Where to see elephants in Sri Lanka
Elephants, along with tea, are one of the main "visiting cards" of the island. For most tourists, seeing elephants is an important part of the island's visiting itinerary. Fortunately, Sri Lanka is perhaps the best place on Earth to meet these calm giants.
In short, there are four main ways to see and interact with elephants in Sri Lanka: Jeep safari in one of the national parks, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Millennium Elephant Orphanage and Elephant Paper Factory, Elephant Ride near Sigiriya. Below we describe each of these options in detail.
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For your information: In total, about 8,000 elephants live on the island at the end of 2022. |
Jeep safari in national parks
A jeep ride in the Minneriya, Udawalawe and Yala National Parks is an exciting adventure and the opportunity to see wild elephants in their natural habitat. In addition to elephants, here you can see many exotic birds, wild boars, leopards, bears, giant squirrels.
For tourists who visit the national park in one day, we recommend a jeep safari in Udawalawe or Minneriya. These are compact parks where you are guaranteed to see animals. And in Yala, because of the vast territory, a lot depends on luck. It's worth going there for a few days.
Jeep safari (excluding transfer to the national park) costs $80 per person.
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Note: Wild elephants are dangerous. Every year, about 65 people die due to elephants on the island. When observing wild elephants, it is recommended to take precautions. |
Jeep Safari
- Jeep safari in one of the national parks of Sri Lanka
- Hundreds of wild elephants, leopards, crocodiles
- Private tour by comfortable car
- English speaking driver
Elephant orphanages in Pinavella and Udawalawa
Walking through the nursery can be compared to visiting a zoo.
The entrance ticket to the elephant orphanage is $18 per person.
There is also a hotel near the nursery, where tourists like to take photos in the pool with elephants in the background.
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For your information: The Ceylon elephant is one of the three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, endemic to Sri Lanka. Asian elephants are smaller than African elephants. Females are generally smaller than males and have short or no tusks. Only 7% of males have tusks. The Ceylon elephant, the largest of the modern subspecies of the Asian elephant, reaches a height of 2 to 3.5 m, weighs from 2000 to 5500 kg. The skin color of these elephants is darker than that of Indian and Sumatran elephants, with large and bright pigment spots on the ears, muzzle, torso and abdomen. |
Экскурсии с посещением Пиннавелы:
Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
- Buddha Tooth Temple, Royal Botanical Garden
- Train Ride, Nuwara Eliya
- Private tour by comfortable car
- English speaking driver
Sigiriya - Kandy
- Sigiriya Lion Rock, Buddha's Tooth Temple
- Kandy, Tea Plantations, Elephant Riding
- Private tour by comfortable car
- English speaking driver
Pinavella Elephant Orphanage and Elephant Dung Eco-Paper Factory
Pinavella also has a private elephant orphanage, the Millenium Elephant Foundation. The nursery houses a museum, as well as an eco-paper factory. Here you can ride elephants, as well as feed and pet them.
The cost of visiting a private elephant nursery is $25 per person.
Elephant ride at Sigiriya
The best option for children and all those who want to get closer to these giants and take memorable photos. You will follow the route with Sigiriya in the background, drive through the local village, cross the river on horseback, have the opportunity to feed the elephant and take great photos on the back of the elephant with Sigiriya in the background.
The cost of riding an elephant at Sigiriya is $20 per person.
One day tour with a visit to Sigiriya:
Sigiriya and Dambulla
- Sigiriya Lion Rock, Elephant Riding, Safari
- Golden and Cave Temples in Dambulla
- Private tour by comfortable car
- English speaking driver