14 Udawalawe Safaris in Hambantota: What to Book and What It Costs

1.Udawalawe Safari Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 76 reviews · from $18Our pick

Take a roughly three-hour jeep safari through Udawalawe National Park with an experienced driver-guide. Look for elephants, water buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles, peacocks, and birds across open grasslands and forest. Lahiru Prasad is a frequently praised guide, and hotel pickup is included within 5 km of the park entrance.

“This safari experience was amazing! I will highly recommend the guide Lahiru Prasad, he answered all our questions and also was very informative about all the animals and creatures living in the national park. He has work as a guide in 8 yearRead more”

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2.Udawalawa Safari & Elephants Orphanage Tour from Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $57

Travel from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe National Park in a private vehicle, then explore the reserve by safari jeep before visiting the Elephant Transit Home. Expect elephants, deer, buffalo, monkeys, crocodiles, peacocks, and many birds. Guides such as Madu, Maduka, Ishan, and Yasanka are praised for their spotting skills.

“A most enjoyable day viewing the feeding of about 50 elephants of all ages as well as the safari drive through the National Park viewing many elephants families, monkeys, peacocks, birds, and water buffalos.”

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3.Udawalawe Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 57 reviews · 5 hours · from $67

From Hambantota Port, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe National Park, then switch to a safari jeep for elephant and bird spotting. The trip also includes the Elephant Transit Home. Guides such as Ishan, Yasanka, and Mado are praised for sharp wildlife spotting. Water, soft drinks, snacks, binoculars, transport, and guiding are included, but park entry is extra.

“Fantastic, must do activity. There is luck to what animals you see but the tour guide we had (ISHAN) was fantastic and had a phenomenally sharp eye, spotting animals we would have driven straight past if it was left to us. He was also very well educated on the animal species too.”

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4.UDAWALAWA SAFARI TOUR from HAMBANTOTA PORT (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 48 reviews · 1 day · from $51

Travel from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe National Park for a guided jeep safari, with a possible visit to the Elephant Transit Home. Hansa, Pathum, Damith, Yasha, and Sasanka are among the experienced local staff named for transfers and wildlife drives. Water, cool drinks, binoculars, transport, and port return are included, but entrance fees are extra.

“We had a great adventure with Jasha, he was very professional.”

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5.Udawalawe National Park 6-Hour Private Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $55

Spend six hours in a private 4x4 at Udawalawe National Park, with hotel pickup, a local driver-guide such as Naveen, bottled water, snacks, and time to watch elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, peacocks, and birds near the reservoir.

“We had a great private safari experience at the Udawalawe national park. Our driver Naveen was very helpful and showed us all the animals we wanted to see. The tour operator was flexible when we wanted to come in early for the safari.”

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6.Udawalawe Safari Day Trip with Return Transport – All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $180

Travel by private vehicle to Udawalawe National Park for a 3 to 3.5-hour jeep safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Your package includes hotel pickup and return, park and facility fees, lunch, bottled water, and an experienced driver-guide. Pickup is available from Colombo, the southern coast, Ella, and nearby areas.

“Amazing trip with everything so well organised that we could fully enjoy the whole day. Pick up was absolutely on time, gentle and took care of everything. Safari guide had an eye for even the small birds with some insights and side stories. We would definitely recommend this trip as a perfect experience”

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7.Udawalawe Private Safari frm Hambantota Port by BTM-All Inclusive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $135

You’ll travel from Hambantota Port in a private air-conditioned vehicle, then switch to a private safari Jeep for about three hours in Udawalawe National Park. Expect elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, deer, monkeys, peacocks, and many birds. Full-day trips include a picnic lunch, while half-day trips suit tighter cruise schedules.

“Great tour by BTM. Great drivers. Really helpful. Knew where to find the wildlife. Only problem is Viator took an additional unauthorised £221.28 from my credit card on top of the £434 for the tour. 0 stars for Viator. 5 stars for BTM.”

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8.Yala and Udawalawa Safari Tour From Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · from $47

From Hambantota port, you spend about six hours in a safari jeep at Yala National Park, or possibly Udawalawe if Yala’s midday closure affects timing. Shesan and Kasun are named guides from recent outings. Water, cool drinks, binoculars, driving, and guiding are included, but park admission is extra.

“Our tour did not visit Yala, no explanation why not. However we did have a great safari in Uduwalawa. Our guide was Kasun who showed us many animals and birds, focused on the park’s lovely elephants. A lovely day.”

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9.Udawalawe National Park Safari | From Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $75

Leave Hambantota Port at 8:00 am for Udawalawe National Park, then spend three hours in a private safari Jeep with an English-speaking driver and tracker. The park is known for Sri Lankan elephants, water buffalo, deer, crocodiles, and birdlife. Transport, entrance tickets, and a water bottle are included.

“Appreciated that Asanka waited for us as we were late getting off the boat. We had the most amazing day. He took us to Udawalawe National Park and he and another guide took us on the tour. Very knowledgeable and friendly, even packed us a light lunch.”

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10.Hambantota Port: Udawalawe Safari Tour & Transit Home Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 4 hours · from $51

Travel from Hambantota Port or a nearby hotel to Udawalawe National Park for a guided jeep safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home during feeding time. An English-speaking driver-guide explains the animals and their habitats. Confirm your pickup terminal and carry cash for entrance fees, which are not included.

“Activity was great but to many hidden costs. If we had known the full extent of the charges we could have prepared better with our cash”

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11.Udawalawe Safari & Elephants Orphanage tour from Hambantota port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $45

Travel from Hambantota Port to Udawalawe National Park in a Toyota Hilux safari jeep, with space for up to six people. Look for elephants, buffalo, deer, and birds across grasslands, forest, and reservoir edges, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Dinuka Safari provides pickup, water, snacks, binoculars, and an experienced driver.

“Dinuka Safari offered a comprehensive & thrilling jeep experience of the Udawalawe National Park followed by the Elephant transit home/orphanage. The cost was not prohibitive and worked out to be good value. Our driver was terrific and a great spotter. We saw more than we expected. We would recommend Dinuka Safari.”

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12.Udawalawe Safari & Baby Elephants Visit from Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $47

From Hambantota Port, you ride by comfortable minivan to Udawalawe, then switch to a six-seat safari jeep for about five hours among elephants, buffalo, monkeys, birds, and more. A visit to the Elephant Transit Home adds a moving conservation stop. Water, cool drinks, binoculars, transport, and guiding are included, but entrance fees cost extra.

“The baby elephant orphanage was the best. They came out to feed and they were so much fun to watch! The safari was a highlight as well.”

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13.Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $60

Travel from Hambantota Port in a private party to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour 4x4 safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home. Morning and afternoon departures are available. Your driver-guide leads the park visit, while entrance fees cost extra. Allow 5 to 7 hours in all.

“Driver/tour guide did not turn up today at the Port in Sri Lanka at the designated time. At least I have not been charged for it. Very disappointing- have never had a problem when booking tours with Viator before.”

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14.Udawalawe Elephant Safari and Orphanage Tour Shore Excursions

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $180

From Hambantota Port, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour 4x4 safari, then visit the Elephant Transit Home for its bottle-feeding programme. Guides such as Cham, Yehen, and Chathu may help explain the route, wildlife, and conservation work.

“We booked Sam’s Tours direct and was met by a charming guy called Yehen(Chathu) we could not have wished for a better tour guide he explained places all the way to and from the Safari and Orphanage and got us the best place to observe the feeding of the feeding oRead more”

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