are not permitted to get off the jeep and walk around the park. Please do not smoke & take alcoholic drinks inside the park and dispose of litter responsibly. Do not feed any of the animals

Cancellation and Refund policy 

• Cancellations received 15 days (or more) of departure will incur a penalty of 10% per person.
• Cancellations received within 14 days of departure will incur a penalty of 50% per person.
• Cancellations received within 7 days of departure will incur a penalty of 75% per person.
• Cancellations received within 5 days of departure will incur a penalty of 100% per person.
• Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment. More Details…

Additional Tour Information:

• For  Same day & Next day bookings , Please you  must contact us  by  Call or SMS / WhatsApp / Viber  with mention exact pickup Location to  +94776487757
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for pregnant women
• Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical condition
• Child below 5 Years are Free of charge. / Child above 11 years apply for Adult ticket.
• Please include your Mobile / Local contact number & Hotel pickup details at the booking
• At some season there is less number of elephants can see in Kaudulla National Park, so as that time we change the tour for  ‘ Minneriya   National Park jeep safari’  for a additional fee  or  ‘Eco park jeep safari’ for Free  as an Alternative Tour option for given you the better Safari experience. (*Conditions apply / No Full, Partial Refund for Safari Tour Changes )

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Kaudulla National Park - take the best elephant Safari in Sri Lanka [2023]

Last updated on April 23rd, 2023 at 07:39 am

Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka was only opened in 2002 and is less known and so not overcrowded with conga lines of jeeps on safari. This means you can see real elephant herd behaviors on your jeep safari, especially in September and October.

Follow our awesome jeep safari and travel tips to spot enormous numbers of incredible Sri Lankan elephants at the best elephant park in Sri Lanka and read our pros and cons of Kaulla National Park versus popular Minneriya and Yala National Parks.

One of the main reasons for visiting the beautiful country of Sri Lanka was to see as many wild elephants as possible! We’d be pretty stupid to travel all that way and not catch a glimpse of the big eared tubby giants.

Well luckily for us, Sri Lanka has 22 National Parks, many of them offering a high chance to spot elephants.

When arriving in Sri Lanka, we planned to visit Minneriya National Park  (info)  but then we were told about the little known Kaudulla National Park Safari  (info) .

Kaudulla National Park Safaris – Quick Need to Know

• Kaudulla National Park offers an early morning safari (6.30 am) and an afternoon safari (starting at 3 pm). There’s also an all-day safari beginning at 6.30 am.
• Morning and afternoon safari’s take 3 hours and start from $85 which includes the park entrance fee of $18.
• Kaudulla National Park Map
• Best time of day for spotting elephants in Sri Lanka: You’ll see more elephants on the afternoon safaris.
• You can pay a little more and have a private jeep.
• Kaudulla National Park is a year round destination. And although you can visit Kaudulla in any month, July-December are great months to visit, October is the best one.

Which Park is Better for Spotting the Sri Lankan Elephant?

In fact, our very original plan was to visit  Yala National Park  and it was only after arriving in the country that we realise dhow much better Kaudulla National Park is for spotting.

Situated in the south-east, Yala National Park is probably the country’s most popular. It’s not too far from the developed south coast beaches which make it pretty accessible for tourists.

Yala also has great Sri Lankan elephant spotting potential and the countries highest concentration of leopards! Although, even with the highest concentration it’s apparently still hard to see the spotted cats.

Our plans changed on our London to Colombo Sri Lankan Airlines flight.

We Read an Article in our Inflight Magazine about Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka

The title of the article read “ The Elephant Gathering “, accompanied by an amazing photo of dozens of Sri Lankan elephants.

We excitedly read that in August and September a huge number of elephants gather at Minneriya National Park. This time of year is the area’s dry season so the elephants regularly gather around the Minneriya tank.  

If you’re lucky you can spot up to 200 at one time! We were visiting Sri Lanka from mid-August to mid-September so were very happy to read the article. Especially Shelley!

The Cultural Triangle

Minneriya National Park is 180KM Northeast from Colombo and conveniently located within the Cultural Triangle.

The Cultural Triangle is an area popular with most tourists due to its many cultural sights of interest. These include the Polonnaruwa ruins, Sigiriya and  Kandy city .

Minneriya is famed for  The Gathering  but you can easily see the Sri Lankan elephant at any time of year. Usually in high numbers.

The recent popularity of Minneriya National Park and it’s large Sri Lankan elephant gathering has increased tourist numbers dramatically. Yes, you can see many elephants but with that comes too many herds of tourist filled jeeps!

That’s why we were told about the Kaudulla National Park Safari

We were speaking to our guesthouse owner about arranging a Minneriya safari for us.

The owner was a very friendly and kind man who genuinely wanted us to be happy while staying at his guesthouse. He has lived in the area all his life so knew both the Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park very well.

He strongly recommended that we visit Kaudulla National Park instead of Minneriya or Yala.

Kaudulla National Park is part of the elephant corridor between Minneriya and Wasgomuwa National Parks and connects Somawathiya National Park to the east.

Kaudulla and Minneriya are in close proximity and the elephants move between the Minneriya tank and the Kaudulla tank in September.

There is just as much of a chance to spot the large Sri Lankan elephant numbers as there is in neighbouring Mineeriya. Kaudulla also has its own dry season  Gathering  at the Kaudulla Reservoir, as they make their pilgrimage to Minneriya.

“ Too many jeeps at Minneriya ” our guesthouse owner kept telling us, “ Kaudulla is better for you “. We had been told this about Minneriya by a handful of other tourists.

They had all enjoyed seeing the elephants but the large number of tourists and jeeps made it feel like a theme park. That’s the last thing we wanted from our much awaited Sri Lankan elephant safari.

However, nobody had mentioned about Kaudulla National Park which wa sonce a water tank built by King Mahasen . We trusted our accommodation owner and were intrigued by this National Park that we had never heard of.

Why our Kaudulla National Park jeep safari was awesome!

We spotted at least 70 elephants over the two hours driving around the park. Large lone male elephants, families with tiny infants and groups of 20 or so.

It was mesmerising to see so many in just a few hours. They were active too. Playing, eating and even a couple of fighting males.

A big Kaudulla safari pleaser is the minimal jeep numbers. Including our own, there were just 5 jeeps in total.

There was so much space, that at times we would have our own patch of the park. Something that would simply not be possible at the other two parks.

We didn’t see the famous  Gathering  that we’d read about but then neither did our many fellow travellers who visited Minneriya at that same time.

Our safari guide told us that we were a couple of weeks too early for that.

It’s not just elephants we spotted either. There were herds of wild buffalo, many monkeys, peacocks and heaps of large water birds and other mammals .  

Other great wildlife to spot in Kaudulla National Park

We were a bit fixated on the large herd of elephants in the National Park, but here’s a list of the other wild animals including mammals, fish, and birds that live around the Kaudulla reservoirs.

See how any of these you can spot:

• Sri Lankan sambar deer,
• Sri Lankan axis deer (and albino axis deer),
• chevrotain,
• Sri Lankan leopard,
• Bears – the sloth bear and small black bears)
• gray slender loris,
• spot-billed pelican,
• black-headed ibis,
• Asian spoonbill,
• Storks – the painted stork and open bill stork
• Turtles – Freshwater turtles, Indian flap-shelled and Indian black turtles,
• grey headed fish eagle

Where to Stay to easily reach Kaudulla National Park

You can base yourself pretty much anywhere within the Cultural Triangle. If using private guides or taxis then it’s just a few hours or less between the many sights.

However if like us, you are getting around via public transport, then we recommend staying closer to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.

Where to Stay for both Minneriya and Kaudulla National Park

You can base yourself pretty much anywhere within the Cultural Triangle. If using private guides or taxis then it’s just a few hours or less between the many sights. However if like us, you are getting around via public transport, then we recommend staying closer to Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.

The closest option would be Habarana (10KM from Minneriya and 20KM from Kaudulla). Other options could be Sigiriya or Polonnaruwa.

From any of these towns, a jeep safari with accommodation pick up can be arranged. We stayed in  Polonnaruwa  at the  Nature Park Guest House .

It offers basic accommodation but sandwiched between a small patch of jungle and a lovely canal/lake.

The nearby jungle and water provide lots of birdlife and other wildlife like mongoose, monitor lizards and deer. And of course, it’s owned by the kind man and his family who thankfully recommended Kaudulla National Park.

For awesome accommodation options in all the mentioned locations click these links –  Habarana ,  Sigiriya  and  Polonnaruwa .

We can’t tell you first hand what it’s like to visit Minneriya National Park. However, we  can  tell you what many people warned us about its overcrowding.

This would have spoilt our great adventure, so if you feel the same then do consider Kaudulla National Park. It’s a wonderful Sri Lankan elephant world which at the moment is not visited by large tourist numbers.

Make time to visit Kaudulla National Park before everyone finds out about it!

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Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has over 26 national parks and going on a safari is a popular activity during a usual Sri Lanka Route . Kaudulla National Park is one of the best national parks to spot Elephants in Sri Lanka . It is home to 200+ elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and even a handful of leopards. The park has opened in 2002, is surrounded by grasslands, and can be visited year-round to see elephants and other great wildlife. See why this is the best national park in Sri Lanka.

Safari in Kaudulla National Park

Safaris in Kaudulla National Park can be done in the morning or afternoon. The afternoon safaris are less busy, but it is better to spot elephants. The tour takes about 4 to 5 hours, including a private jeep, park entrance fee, pick-up, and drop-off at your hotel in Dambulla or Sigiriya . It should cost you about 6250 LKR ($40) per person.

If you’re wondering about the entrance fee, this is 2700 LKR ($18) per person.

See tickets and availability for a Kaudulla safari

Best time to visit Kaudulla National Park

The best time to visit Kaudulla is between July and December but as mentioned before, this is a year-round destination. The photos included in this article are all shot in March. The Gathering around the water reservoir takes place in the dry season from July to October.

Most of the travelers come to a national park in Sri Lanka to spot elephants. Herds of elephants can be spotted in this park, even with small elephant babies!

Kaudulla is close to the world-famous  Sigiriya Lion’s Rock .

Besides elephants, there is so much more to see. Peacocks, small black bears, crocodiles, deer, many monkeys, and beautifully colored birds. And while the park is not visited to see leopards, our driver said that the day before us, they spotted one with two babies crossing the road.

Here are all your hotel options in Dambulla.

Why visit Kaudulla National Park?

Kaudulla is next to Minneriya National Park, which is his much popular big brother. There are just a few jeeps in the Kaudulla compared than all the other national parks in Sri Lanka.

It’s not touristy at all, wildlife is great here, and you can’t sleep in the park like you can go Glamping in Yala National Park . You might even be lucky on your way back to your hotel and spot elephants walking on the side of the road.

Where to stay near Kaudulla National Park?

Kaudulla is in between Dambulla and the coastal city of Trincomalee. It is best to stay in Dambulla, if you can, to be located as close as possible to the park.

Hotels in Dambulla 😴

However, if you’re on short time, a day trip from Trincomalee is also possible. Trincomalee is a lot more fun to visit.

Read: Things to do in Trincomalee

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I’m very very very sorry but LKR 2.700 is nót $18. It’s $ 8,40

Hi Wim, thanks for noting this. We will update the guide. The prices were correct but Sri Lanka has seen an enormous decline in value of the LKR. 😔

On September 19 I payed LKR 11.500 for a ticket a person.

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Kaudulla National Park Guide: Elephant Safari near Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

by Drifter Planet | Feb 19, 2020 | Sri Lanka , National Parks

If you’re visiting Sri Lanka, then make sure you visit a national park to see wild elephants. – Said everyone I knew, even those who did not visit Sri Lanka. 

Thank god I listened because it was one of the best things we did in Sri Lanka . [Even though we did a lot because we spent a month in this country]. Visiting a national park to see elephants in the wild is one of things that everyone needs to do when they visit Sri Lanka, just the way one would walk along the canals if they visit Amsterdam; or visit Taj Mahal while in India.

If you’re anything like us, then you probably love forests too. If yes, you’re going to love Sri Lanka . This little island country has more than 20 national parks dotted all over and as a result, the entire Sri Lanka feels like one big national park.

An adorable elephant family at Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

While planning a trip to Sri Lanka, we saw pictures of the famous lion rock Sigiriya , the tea estates of the hill country, train ride that goes through this hill country (Kandy to Ella) , the sandy beaches of Arugam Bay and of course, the elephants. These things are included in pretty much every decent itinerary for Sri Lanka .

One thing that stood out in Sri Lanka’s elephant pictures was that there wasn’t one or two or even 5 – but hundreds of elephants all together. This, my friends, is called an elephant gathering and you can see it in Sri Lanka. It has been compared to the great migration in Serengeti. I will explain more in the next section.

Watching Elephant Gathering in Sri Lanka

Elephant Gathering in Sri Lanka

The elephant gathering in Sri Lanka is an extraordinary event. It’s the largest gathering of wild Asian elephants in the world at any given time. It takes place almost every day during Sri Lanka’s dry season, from July to November. 

As the water levels decrease, the elephants head to certain areas in the country where they know they will find water. These areas are mainly located in two of Sri Lanka’s National Parks: Kaudulla National Park, and the nearby Minneriya National Park, which is 17 miles (27 kilometres) from Kaudulla National Park.  

Us and the elephants at Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

The large fields of water nurture the perfect environment for the animals to socialise, feed, and even breed. It’s one of the most incredible wildlife experiences to behold. You’ll see elephants of all sizes, from small babies to full-grown adults, drinking and frolicking in the water. 

I have visited Sr Lanka twice and in my opinion, one of the best places to see a gathering of wild elephants is Kaudulla National Park. This incredible sprawling landscape is famed for containing high numbers of Asian elephants. Being able to see these magnificent creatures up close and all around you is a truly extraordinary experience.

Elephant encounter at Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

It feels as if the time stands still as you sit on your safari jeep and watch an insanely large number of elephants all around. As so, taking a trip to Kaudulla National Park makes for one of the best wildlife holidays in the world .

Many people talk about the bigger Yala and Udawalawa National Parks but in my experience Kaudulla’s plus point is that it is smaller, and at times you can see a larger concentration of the number of elephants per square meter. 

If you’re planning to visit Kaudulla National Park, here is a helpful guide that will supply you with everything you need to know for your visit. 

Where’s Kaudulla National Park?

Kaudulla National Park is in the heart of Sri Lanka, just 45 kilometers from the super famous Sigiriya . It is about 130 miles (207 kilometres) from the country’s largest city, Colombo. 

Sigiriya to Kaudulla National Park

View of the famous Sigiriya Rock from Pidurangala rock

As previously mentioned, many of the jeep safari tours of Kaudulla National Park offer hotel pick-up and drop-off services. However, if you’re driving from Sigiriya to Kaudulla National Park, it should only take you about an hour. 

If you’re staying in Dambulla, there is a route between the town and the park that crosses right through Sigiriya. Touring this site is an opportunity you don’t want to miss when visiting the area. 

Kaudulla National Park Ticket Price

Entery point at Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

The entry fee for Kaudulla National Park is 2700 Sri Lankan rupees, which is £12.00 GBP. When booking a jeep safari tour, the entrance fee into the park is usually included in the tour price.

How Much Does a Jeep Safari Cost in Kaudulla National Park ?

Jeep Safari inside Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

Most jeep safari tours offered inside Kaudulla National Park cost between £42.00 GBP and £46.00 GBP per person. 

This fee includes the entrance fee into the park. Pick-up and drop-off from hotels around Sigiriya, Habarana, and Dambulla is also usually included in the jeep safari price. We were picked up from our hotel in Sigiriya for this.

The tour lasts for 4-5 hours. However, note that the 4-5 hour duration also includes your hotel pick-up and drop-off. So, your time in the park will be less than 4-5 hours, and as per us it was more than enough.

What Else is there in Kaudulla National Park?

I get it – the main reason why anyone would visit Kaudulla would be to look at elephants but there’s a lot more to experience in this amazing national park.

Firstly, the joy of riding in a jeep in the middle of a dense forest is like none other. It wasn’t my first safari experience, I did one in India’s Kanha National Park too, but I found Sri Lanka’s forests to be more beautiful because they’re greener.

Along the lake in Kaudulla National Park

Secondly, I have a thing for wide open spaces and there were many to find inside Kaudulla National Park. The entire area of the park isn’t a dense forest but there are lots of open areas. The main part is the water reservoir – which looks really amazing like most of the water bodies in the nature. There are white rocks around the reservoir and they add to the scenic beauty. You can also see pelicans near the water!

The reservoir inside Kaudulla National Park and pelican

Thirdly, there are many other animals and birds that one can see in Kaudulla National Park. We saw a crocodile, a few lizards, deers and some beautiful birds that were super tiny. Sadly I didn’t have a zoom lens but only had a GoPro camera at the time of my visit.  The above picture is highly cropped, and the white dots are actually pelicans that are sitting on the rocks next to the reservoir. 

In addition to elephants and pelicans, you’ll get the chance to see some other animals in their natural habitat. These can include sambar deer, axis deer, monkeys, peacocks, wild boar, and various bird species. 

Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park?

Elephants in Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka

If you want to see a gathering of wild elephants, you can not just pick one out of Minneriya or Kaudulla, but you have to find out where the elephants are. Both these parks have water supply but when one dries up, the elephants move to the other due to the close proximity. 

The elephants usually move from Minneriya to Kaudulla from September to February. During other months, they move to Minneriya tank to drink water during the dry season. Ask your hotel or one of the local tour guides to find out for you and they will tell you where you can see the elephant gathering on that particular day. This way, you’re practically guaranteed to see at least a few herds of Sri Lankan elephants during your trip. 

Minneriya National Park is nearby and is comparatively more famous than Kaudulla for elephant spotting in Sri Lanka. It’s located 17 miles (27 kilometres) from Kaudulla National Park. I have visited both, they’re similar but there is a difference in size – Minneriya is bigger. Also, Kaudulla tends to be less busy.

There are fewer jeeps that drive around inside Kaudulla as compared to Minneriya, it means you’ll have a better view of the animals. I visited Kaudulla in the month of February and there were not more than 2 jeeps around us when we spotted an elephant herd. On the other hand, I visited Minneriya National Park in the month of July and we were at least 10 jeeps together next to a large elephant gathering. 

Why Stay at Sigiriya to visit Kaudulla? 

The entry area of Sigiriya Rock and Fortress complex in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya is a small town located 28 miles (45 kilometres) from the park. It’s famous for containing an ancient stone fortress that rises up nearly 200 metres. The inside is decorated with well-preserved frescoes that have lasted hundreds of years. It’s a very popular tourist spot in Sri Lanka. 

Even though it is touristy, I highly enjoyed my time in Sigiriya town on two different occasions. The Sigiriya village is beautiful and you will love walking around here and seeing little monkeys and maybe even a few peacocks. Yes, the Sigiriya Rock is famous but you can avoid crowds by not climbing it. It is spectacular but you can admire the beautiful shape of the rock from top of the lesser known Pidurangala rock. 

If you stay at Sigiriya, then you can check off many of your typical “Sri Lankan” travel experience items off your list. You can climb the famous lion rock, sleep in a tree house , see elephants in wild, see the nearby Dambulla cave temple, rent a bicycle to enjoy Sri Lanka’s little villages, and of course eat a lot of amazing food. Be sure to read my post about Sigiriya  with a detailed comparison of Pidurangala.

You’ll find a nice range of options for places to stay in Sigiriya, from basic budget hotels to resorts. We personally stayed in 4 guest houses, one tree house resort and another high end resort in Sigiriya and they all offered a different experience. In my opinion Sigiriya is the best place to stay to be near Kaudulla National Park. 

Hotels near Kaudulla and Sigirya

Our tree house in Back of Beyond, Dehigaha Ela – Sri Lanka Itinerary

Kaudulla does not offer any accommodation within the park itself. However, there are a few towns you’ll be able to stay in for easy access to the park’s entrance. 

If you want to take your Sri Lankan wildlife experience to the next level, then consider staying in a tree house in Back of Beyond . This place is in the middle of Dehigaha Ela’s deep forest but still not far from Sigiriya and Kaudulla. You can sleep in an actual treehouse and listen to the sounds of the forest all night. San and I loved this place so much that we even published a post about our tree house stay in Sri Lanka . You can read more about  this place on TripAdvisor  or just click  here to check the best deals  and book a tree house for yourself.

Our tree house was 20 minutes away from Sigirya but  if you want to be closer to the city , you can check out  Back of Beyond – Pidurangala , which is as beautiful but is not in the middle of deep forest. 

We also recommend a place called Nethmini Homestay in the main Sigiriya town (check deals on Booking.com for Nethmini Homestay ). It is a short tuk tuk drive away from Sigiriya Fortess and Pidurangala Rock. While here, we rented bicycles and explored the most of Sigiriya on our own.

Where Else to Stay near Kaudulla National Park

Dambulla is a town located 31 miles (50 kilometres) from the park. It contains restaurants, hotels, markets, historic temples, and other attractions. I stayed in a place called Jetwing Lake Dambulla and it was a stunning location.

Trincomalee is a city located 50 miles (80 kilometres) from Kaudulla National Park. Although it’s a bit further, it’s a popular choice because of its seaside location. It lies on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka and is a major resort port city. 

Other National Parks near Sigiriya

Other than Kaudulla National Park, there are two other main National Parks in the area around Sigiriya. These are Minneriya National Park and Angammedilla National Park.

Minneriya National Park is a 30 minutes drive, or 12 miles (20 kilometres) from Sigiriya. This park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938, and designated as a national park in 1997. It offers morning and afternoon jeep safari tours similar to Kaudulla National Park.

Angammedilla National Park is about an hours’ drive, or 30 miles (48 kilometres) from Sigiriya. It’s one of the newer Sri Lankan National Parks, having only been designated a national park in 2006. It offers safari jeep tours, and guests are also able to walk around through the trails in the park. 

Best Time to Visit Kaudulla National Park

Super excited for our jeep safari at Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka

The best time to visit Kaudulla National Park to see elephants is during Sri Lanka’s dry season. This is when the elephants will make their way to find water at Kaudulla National Park. Within those months, August to October is considered peak elephant viewing. Usually, 150 to 300 wild elephants gather during these months. 

However, with that being said, Kaudulla National Park is a year-round destination. You’re practically guaranteed to see elephants during any month you visit but maybe not an “elephant gathering” everyday.

Jeep safari tours in the park are offered in the morning and the afternoon. The best time of day to take a tour is during the afternoon. This is when the elephants are typically out and about, and you’ll have a much higher chance of seeing them. The morning safari makes more sense for those who want to look at birds. Just make sure to wear proper safari attire to help shield yourself from the afternoon sun. 

Final Thoughts about Kaudulla National Park, Sri Lanka

Kaudulla National Park is one of the best places on the planet to see wild elephants in their natural habitat. Being able to see hundreds of these magnificent creatures up close is a truly extraordinary experience. Visiting the park is a must during any trip to Sri Lanka. 

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Hello Travelers!

Namaste, Guten Tag! I'm Sonal from India, living in Germany and exploring Europe. I've been writing about my travels since 2015. I often travel alone (and sometimes with family of 3).

I love European city breaks, nature, adventure, hiking to viewpoints, Yoga, and road trips. I have a knack for creating the most amazing travel itineraries and in-depth destination guides which will help you make the most of your trip.

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Last Updated on December 19, 2021 by Drifter Planet

Elephant Safari at Kaudulla National Park

Updated May 6, 2019

// By Margherita

Do you love elephants? If the answer is yes (I mean, who doesn’t?) I’m sure they’ll also be in your Sri Lanka list – so, keep reading this post about our elephant safari at Kaudulla National Park!

‘They’re over there, beyond the river’  our guide said as we started our jeep safari around Kaudulla National Park. I tried to make out the shapes of what could be Sri Lankan elephants, hidden by trees, bushes and the pouring rain. Then, finally, I saw them. There weren’t one, or two, or even one single herd of elephants.

There were literally hundreds of elephants. Some were eating, others were holding bunches of grass in their trunk, thrashing it back and forth in the water as if to wash it.

Little babies peeked through their mothers’ legs, while juvenile elephants sprayed each other with water, and white and pink storks stood straight right next to them like a sentinel group.

The Elephant Gathering in Sri Lanka

We were witnessing the Elephant Gathering of Sri Lanka , one of Asia’s greatest wildlife shows , which has been compared to the Great Migration in the Rift Valley.

Sri Lanka is home to approximately 7000 elephants , living all over the country in 26 national parks. The Sri Lankan elephant , scientific name Elephas Maximus Maximus , is the largest subspecies of Asian elephant, as the double ‘maximus’ in the name reveals.

Similarly to their African cousins, elephants in Sri Lanka have been heavily hunted for their ivory , to the extent that only about 7% of elephants now have tusks – scientists have claimed that it may be an evolutionary response  to increase the chance of elephant survival from the poachers’ guns.

Currently, Sri Lanka is the Asian country with the largest elephant density , even though the WWF currently lists Sri Lankan elephants as ‘endangered’ – mainly because their habitat is dwindling, as more and more forest is being clear and development is disrupting their behaviour.

The Gathering takes place each year during the dry season in northeastern Sri Lanka, between July and November, with peak numbers in August and September.

During this time, as water levels decrease throughout the country, elephants head to places where they know they will find water – first and foremost, a reservoir built over 1700 years ago by the king in what is now Minneriya National Park.

For centuries, hundreds of elephants have gathered in these places – not just to eat the tasty grass that grows where the reservoir and river water recedes, but also to socialise and play together, spraying each other with water and splashing in the river.

Looking for more Sri Lanka wildlife inspiration? Check out our Animals in Sri Lanka and Where to Find Them post!

Kaudulla National Park or Minneriya?

The Gathering mainly takes place in two national parks – Kaudulla and Minneriya , with the latter getting the lion’s share (or shall I say elephant’s share?) of visitors.

Minneriya is the best known of the two parks , simply because it’s closer to the ‘Cultural Triangle’ of north-central Sri Lanka, including frequently-visited locations like Sigiriya, Kandy and the ancient temples of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

Minneriya is also home to the famed 1700 year-old reservoir , and it also benefits from better marketing and more media exposure – when researching the Gathering before our trip I found dozens of articles about ‘The Gathering at Minneriya’ , and next to none about ‘The Gathering at Kaudulla’.

However, a Minneriya safari comes with a number of drawbacks. The park is very well known and overrun with jeeps , and there have been reports of unscrupulous jeep drivers getting too close to the elephants, even getting between mothers and babies so that tourists could get pictures.

By the way, if you want to know more about overcrowding in Sri Lankan parks, don’t forget to check out this  Yala National Park safari guest post by Jing!

Moreover, increased vehicle traffic has led to a disruption of the elephants’ migratory route and to changes in their behaviour. Elephants are becoming exceedingly confident in relation to vehicle traffic, leading to jeeps being frequently charged – it is only a matter of time before someone (elephant or human) gets seriously injured.

Kaudulla National Park is a wonderful alternative for responsibly-minded travellers – and generally speaking, anyone that doesn’t want to end up in a national park traffic jam. It’s only a further 25 km north of Minneriya, and a slightly longer drive from accommodation near Dambulla or Habarana – on the upside, if you’re lucky, you’ll only have another five or so jeeps to share the park with.

Kaudulla National Park Safari – Our Experience

We visited Kaudulla right at the beginning of the wet season, in early November . Rain had been a constant companion of our two weeks around Sri Lanka , and sure enough, as soon as we drove into the national park it started pouring.

There are both morning and afternoon safaris available at Kaudulla National Par k, with about equal chances of spotting the elephants. Safaris take place on open jeeps with a canvas roof that can be unrolled, and each of them fits 6 people. We opted for an afternoon safari as we spent the morning visiting nearby Sigiriya and Pidurangala rock, and we reached the park around 3 pm.

Elephants are not the only animals you can see on a Kaudulla National Park safari – we also saw some storks, bee eaters and a couple of fish eagles, as well as two of Sri Lanka’s endemic primate species, the toque macaque and purple-faced langur. Leopards have also been spotted, but they are not seen regularly.

Yet, it is elephants that most people come to see at Kaudulla. Even if you don’t see the huge elephant numbers experienced during the Gathering, you’re pretty much 100% guaranteed to spot at least one herd and a few individuals.

We were indeed lucky to see large numbers of elephants across the river , but sadly we were too far to get decent pictures. Two other jeeps tried to get across but our guide said it would be too risky due to the danger of flash floods – definitely not something I’d like to experience.

Our guide took us to other ‘elephant hotspots’ around Kaudulla National Park to find some more individuals that had wandered away from the big gathering. We saw a herd of about twelve, including a tiny baby, another one of about six elephants and a couple of lone young males – our guide explained that once they reach young adulthood, male elephants are forced to leave the herd and fend for themselves.

Everything considered, we loved our experience at Kaudulla National Park. It was a shame that the big elephant gathering happened too far from us to see well – but in a way, it was good not to be in the middle of it, possibly upsetting or disrupting these wonderful animals.

Kaudulla National Park Safari Price and Entry Fee

Safaris around Kaudulla National Park last about 4-5 hours including travel to and from your hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana, taking about 45 minutes each way. The price for two sharing a jeep should be about 12,000 Sri Lankan rupees (about €58), less if more people are sharing.

Entry fee to Kaudulla National Park for foreigners is 2700 Sri Lankan rupees , and it is usually included in tour prices. There is no need to reserve a Kaudulla safari in advance, you can easily book one on the day or the day before from your hotel.

Best Time to Visit Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla National Park is a year-round destination, and as I mentioned before the likelihood of seeing elephants is always high. The dry season in northeastern Sri Lanka happens between July and November, and the top months to see the Gathering are August and September.

Where to Stay Near Kaudulla National Park

Cinnamon Lodge Habarana is my favourite hotel is Sri Lanka , and it just happens to be a short distance away from Kaudulla National Park! There are so many reasons why I love this hotel – first of all, food is delicious and they even make their own ice cream!

The grounds are expansive and filled with trees and plants, giving you the feeling of never having left the national park, and you’re guaranteed to have an excellent night sleep as accommodation is in beautifully designed cottages.

If you want to enjoy nature even more , don’t miss enjoying a walk around the lake bordering the property, an excellent birdwatching spot. Cinnamon Lodge Habarana is also home to Nature Trails, Cinnamon’s own ecotourism operator. They organised our Kaudulla safari, and as you now know, we had a great time!

Check out our Reasons to Stay at Cinnamon Hotels post to learn why i love Cinnamon Lodge Habarana so much!

Our trip to Sri Lanka was sponsored by Cinnamon Hotels and Sri Lankan Airlines as part of TBC Asia 2018. Thanks for the great adventure!

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Kaudulla National Park

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Kaudulla National Park (Habarana) - All You NEED to Know Before You Go (2024)

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Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla is the newly established national park designated in 2002 in the heart of the cultural triangle. Park spread over an area of 6656 hectares is connected to the corridor between nearby Minneriya Wildlife Park. This park has excellent potential for viewing mainly elephant and other species of wildlife. Topography is varied with hills, extensive grasslands around the Kaudulla reservoir, forest and scrub land. Kaudulla reservoirs is an ancient irrigation tank is the epicenter of the park. Historically Kaudulla was one of the 16 irrigation tanks in the area built by King Mahasen. Following a period of abandonment it was reconstructed in 1959. It now attracts and supports a variety of plant and animal life, including large mammals, fish and reptiles. Kaudulla is also playing a vital role in supporting large number of elephants that are part of the “elephant gathering” in Minneriya National park. As the two parks are located close proximity and maintain contiguous forest habitats, large number of elephants move freely between two parks. Kaudulla also connects Somawathiya National Park to the east. In the drought period Sri Lankan elephants move to the Minneriya tank to drink and feed. Around late September or early October the elephants move to the Kaudulla tank in search of more water and food. September and October are the best times to visit Kaudulla to enjoy the sight of large herd of elephant. In addition to the elephants, 160 species of bird including large water birds such as Spot-billed Pelican and Lesser Adjutant visit the Kaudulla tank. Asian Spoonbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork and Open bill Stork are common sights at the park.

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Kaudulla National Park - Private Safari from Habarana

• Professional Safari driver (Also your tracker)
• Free Pickup/Drop off from/to any location within the radius of 3KM from Habarana/ Park Gate.
• Private Jeep safari (From 1 to 6 person)
• All Taxes & Service charges
• Entrance Ticket to Kaudulla Park (Usd 18+Tax per person)
• Food and drink
• Pickup/Drop off from/to any location not within a 3 KM radius of Habarana/ Park gate.
• Driver / Park Ranger Tips
• Entry/Admission - Kaudulla National Park
• # Infront of Kaudulla Park (Outside car park) # Infront of 'Police Bus stop', Habarana
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for pregnant travellers
• Admission tickets to Kaudulla National Park can be purchased at the park's ticket office upon arrival
• Not recommended for participants with heart complaints, back problems or other serious medical condition
• Child entry fee Usd 5+Tax (Child below 5 year is Free. Kids between 6 - 11 Year apply Child rate)
• For same day and next day bookings, you must contact the local service provider to provide your hotel name, address & working phone number / Whatsapp number with country code
• Not recommended for travellers with back problems
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Most travellers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Kaudulla National Park Stop: 3 hours - Admission excluded Meet your safari game driver from your Habarana city area hotel at 6 am for morning tour and meet at 2 pm for evening private jeep safari tour of Kaudulla National Park. You can select 2 tour options. Morning safari or Evening Safari. Morning safari is better for mostly bird watching & might see few elephants. Also for see many elephants gathering, evening safari is recommended. . Experience “The Gathering,” a name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Kaudulla Reservoir during the dry season. The Kaudulla gathering is one of the world largest grouping of wild Asian elephants at any given time. View the famous elephants as they graze on the grasses growing on the tank bed. Perhaps you’ll spot any of the park’s diverse wildlife, including deer, wild buffalo, grey langers, Ash/purple-faced leaf monkeys, porcupines, and assorted birds.   When your tour is complete, your vehicle will return you to your hotel. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• Silverwishlist 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Village tour and homemade lunch Excellent village / Nature tour with Sanjaya our driver/guide from Walkers Tours. Lead by Chinthaka Ranjith Piyarsthna, who was excellent at answering all our questions. A very informative tour walking around and meeting the lovely friendly village community. The best part was meeting the love family at the end of the tour and been given a demonstration of their cooking skills in preparing a fantastic and tasty traditional lunch for us. A happy, smiling family. A great tour to go on, would highly recommend it. Read more Written 16 March 2024
• RaphC123 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Poor Choice of Safari! The fundamentals all went as planned and required ....But..... The vehicle was shabby, with bits of the foam protectors falling off and the matting being of no use at all. The seats were dirty (I can live with that) and there was nowhere to put a bottle of water (other vehicles had this as I checked) The driver come guide spoke no English at all....so there was no 'guiding'. I was travelling solo and should have tried to hook into another tour as it was not as much fun just being in the back of an old truck on my own. There are Government Guides (I found out afterwards) who could have accompanied me but of course....No English meant this was not explained. Lastly, when I arrived .....someone at their Head Office advised me (through my driver) that I had to pay more Money. This was never going to happen as I already knew that the Park entrance Fee had to be paid additionally to what I had already paid. Suffice to say that this just aggravated me but it was resolved (I did NOT pay anymore and I still tipped the driver) The Safari itself was good but this provider was definitely lacking! My suggestion would be to discuss this with your Hotel as there are literally .....Hundreds of Operators to choose from. Read more Written 7 September 2018
• Varan P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Minneriya elephant safari Had an excellent experience with this company. Saw more than 150 elephants on the gathering. Thilina our driver was entertaining. Would recommend this company. Just remember that price is not inclusive of park entry which is $15us per person. Read more Written 27 July 2017

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Kaudulla National Park - Private Safari from Habarana provided by Royal Travels and Tours

Elephant Safari with Minneriya Safari Tours – Honest Review

Updated: July 30, 2023

written by: Steph Kloeckener

Going on an elephant safari is one of the most amazing things to do in Sri Lanka. This review of Minneriya Safari Tours will tell you what you need to know about this safari company.

Elephants are some of the most amazing animals on earth, so seeing them in their natural environment was a must for me when I finally visited Sri Lanka in 2019. And funnily enough, I reached out to Minneriya Safari Tours while watching the sunrise from the top of Pidurangala in Sri Lanka. And I cannot tell you how happy I was that they wanted to work with me.

Minneriya Safari Tours offers 3 hours long safari tours in Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park. During the said tour, a driver will drive the jeep along set paths within the national parks while bringing you as close to the elephants as possible without disturbing them.

The company offers a free change of the safari location if the elephants are gathering in the other national park. I myself originally enquired about a safari in Minneriya National Park and was told right away that the vast majority of elephants were currently in Kaudulla National Park.

Disclosure: I went on this safari at a discounted press rate in exchange for social media coverage. This review was not part of the agreement. The elephant safari would have been on my itinerary anyway as I love elephants and have always dreamed of seeing them in their natural environment. As always all opinions expressed in this review are my own. See the full disclosure for further information.

If you want to know more about the Kaudulla National Park where I went on my safari and the elephant gathering itself, you should read the national park guide. The two national parks are where the largest gathering of wild elephants in the world happens, so be sure to include it in your Sri Lanka itinerary.

More about Kaudulla National Park: Amazing Elephant Safari in Kaudulla National Park

Table of Contents

An Elephant Safari with Minneriya Safari Tours

The company offers a free change of the safari location if the elephants are gathering in the other national park . Therefore you do not have to worry about which safari location you book. The elephants are wild, so they tend to wander around, and trying to predict where they will be is close to impossible. I, for one, originally enquired about a safari in Minneriya National Park and was told that most of the elephants were in the other park.

Minneriya Safari Tours offers 3 h long safari tours in Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park or alternatively in Hurulu Eco Park Habarana. During the tour, a driver will drive along set paths in the park. Therefore there is no mindless chasing of the wild elephants in the park and they have space to retreat. The drivers will get you as close to the elephants as possible without endangering you or the elephants.

The price for a 3h safari in Kaudulla or Minneriya National Park starts at 65 USD for one person and want the entire jeep for yourself. If you are traveling with another person, you can expect to pay between 45 and 55 USD per person, and it gets less expensive the more people you are. And while this price tag might seem steep for Sri Lanka, it is well worth it.

The half-day safari costs 95€ for a single person and 150€ for two people.

Children under the age of 5 do not have to pay, while children under 11 pay a special rate.

What is included in the Price?

When you book a safari with Minneriya Safari Tours, the price includes a private jeep for your group or yourself, a certified driver, the National Park entry fee for you, the driver’s entry fee, the jeep entry fee, the national park VAT tax, the national park service fee and free pickup from hotels in Minneriya and Habarana.

It is a courtesy to tip the driver after the safari, so be sure to have some cash on you.

Hotel Pickup and the Start of the Safari

If you opt for the 3 PM Evening Safari, you can drive to an arranged meetup location at 1:45 PM. Alternatively, you can arrange a hotel pickup. Hereby Minneriya Safari Tours offers a free hotel pickup service if you are staying in a hotel in Minneriya or Habarana. Meanwhile, the price for a pickup from more remote locations like Sigiriya start at 8 USD.

Once you are seated the driver will start the drive to the entrance gate of one of the two national parks or the eco-park.

The jeeps of Minneriya Safari Tours have a maximum capacity of seven, so even larger groups can be in one vehicle. And while I can only review the jeep we were in, it looked clean and well maintained. Usually, the back part in which you are seated has a removable cover. This way you can stand as you observe the elephants and many other animals in the national parks. And if it starts to rain as usual in the local monsoon season, the driver will quickly put the cover on.

We tried to help our driver do it when heavens opened, but he was a lot faster without our help as we seemingly only got in his way.

The Elephant Safari with Minneriya Safari Tours

The elephant safari itself was incredible and words cannot describe how much I loved it. We literally saw hundreds of elephants, water buffalos, and birds including a peacock. It was a downright magical experience and that is not just the elephant lover in me speaking.

The paths you drive on can be rather rough, so you might want to hold on to something as the car is moving. Food and drinks are not part of the safari package, so you have to bring your own

Suggestions for an even better Experience

Sadly, we did not have a spotter during our safari. Therefore, we had to rely solely on our driver who was really polite, but sadly only spoke a very broken English. At one point we tried to tell him that we wanted to stay longer as I wanted to take photos of an adorable baby elephant that had previously been hiding behind its mother. Sadly, the driver misunderstood me and drove away.

Therefore, I suggest asking specifically for a spotter or an English-speaking driver. That way you are sure to make the most of your experience.

Is the Safari ethical?

Based on my experience with Minneriya Safari Tours, I can say that they are one of the good tour operators. At no point did the driver get too close to the elephants, so these gentle giants always had the space they need to move freely and undisturbed. And unlike other jeeps I saw, ours did not leave the paths to overtake other vehicles while following specific elephants.

I do not know if this was the case because I stressed how important ethical and sustainable traveling is to me. But if all safaris are like mine, I am more than happy with the company’s approach.

Ultimately, I can only recommend that you also mention how important an ethical approach is to you. Doing so does not hurt anyone and in the worst case, it is a reminder that most travelers want to protect nature and wildlife as we explore the world.

And while you are at it, you can also mention how much you hate that tourists ride elephants and therefore damage the poor animal’s spine. Sadly, riding elephants is still quite common in Sri Lanka, so most tour companies include it in some of their programs.

Should you book a safari with Minneriya Safari Tours?

Ultimately I can only recommend booking an elephant safari with the Minneriya Safari Tours. They delivered what they promised, and we had a great time in the national park.

I do think that the fact that they also offer elephant back rides is more than problematic. However, I am fully aware that most tour operators offer elephant rides and that it has been a part of the Sri Lankan culture for a long time. Therefore change will take time and we should not punish companies in Sri Lanka because they need time to adjust.

The important thing is that none of us book this service and that we let providers know that we only want ethical animal encounters. In time we will be able to invoke change. After all, there will be no offer if there is no demand for it.

Which safari should you book?

If you want to see elephants during the safari, you should book the evening safari. Usually, there are up to five times as many elephants and in addition to that, you get to enjoy the sunset. The morning safari is best if you want to see the many birds that live within the perimeters of the national parks.

How to book the Safari?

If you want to book a safari with them, you can either book an elephant safari on their website or via WhatsApp at +94 77 648 7757 .

Planning a trip?

Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my own adventures.

More about Sri Lanka

If you plan to explore Sri Lanka, these travel guides might be useful: Everything you need to know before you visit Sri Lanka Daily Budget while Traveling in Sri Lanka Photos Inspiration Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Itinerary

Have you ever gone on an elephant Safari?

Let me know in the comments down below!

Want to go on a similar Elephant Safari? Pin it for later !

I am the founder of A Nomad's Passport and a solo traveling digital nomad, photographer, and writer. Originally from Germany, I have lived in several countries including Australia & Mexico.

As an outdoor lover and culture enthusiast, I love writing about all forms of adventure travel ranging from outdoor activities like scuba diving and hiking to cultural experiences, alongside road trips and itineraries that combine these elements.

A Nomad's Passport is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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Kaudulla Morning Safari

$ 1.00 – $ 385.00

Tour Start – From 6.00 AM to 9.00 AM

Meeting Point   – At your Hotel Lobby or our meeting place

Vehicle Type – Safari Jeep (Private)

• Private Safari Jeep just for your party
• Professional Safari Game Driver 
• Kaudulla Park Entrance Tickets
• Driver & jeep entry fees
• Kaudulla Park Service fee $10
• Kaudulla Park VAT Tax 15%
• Hotel pickup and drop-off 
• Food and drink
• Tips for Safari Driver & park ranger
• Description

Kaudulla Morning Safari:

Meet your experienced safari driver at your hotel lobby for a 2.5–3 hour morning safari tour of Kaudulla National Park. It’s a 30-minute drive from Habarana to Kaudulla National Park. Kaudulla Safari is a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.

Experience “The Gathering,” a name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Kaudulla Tan k during the dry season. The Kaudulla Elephants gathering , according to wildlife officials, is one of the world’s largest gatherings of wild Asian elephants at any given time.

View the famous elephants as they graze on the grass growing on the Kaudulla tank bed. Perhaps you’ll spot any of the park’s diverse wildlife, including deer, wild buffalo, grey langurs, purple-faced leaf monkeys, porcupines, and assorted birds.

At the end of the Kaudulla Morning Safari , depending on the location of your hotel, choose to visit the photo stop at sunset of Minneriya Tank and the standing big Buddha at Giritale.

When your Kaudulla Morning Safari tour is complete, your vehicle will return you to your hotel or original departure point.

Best period for visit Kaudulla National Park

Around the year can see some elephants, other animals & Birds. From May to September is the best season for see many elephants. 

Important Info:  Elephant Migration between Minneriya, Kaudulla, Hurulu Eco Park & Galoya Eco Park. Within that region, there are four national parks within close proximity. Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Hurulu Eco Park, and Galoya Eco Park are the four of them.   Read more

Kaudulla Safari Departure Time Comments:

• Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
• Hotel pickups commence may prior to this time as per your hotel location. Contact us verify your exact pickup time.
• Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 60 minutes prior to this time

Kaudulla Safari Departure Location Name:

> Hotel pickup and drop-off:  We have hotel pickup and drop-off by the same safari jeep or by car from hotels in Habarana, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Minneriya, Giritale, Polonnaruwa, Kandalama, Kandy, Passikudah and Trincomalee.

Directions to Kaudulla Safari Departure Location:

# Infront car park of Kaudulla National Park   |   GPS # In front of ‘ACME Grand hotel’, Habarana |   GPS # In front of ‘Habarana Police Bus Stop’, Habarana  |   GPS # In front of ‘Gunners Club’ (G & S Restaurant), Minneriya  |  GPS # In front of ‘Ekho Sigiriya Hotel’, Sigiriya |   GPS

Kaudulla Safari Return Location:

Returns to original departure point

Is Kaudulla Safari Suitable for children:

Yes, children will love the spectacle of the gathering herds, often with many baby elephants

What to wear or bring along for Kaudulla Safari:

Light cool clothing, a cap / Hat, sunscreen, drinking water and a camera

Kaudulla Safari Safety Guideline: Guests are not permitted to get off the jeep and walk around the park. Please do not smoke or take alcoholic drinks inside the park and dispose of litter responsibly. Do not feed any of the animals. Drones are not allowed.

Please read our  ‘ Safety Guidelines ‘  for more details about how the safari tours operate.

Cancellation and Refund policy 

• Cancellations received 15 days (or more) of departure will incur a penalty of 10% per person.
• Cancellations received within 14 days of departure will incur a penalty of 50% per person.
• Cancellations received within 7 days of departure will incur a penalty of 75% per person.
• Cancellations received within 5 days of departure will incur a penalty of 100% per person.
• Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment. More Details…

Additional Tour Information:

• For  Same day & Next day bookings , Please you  must contact us  by  Call or SMS / WhatsApp / Viber  with mention exact pickup Location to  +94776487757
• Not recommended for pregnant women
• Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical condition
• Child below 5 Years are Free of charge. / Child above 11 years apply for Adult ticket.
• At some season there is less number of elephants can see in Kaudulla National Park, so as that time we change the tour for ‘Minneriya National Park ‘ with additional fee or ‘Hurulu Eco park’ without additional fee as an Alternative Tour option for given you the better Safari experience. ( No Full / Partial Refund for Safari Tour Changes )

Related products

Kaudulla Evening Safari

Kaudulla Half Day Safari

Minneriya & Kaudulla Full Day Safari

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Wildlife Tours in Sri Lanka & Bird Watching Tours in Sri Lanka

Passionately designed by local wildlife naturalists.

Jeep Safaris in Sri Lanka's National Parks

Safari game drives in yala national park.

• Morning Safari Game Drive in Yala National Park
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Yala National Park
• Full day Safari Game Drive in Yala National Park

Safari Game Drives in Udawalawe National Park

• Morning Safari Game Drive in Udawalawe National Park
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Udawalawe National Park

Safari Game Drives in Wilpattu National Park

• Morning Safari Game Drive in Wilpattu National Park
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Wilpattu National Park
• Full day Safari Game Drive in Wilpattu National Park

Safari Game Drives in Kumana National Park

• Morning Safari Game Drive in Kumana National Park
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Kumana National Park
• Full day Safari Game Drive in Kumana National Park

Safari Game Drives in Bundala National Park

• Morning Safari Game Drive in Bundala National Park
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Bundala National Park

Safari Game Drives in Minneriya National Park

• Minneriya Safari

Safari Game Drives in Kaudulla National Park

• Morning Kaudulla Safari Game Drive
• Afternoon Safari Game Drive in Kaudulla National Park

Afternoon Jeep Safari in Kaudulla National Park

• Book Kaudulla Afternoon Jeep Safari online
• Request a Quote

Safari in Kaudulla National Park – Overview and itinerary of Afternoon Jeep Safari Tour in Kaudulla

This is an all-inclusive private jeep safari in Kaudulla National Park in the afternoon focusing mainly on Elephants and Birds. Kaudulla National Park is the northern part of Minneriya National Park and is only separated by Habarana – Polonnaruwa road. Based on the water sources available, Elephants in the area roam freely within Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park. When you book a safari in Kaudulla National Park or Minneriya National Park, safari jeep driver will decide which national park to go based on the movement of the Elephants .

" the gathering ", a spectacular natural phenomenon of 200 to 300 numbers of elephants flocking either in kaudulla national park or minneriya national park, a must watch during your tour in sri lanka is better observed at kaudulla national park during september and october. we pick you from the hotels in habarana and sigiriya areas..

• 2.15 PM – Pick up from Habarana or Sigiriya area hotels
• 3 PM to 6 PM – Afternoon safari in Kaudulla National Park
• 6.30 PM – Drop back to your hotel

Safari in Kaudulla National Park – Timing of Afternoon Jeep Safari Tour in Kaudulla

• Pick up time – 2.15 PM from Habarana and Sigiriya area hotels
• Safari time - From 3 PM to 6 PM

Safari in Kaudulla National Park – Rates of Afternoon Jeep Safari Tour in Kaudulla

Safari in kaudulla national park – what is included in afternoon jeep safari tour in kaudulla.

• Free hotel pick up and drop (From Hotels in Kaudulla areas)
• 3 to 4 hours of game drive
• Park entrance fees
• Picnic meal (Optional)

Safari in Kaudulla National Park – How to book Afternoon Jeep Safari Tour in Kaudulla

You could either book Kaudulla National Park afternoon safari for a real-time confirmation of the booking or write to us to receive a custom quote .

Safari in Kaudulla National Park – Opening times of Kaudulla National Park

• Opened for visitors from 6 AM to 6 PM

Kaudulla National Park

Kaudulla National Park, 6,900 hectares in extent, is one of the more recently established National Parks in Sri Lanka. It is situated 197 km from the City of Colombo, in the North Central Province, just 30km away from Polonnaruwa. The wildlife sanctuary was designated a National Park in 2002 and serves as a elephant corridor for migrating Elephants from Minneriya and Wasgamuwa National Parks in the north central and the Somawathiya National Park in the north east regions.

Kaudulla is historically important as it is one of the famed 16 irrigation tanks built by King Mahasen in 1959. The park mainly consists of a mix of dry scrub forest and grasslands. The tank which dominates the background of the Park is an important meeting place for hundreds of species of wildlife which popularly includes hundreds of Elephants who come to water at the reservoir, especially during the dry seasons. Others include 24 species of mammals such as Sambar deer, Axis deer, Monkeys, Wild boar, Chevrotain, Sloth bear and the more elusive Leopard and Grey slender loris. Birdlife International has recognized Kaudula National Park as an important bird area, where 160 of species of birds have been identified; some of them are Spot-billed pelican, Lesser adjutant, Asian spoonbill, Grey-headed fish eagle, Black-headed ibis, Painted and open-billed storks, Peacock and the Giant eagle. However the photographer’s favourite are the thousands of pelicans flocked together enjoying the water at sunset. Also identified here are 26 species of fish which include Oreochromis mossambicus, 25 species of reptiles; Freshwater turtles such as the Indian Flap-shelled turtle and Indian black turtle and an endemic species of amphibian - Fejervaryapulla.

The best time to visit the park is between August and December, particularly during September and October when the largest gathering of Elephants can be witnessed. Visitors also have the opportunity to take a memorable paddle boat ride across the reservoir, an excellent means of observing birds at close range.

Kaudulla National Park Safari Afternoon Tour – Photo Gallery

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• Wildlife tours in Sri Lanka
• Bird watching in sri lanka
• Safari game drives
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