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Most safari drivers will tell you the same thing: if you only do one drive in Udawalawe, make it the morning one. The air is cool, the light is soft and the animals are at their most active.
Before the gate opens
Jeeps start queuing at the ticket office well before opening time. Book your driver the evening before, agree on a pickup time, and bring a light jacket. Open jeeps can be surprisingly cold at speed.
The first hour
The first hour is when you are most likely to see elephants crossing between patches of scrub and heading towards water. Ask your driver to switch off the engine near a herd. The quiet makes all the difference, for you and for the elephants.
What else to watch for
- Water buffalo wallowing in shallow pools
- Spotted deer and sambar at the forest edges
- Peacocks displaying in the open grassland
- Raptors perched on dead trees, scanning for breakfast
Tips for a better morning
Keep your voice low, never ask a driver to get closer than is safe, and pack your rubbish out with you. A respectful safari is a better safari.
