Sri Lanka has over 26 national parks, so a safari is a must-do on your Sri Lanka Route. Kaudulla National Park is one of the best national parks to spot Elephants in Sri Lanka. We saw hundreds of elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and many colorful birds. Grasslands surround the beautiful park, which can be visited year-round to see all kinds of spectacular wildlife; there’s even the chance to see leopards! Discover our top tips for visiting Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka, including tickets and where to stay.
Safari in Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla National Park is one of the best places to spot elephants in Sri Lanka. There are 200+ inside the park! However, during the dry season (August/September), the number is much higher, as elephants migrate from other parks to drink water from the reservoir in Kaudulla. This is called the ‘Great Elephant Gathering’, and it’s said to be the largest gathering of elephants in all of Asia.
If you’re not visiting in August/September, don’t worry; you can book a safari in Kaudulla National Park at any time and still see elephants. We visited in March and saw lots!
Tip: Safaris in Kaudulla National Park can be done in the morning or afternoon. The afternoon safaris are less busy, but it is better to spot elephants.
Kaudulla National Park Entrance Fee
The entrance fee is 2700 LKR ($18) per person; you usually need to pay this on top of your safari cost.
Tours usually take about 4 to 5 hours (in the morning or afternoon). This includes a private jeep, pick-up, and drop-off at your hotel in Dambulla or Sigiriya. We chose a tour that cost us about 6250 LKR ($40) per person, but prices can vary.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Kaudulla National Park is between July and December, with the most exciting months being August and September for the elephant gathering. However, as we mentioned before, this is a year-round destination! For example, all the photos in this article were shot in March, and you can see all the incredible wildlife we saw.
Most travelers come to a national park in Sri Lanka to spot elephants. Herds of elephants can be spotted in this park, even with small elephant babies!
Kaudulla is close to the world-famousย Sigiriya Lion’s Rock.
Besides elephants, there is so much more to see. We saw peacocks, small black bears, crocodiles, deer, many monkeys, and beautifully colored birds. And while the park is not visited toย see leopards, our driver said that the day before us, they spotted one with two babies crossing the road.
Why Visit Kaudulla?
Kaudulla is next to Minneriya National Park, its popular big brother. While we loved Minneriya, we found far fewer jeeps in Kaudulla. In fact, it was probably the quietest of all the national parks we visited in Sri Lanka.
Kaudulla National Park isn’t touristy at all, wildlife is excellent here, and you can’t sleep inside the park, which means it feels very untouched. You might even be lucky on your way back to your hotel and spot elephants walking on the side of the road!
Tip: If you want to experience sleeping inside a national park under the stars, you can goย glamping in Yala National Park.
Where to Stay Near Kaudulla National Park?
Kaudulla is between Dambulla and the coastal city of Trincomalee. It is best to stay in Dambulla, if possible, to be located as close as possible to the park.
However, if you’re short on time, a day trip from Trincomalee is also possible. You can get to Kaudulla by joining this safari tour from Trincomalee, booking a private driver, or hiring a car.
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Iโm very very very sorry but LKR 2.700 is nรณt $18. Itโs $ 8,40
Hi Wim, thanks for noting this. We will update the guide. The prices were correct but Sri Lanka has seen an enormous decline in value of the LKR. ๐
On September 19 I payed LKR 11.500 for a ticket a person.