The park include 94 plants, 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds, and 43 mammals.
Udawalawe National Park is an important protected area that is home to considerable flora, fauna and Sri Lankan wildlife. Many species recorded in the park including 94 plants, 21 fish, 12 amphibians, 33 reptiles, 184 birds (33 of which are migratory) and 43 mammals. Additionally, 135 species of butterflies are amongst the invertebrates found in the park.
Udawalawe National Park is also undoubtedly the best place in Sri Lanka to see wild Asian Elephants throughout the year. The park is unique in terms of consistency in the numbers of roaming elephants, estimated to be well over 500 elephants which often roam in herds of up to 100 – these magnificent, majestic and often playful creatures can be observed fairly close up, tending to their young, feeding and strolling through the reserve..
The best hours to visit the park are in the mornings and evenings. Late evening also offers sensational photographic opportunities against the backdrop of stunning sunsets. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119 sq miles) of land and lies on the boundary of Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones. Much of the land is flat land with trees (Plains), although there are also some mountainous areas too. The Kalthota Range and Diyawini Falls are in the north of the park and the outcrops of Bambaragala and Reminikotha lie within it. The habitat surrounding the reservoir includes marshes, the Walawe river and its tributaries,forests and grasslands.
Besides elephants, other mammal species in the park include Sambar and Axis deer, muntjac, wild boar, water buffalo, monkey, mongooses and even an elusive family of leopards roam these parts. Every safari is a totally unique adventure!