Kaudulla National Park is one of Sri Lanka‘s wildlife destinations, especially known for its migrating elephant herds, rich birdlife, and classic safari experiences. Kaudulla has a large reservoir that attracts hundreds of elephants during the dry season. Whether you’re aiming to spot elephants, leopards, buffalo, monkeys, or birds, this Kaudulla National Park safari guide provides everything you need, from best times to visit, how to book safaris, what animals you can expect to see, park rules, and practical travel tips.
I’ve already done two safaris in Senegal and Kenya, where I spotted the big 5 altogether. During my trip to Sri Lanka, I was lucky enough to see 2 other leopards in Yala National Park! Now we are trying our luck once again! But first things first.
Decide which park to visit
First of all, you need to decide which park you’ll want to visit. We booked a road trip around Sri Lanka with our tour guide, which included Yala and Kaudulla National Park.
- Yala National Park: the most popular and largest park in Sri Lanka. It has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.
- Udawalawe: smaller than Yala, but you can get very up close to the animals (so I’ve heard).
- Kaudulla National Park: perfect to spot herds of Elephants.
- Minneriya National Park: perfect to spot Elephants.
Kaudulla and Minneriya are located next to each other. Elephants can switch between parks if they like, so watch out on the road! Every year, an elephant is hit by a car because they didn’t see the elephant coming from the bushes.
We first intended to go to Minneriya, but our driver called the ranger to ask where the elephants were. It turned out they were in Kaudulla, so we changed our plans and went to Kaudulla instead.
What wildlife can be spotted in Kaudulla National Park?
As I’ve already said above, we chose Kaudulla National Park. This park is located in the upper-center of Sri Lanka and has a lot of wildlife to show. If you want to see a lot of different kinds of animals, go to Yala, but if you’re more interested in elephants, go to Kaudulla or Minneriya, because there it’s more focused on elephant wildlife. The wildlife you can see in Kaudulla are Monkeys, Elephants, Leopard (rare), water buffalo, crocodiles, and birds.
Leopard Fact: When going to Kaudulla Park, you’ll have to choose to see the elephants or the leopards because their territories don’t cross, and therefore, another part of the park has to be visited.
Driver & Guide
Always try to call the park to know where the elephants are. The two parks are divided by a road that can be crossed, so if you want to see elephants, call in first. Our driver did this, and that’s why we went to Kaudulla National Park.
You can easily arrange a safari tour at your hotel or just on the street (don’t pay in advance to make sure they’ll come to get you). You can’t drive your own car into Kaudulla; you’re obligated to go with a licensed driver and guide.
Entrance: 6.000 LKR per person (fees driver and guide not included)
Bring along…
If you’re going on a safari, bring along a bottle of water, a pair of binoculars, a camera, toilet paper (just in case), a sweater, and sunglasses.
Let’s go on safari!
We went into the park, and we were there by ourselves! Sometimes we saw a jeep, but that’s it (we saw 4 jeeps in total). The jeep is open; there are no windows, only bars of steel.
1) Buffalo
We first saw some buffalo bathing in the water. We did not see them very often in this park, but we saw them already in Yala, luckily.
2) Birds
Kaudulla is an important bird sanctuary. Endangered species can be spotted here if you’re lucky.
3) Monkeys
You don’t have to go to a national park to see some monkeys, because they’re everywhere in Sri Lanka. Nonetheless, we saw monkeys in Yala National Park and Kaudulla National Park.
4) Leopard
Spotting the leopard in Kaudulla is harder than spotting it in Yala because there are fewer of them there. You also have to choose between the elephants and the leopards because their territories don’t overlap. One part of the park has the elephants, and the other part has the leopards.
5) Cows
I think this was the most dangerous animal we’ve seen in Kaudulla: the cow. We were just watching the elephants when we noticed that the cows were just standing amongst them. Chilling and eating.
6) Elephants
So Kaudulla is known for elephant migration. We first saw 2 males on their own before we saw a small herd. The jeep got closer so we could take some photos, when suddenly a female charged towards our car! We were scared, but we knew from our guide not to scream. The jeep drove off, but that’s when the elephant kept charging towards us. The jeep then stopped as did the elephant (but we didn’t see that, and we just kept whispering “drive, drive, drive”). In the end, the elephant stopped and went back to her herd. We laughed about it, but I don’t want to have this experience again!
We drove further away, and then we spotted the big herd of 100 elephants! We kept our distance and watched how they bathed themselves and how one took a shower! Afterward, we also saw some cute baby elephants!
This safari was so adventurous with that chase, but it was quite the experience! We returned to our hotel with big smiles on our faces.
I hope these tips will help you with your safari in Kaudulla and that the photos have given you a taste of what a safari in Kaudulla could be!
What should I pack for Sri Lanka?
Light, breathable clothing is best due to the tropical climate. When visiting temples, shoulders and knees should be covered. Make sure to bring these top 5 items on your trip to Sri Lanka:
- Snorkel set: for seeing all the fish and coral in the sea
- Camera: to take amazing photos of your trip!
- Sunscreen: don’t get sunburned when visiting Egyptian temples!
- Microfiber towel: compact towel to take everywhere with you & that dries quickly!
- Sturdy Hiking shoes: to make amazing hikes
Use my ultimate packing list to have everything in your luggage for your trip
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions Sigiriya
🎫 How do I book a safari in Kaudulla?
Safaris can be booked through tour operators, hotels, or directly at the park’s entrance. Private jeeps, shared jeeps, and guided tours are all available.
🐆 How long is a typical safari in Kaudulla National Park?
Most safaris last 3-4 hours, with morning and evening safaris for the best wildlife activity and cooler temperatures.
🐘 Can you see elephants all year in Kaudulla National Park?
Elephants are present year-round, but large herds are most easily seen during the dry season (July-October) when animals concentrate near water.
👚 What should I wear when on a safari?
Wear jungle colours to fit in and to not disturb wildlife (this means green, beige & brown). Do not wear strong scents, as they may attract the animals into your jeep (yes, also the dangerous leopard). Don’t shout, only whispers allowed. Remember: you’re observing wildlife, not disturbing it.
🛌 Where to stay in Sigiriya?
We stayed in the Saunter Paradise Hotel. However, this hotel no longer exists.
🧳 What should I pack for Sri Lanka?
Light, breathable clothing is best due to the tropical climate. When visiting temples, shoulders and knees should be covered. Bring sturdy walking shoes and a rain jacket for hikes. Use my ultimate packing list to make packing easy!
