Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe is a national park in the southern part of Sri Lanka. It was founded back in 1972 on an area of 308 ^km2 to give shelter to animals that had been displaced by the construction of a reservoir on the Valava River. Udawalawe impresses with its landscapes, the wide plains are bustling with life, the blue mountains attract travelers.

Flora and fauna of Udawalawe Park

There are several types of savannas in Udawalawe National Park: bush savannah, where many shrubs grow; savanna, which turns into a forest; grassy with a small number of trees. There are quite a lot of elephants in the park - over 150 individuals. Besides elephants, there are spotted deer, zambaras, leopards, bears, gray langurs, monitor lizards, mongooses, and buffaloes in the park. There are a total of 39 representatives of mammals, 21 species of fish, and 33 representatives of reptiles, 135 species of butterflies. The park is ideal for those who appreciate bird watching, because there are 184 species of birds, among which there are a lot of rare ones. Among the birds you can meet: eagles, tailed drongos, malabars, hawks, ibises, white storks, peacocks. It is worth noting that the Boa constrictor is favored by many migratory birds, and the most experienced hunters will show you the best places to observe them.

Udawalawa is famous for its herds of elephants. The park's landscape contains many wonderful places to keep an eye on these animals in their bathing and gambling grounds. Elephants come together in herds of up to 50 individuals, but mostly herds consist of 8-10 females with cubs, led by a seasoned elephant. Some elephants are very timid, running away at the sight of people, but most of them behave quietly.

Udawalawe lies on the border of the wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka. Approximately 1,500 mm of precipitation falls per year, most of it falls in October-January and March-May. It's pretty hot here, with the average temperature hovering around 30 °C.

The park is very popular among travelers and ranks third most visited among all parks in the country.