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Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle

Top rated
4.6
Activity provider: Wanderluxe Ceylon
Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle
Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle 2
Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle 3
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A shared-group Udawalawe game drive on the way from Ella to the south coast, ending at Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle or Hikkaduwa.

Highlights

  • Around 600 resident elephants on open grassland where nothing is hidden
  • A shared-group price for the same park and hours as the private version
  • Crocodiles, buffalo, jackals and good birding along the reservoir
  • The Ella-to-coast move done as a day rather than a drive
  • Drop-off at Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle or Hikkaduwa

Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle: Key Facts

PriceFrom $57 per person
Duration9 hours
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 2 available options

Morning Safari Tour

Departures: 4:00 AM
8 hours
English
$57
Free cancellation

Morning / Afternoon Safari Tour

Departures: 3:30 AM, 4:00 AM, 4:30 AM, 5:00 AM, 5:30 AM, 6:00 AM
9 hours
English
$57
Free cancellation

Full description

Udawalawe sits on the road between Ella and the south coast, which is what makes the transfer day the right day to see it. As a return trip from either end it means five hours of driving for three in the park; on the way it costs nothing extra.

This is the shared version, which brings the price down to a fraction of the private equivalent for the same park and the same hours. The trade is fixed timings and a full vehicle.

Udawalawe is the dependable park rather than the dramatic one. It was created in 1972 around a new reservoir and the farmland it displaced became open grassland, so there is nowhere for an elephant to hide. Around six hundred resident animals, usually in sight within twenty minutes of the gate. Water buffalo, spotted deer, jackals, mugger crocodiles along the reservoir edge, and genuinely good birding.

What you will not see is a leopard. They exist here and are essentially never seen. If leopards are the point, take the Yala version and accept three hundred jeeps.

After the drive it is two hours to the coast, arriving mid-afternoon with the beach day still usable.

Ella is a village at 1,040 metres in the southern hill country, reached by the train from Kandy that most people rate the finest railway journey in Asia, and its sights are all within a few kilometres: the Nine Arch Bridge, a brick viaduct of 1921 in a gorge of tea, which a train crosses several times a day; Little Adam's Peak, a 40-minute walk through tea to a ridge; Ella Rock, a harder three-hour climb; and Ravana Falls on the road down to Wellawaya. Mornings are clear and afternoons in the wet months bring cloud into the gap, so the walks are done early. Tuk-tuks are the transport, and every guesthouse can find one.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

5:00 AM

Pickup in Ella

Collection with luggage.

7:00 AM

Udawalawe gate

Permits and entry.

7:30 AM

Game drive

Three hours among the herds.

11:00 AM

Leave the park

Breakfast, then south.

2:00 PM

Drop-off

Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle or Hikkaduwa.

Detailed Itinerary

05:00

Hotel pickup

Group pickups take longer; the van may collect several hotels.

07:30

In the park

Open grassland around the reservoir. On a shared trip the vehicle leaves when it leaves.

14:00

The coast

Drop-off at your hotel.

Includes

  • Shared transport from your Ella hotel, a 4x4 safari jeep with driver and tracker, the game drive, drop-off on the south coast, luggage carried throughout.

Excludes

  • The national park permit, paid in cash at the gate, meals, gratuities for the driver and tracker.

Important information

Meeting point

Hotel pickup in Ella; the exact address and time are confirmed after booking.

Weather

This runs outdoors, so the operator can call it off for rain, wind or sea conditions, and that decision is usually made on the day. If they cancel, you choose: another date, or your money back in full. We do not keep a booking fee on a tour that did not run.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 9 hours
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $57
$57
Tour Type
TransferWildlifeSafari
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
We reply within 5 minutes
Free cancellation
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.6/5
based on 52 reviews
Guide
4.6/5
Value for money
4.6/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
B
Brooke
January 14, 2026

Baeus, our tour guide, was so informative, very professional and took great care of us! The transport pick up was reliable and on time, we had an incredible safari experience. There was a que to get into the national park but once we were inside, Baeus took us away from the crowds and other jeeps where we got so up close to the elephants. Brillant experience! Would definitely recommend :)) thanks Baeus

5
G
Gosia
January 5, 2026

We had an amazing safari experience. We were picked up from our accommodation in Ella at the scheduled time and reached the national park at sunrise, around 6 a.m. We were lucky to see many elephants up close, as well as peacocks, various birds, and buffalo. After the safari, we also visited a place where we could watch the feeding of baby elephants, which was a lovely experience. Later, we were picked up again and comfortably transferred to our accommodation in Mirissa, in the south of the island. Everything was well organized and smooth from start to finish. We highly recommend this safari!

5
g
gaja
September 19, 2025

The driver picked us up right from our hostel at 4.00 so that was wonderful. It took 2 hours to get to the safari and the driver Sugula drove very carefully and coutiously. He then dropped us off in Tangalle right at our hostel which was amazing. Maybe 60€ per person is too much but it was convenient

5
R
Roger
September 5, 2025

The driver was punctual for pick up and there was good communication before hand from the booking team. The addition of a safari on a long transfer broke the journey nicely. All in all a good day

5
E
Elliott
August 14, 2025

Safari was excellent, we saw Elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, wild boar, kingfishers etc. Our guide was very knowledgeable and great at spotting all the animals. The transfer was also very smooth and on time. Would recommend!

5
A
Amanda
April 16, 2025

Great trip. Our driver for the day picked up from our hotel in Ella and took us to Udawalawa national park where we met our private safari guide who took us on a 3-4 hour safari. We saw several families of elephants, getting quite close for photos. We also saw other wildlife including eagles and other birds. It was a great safari experience in a traditional safari jeep. Our driver then took us on to Mirissa dropping us off at our next hotel. Thanks for a great day

4
A
Abigail
October 9, 2025

The Safari was amazing, and my guide was incredible, spotting many animals, including elephants and jackals, tortoise, deer, lizards, crocodiles and plenty of birds, plus many more. I would have missed many animals without our guide; he spoke good English. My driver was kind but didn't speak any English, which made the long journey a little quiet. He also asked me for petrol money, which I refused. The tour was £71, which I think was too expensive, but overall the experience was good and I enjoyed the Safari.

4
M
Molly
August 28, 2025

We enjoyed our time on the safari. We were hoping to see some more animals on our morning safari however we still got to see a large variety.

5
S
Saloni
August 5, 2026

It was great, the staff was very accommodating

Frequently Asked Questions

Hotel pickup in Ella; the exact address and time are confirmed after booking.
The price does not cover the national park permit, paid in cash at the gate, meals, gratuities for the driver and tracker.. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
No, and anyone promising them is guessing. These are wild animals in open country. Early departures give the best odds because that is when animals are active and the light is good.
Wanderluxe Ceylon. We book with them directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can confirm your place with the operator before taking it as final.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice outside India. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Shared transport from your Ella hotel, a 4x4 safari jeep with driver and tracker, the game drive, drop-off on the south coast, luggage carried throughout.
The duration of the Udawalawe Safari with a South Coast Drop from Ella: Galle, Mirissa or Tangalle is typically 9 hours. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
No. It is a living town of about four hundred families, not a heritage site with a gate — you walk in. Go late afternoon: the ramparts face west, so that is both the light and the sea breeze, and the day-trippers leave around five. See our Galle Fort guide.
Roughly November to April. From May to September the southwest monsoon builds the sea and strengthens rip currents, and swimming becomes genuinely dangerous even on calm-looking days. The east coast is the reverse — dry and calm May to September. See our south coast beaches guide.
November to April, with January to March the reliable core. Boats leave Mirissa harbour at 6-6.30am and are back by eleven, so staying in Mirissa or Weligama the night before is effectively required. Outside the season, Trincomalee on the east coast takes over. See the Mirissa whale watching guide.
No — and an operator promising one is promising something they cannot control. Sighting rates in season are high; the honest operators offer a free repeat trip instead of a guarantee. Choose a smaller boat with a naturalist aboard that commits to the 100 m distance rule.
Rarely. The main resort stretches sometimes have them; most beaches do not. Red flags mean what they say, and an empty sea on a hot afternoon is information — locals know which days are dangerous. If caught in a rip, swim *parallel* to the beach, not against it.
Two nights. One full day for the countryside cycling and Galle Fort at sunset, and a second morning for the whale boat. Our Galle 2-day itinerary sets out the hours and why they matter.
They vary a great deal. The better ones release hatchlings the same night they emerge; the worse ones keep them in tanks for visitor photographs, which sharply reduces survival odds. Ask what happens to the hatchlings before you pay.
A 20-25 minute walk downhill from Ella town through tea and jungle — uphill on the way back. A tuk-tuk to the Demodara side is quieter and saves the climb. It is free, with no ticket and no official viewing area. See our Nine Arch Bridge guide.
Roughly every two hours, but Sri Lanka Railways runs 30-90 minutes late routinely, so any blog quoting exact times is quoting a timetable rather than reality. Ask at Ella station on the morning — staff will tell you what is expected and how late it is running.
Little Adam's Peak for almost everyone — 45 minutes up a stepped path for arguably the better view, out through the Ella Gap. Ella Rock is three hours return, largely unsigned, and people get lost on it regularly; take a guide or an offline map. Compared in full here.
Reserved seats open 30 days ahead and sell out within hours from December to March. Unreserved 2nd/3rd class is sold on the day and always available — you will stand, which is where the open doorways are. Send your luggage ahead by road if you have a driver. See getting to Ella.
January to March for the clearest Ella Gap views. June to September is dry but hazy from the Uva wind; October to December is wet. The real risk is cloud, not rain — at 1,000 m the view can be inside a cloud on a dry day, and mornings are clearer than afternoons in every month. See best time to visit Ella.
Two nights, which gives you two dawns — Little Adam's Peak on one, Ella Rock or a tea morning on the other, with the bridge mid-morning on day one. Our Ella 2-day itinerary sets out the order.
Do everything before nine in the morning. The Gap view is clearer in the morning in every month, Little Adam's Peak has a queue by nine, and the Nine Arch Bridge has hundreds of people on it by ten.
Starting from$57Free cancellation