The finest destination in South Asia for close-up elephant observation, Udawalawe’s open grassland plain hosts herds of 50 to 100 animals moving visibly across the landscape throughout the day. The Elephant Transit Home on the park boundary rehabilitates orphaned calves for return to the wild, and a morning visit to the feeding session is one of Sri Lanka’s most genuinely moving wildlife encounters. The park is accessible year-round and pairs naturally with the southern coast.