Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
3.8/5
Based on 10 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port worth booking?
Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port is a 5-hour experience in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, from $60 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.8/5 rating across 10 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 3.8/5 (10)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $60 per person
Take a tour of Udawalawe National Park, one of Sri Lanka's largest animal sanctuaries. You’ll have plenty of time to hear commentary about the wildlife you’ll see and ask questions. Keep an eye out for elephants, water b
What you get
- Driver/guide
- Transportation in a Safari Jeep (maximum of 7 passengers per jeep)
- Port pickup and drop-off
About this experience
Take a tour of Udawalawe National Park, one of Sri Lanka's largest animal sanctuaries. You’ll have plenty of time to hear commentary about the wildlife you’ll see and ask questions. Keep an eye out for elephants, water buffalo, jackals, leopards, and other animals from the comfort of a rugged 4x4 vehicle.
What's included
Included
- Driver/guide
- Transportation in a Safari Jeep (maximum of 7 passengers per jeep)
- Port pickup and drop-off
Not included
- Entrance fees
- Admission fees
What you'll see and do
Udawalawe National Park
Udawalawe National Park lies on the boundary of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, in Sri Lanka. The national park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. The reserve covers 30,821 hectares (119.00 sq mi) of land area and was established on 30 June 1972. Before the designation of the national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation (chena farming). The farmers were gradually removed once the national park was declared. The park is 165 kilometres (103 mi) from Colombo. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan elephants. It is a popular tourist destination and the third most visited park in the country.
180 minutes here · Admission not included
Elephant Transit Home (ETH)
The Udawalawe Elephant Transfer Home is a facility within Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka that was established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation. Its primary objective is to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for ultimate release back into the wild.
30 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Udawalawe National Park
Sri Lanka
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations.
Ends at
Udawalawe National Park · Sri Lanka
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Shehan Safari
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 10 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
10 verified traveler reviews for Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Would not recommend.
Booked this tour because they collected you from the port. Excluded was the price of entry to the park and home which they gave a price for. Two days before we arrived in port on our cruise ship we received communication from them that they had changed the time of pick up from 0800 to 1030 and the price of the entry fees. On the day the price had changed again -from 11500LKR ($40) to $100. Unfortunately we paid by dollars-would not recommend. If you do not have rupees in cash they will take you to an ATM. They then led us to a vehicle that was in a dilapidated state- so much so that I feared for our safety on Sri Lankan roads. The park was good-we saw elephants, deer and an croc. After we had finished the driver asked us if we wanted to eat at a restaurant. Fortunately neither ourselves or the other couple travelling with us wanted food. Which meant that we were in time for the feeding at the orphanage- something the driver neglected to advise us about. If we had eaten we would have had to wait hours and we would have cut it fine for getting back to the cruise ship in time. It is a packed crowd at the orphanage so if you are late or of small statue you may have problems. The driver was genial but didn’t say much. I have to say that I would not recommend this company given our experience.
via Tripadvisor
Brilliant trip
Fabulous tour. The elephant orphanage is wonderful. The park was amazing saw mums & babies bathing .Eagles crocodiles , monkeys great experience highly recommend
via Tripadvisor
Almost missed the ship!!! Don’t do it
We had a tour to the Elephant transit point and a Safari. The tour operator did not answer any messages that we had previously sent The tour we booked was for four hours when we got ready to go onto the jeep we were told it was now 8 hours!! Now I can see you thinking what a bargain no it isn’t when you need to get back to the ship. Our tour should have been with a guide this is not true. We were dropped off at the elephant transit centre and told nothing of where we should go. We sat and sat and eventually the elephants were let in to be fed. We were told our tour would start at 8am. The elephant feeding didn’t start until 10.30 am. So 2.5 hours had already gone. All the tour operator wanted to do was to get money from us for the elephant transit centre and the Safari. He never asked us had we paid for the transit centre ourselves as there was a facility to do that. Do I believe the money he collected went to them? I doubt it. The Safari was good but the driver could not understand we were short of time. There were infact 21 of us in the bus that took us to the Safari. We couldn’t even cut the Safari short as we needed to wait for all their jeeps to return. Every time we went passed their jeeps they kept saying we are going to miss the ship. All the drivers of the jeeps just didn’t understand why we were all getting upset. Their English was extremely poor considering it’s supposed to be In English. After much shouting the drivers returned us to the bus. Our gps said we would arrive at the port shuttle buses at 4.05pm and the last shuttle was 4pm!! Luckily I had friends on the ship so I manage to contact them for them to inform the ship that we would be late. They said they would hold the buses until 4.30pm. If I hadn’t done this we would have missed the ship. The driver of the bus did drive fast to get us back. Others that were in a minivan said they struggled to keep up with us. They passed us as we had to stop at a bank for someone to use the cash machine which wasn’t actually there. We took enough water for a four hour tour not an 8 hour one, it was 30c!!! When we got to the port we literally ran from where we were dropped off to the shuttle bus getting on the bus at 3.59pm. If we hadn’t run or had limited mobility we would have missed the shuttle bus. This is totally unacceptable. We did not get the tour we paid for. Way too stressful to be enjoyed. Would i recommend definitely not
via Tripadvisor
I had tickets but nobody showed up and have not been charged.
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.
via Viator
Wonderful Excursion
We had an amazing experience on the safari. Our guide was an awesome guide. He showed us Many animals and beautiful nature! We can really recommend to everyone who wants to visit Udawalawa!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $60 to $120
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Hambantota.
How much does Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port cost?
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Prices start at $60 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Hambantota usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Hambantota is not rushed.
Is Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.8/5 across 10 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Hambantota, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Hambantota can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Hambantota and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Udawalawa National Park & Orphanage Visit from Hambantota Port start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Hambantota within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Hambantota?
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On Outty we rank every Hambantota experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Udawalawe National Park — 4-Hour Private Jeep Safari (Pickup), Paradise Blow Hole, Big Buddha, Rock Temple Tours, Udawalawe Elephant Safari – Private & Shared Jeep. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Hambantota?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Hambantota?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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