What animals will you see on the safari?
Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is native to Sri Lanka and one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant. This huge and graceful creature is one of the main reasons to visit Udawalawe – there are more than 400 elephants here.
Chance to see: Guaranteed
The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) also known as mugger and marsh crocodile. One of the biggest predators on the island and you may see it in a wild in Udawalawe. If you will lucky you will see a crocodile hunting for buffalo.
Chance to see: High
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), also called the domestic water buffalo or Asian water buffalo. Water buffalo spend much of their day submerged in the muddy waters of Asia’s tropical and subtropical forests. Their wide-splayed hoofed feet prevent them from sinking too deeply in the mud.
Chance to see: Guaranteed
The changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) or crested hawk-eagle is a large bird of prey. Nice bird with a powerful beak. It has brown upperparts and pale underparts, with barring on the undersides of the flight feathers and tail.
Chance to see: High
Bee-eaters (Merops) is a small brightly colored, gregarious, and flamboyant birds. They are fast and fierce as a missile when it comes to securing a meal. And they can be deeply committed to others.
Chance to see: Guaranteed
The ruddy mongoose (Urva smithii) is a mongoose species native to hill forests in India and Sri Lanka. It is well known like cobra-killers with a Rikki-Tikki-Tavi story: mongoose’s prey really includes rodents, snakes, birds’ eggs and hatchlings, lizards, and a variety of invertebrates.
Chance to see: Medium
The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), also known as the common peafowl, and blue peafowl, is a peafowl species native to the Indian subcontinent.
Chance to see: Guaranteed
The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is a leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. It was first described in 1956. There are just a few leopards in Udawalawe, so it is very rare lucky to see this beautiful cat during Safari. But you may also visit Yala where the chance to spot it is higher.
Chance to see: Low
The jungle cat (Felis chaus), also called reed cat, swamp cat, and jungle lynx. It feels at home in Udawalawe Park, but not like the open spaces so also rarely appears on our way.
Chance to see: Low
The toque macaque (Macaca sinica) is a reddish-brown-coloured Old World monkey endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known as the rilewa or rilawa. They are widespread on the island and you may see them in towns, villages, and popular tourist spots. Also in Udawalawe Park you may see it in wild.
Chance to see: High
The black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus), is also known as the black-shouldered kite. This kite is distinctive, with long wings, white, grey and black plumage, and owl-like forward-facing eyes with red irises.
Chance to see: Low
The orange-breasted green pigeon (Treron bicinctus) is a pigeon found across tropical Asia. This is a species of forest and is widely distributed in Sri Lankan forests not far from the coast.
Chance to see: High
The Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), is also called the common Indian monitor. The Bengal monitor can reach 175 cm with a snout-to-vent length of 75 cm and a tail of 100 cm. This giant lizard may climb into the trees to find some food.
Chance to see: High
Gray langurs, also called Hanuman langurs and Hanuman monkeys, are Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent. It has a nice white, pale, or gray coat which makes it toys-like and easily spotted in the jungle.
Chance to see: Medium
The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened tortoise species native to India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka where it inhabits dry areas and scrub forests. The Indian star tortoise can grow to 25 cm long.
Chance to see: Low
The Sri Lankan jackal (Canis aureus naria), also known as the Southern Indian jackal is a subspecies of golden jackal native to southern India and Sri Lanka.
Chance to see: Medium
The painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) is a large wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia including Sri Lanka. This big (up to 160 cm) and nice-colored bird live near many reservoirs in Udawalawe Park.
Chance to see: High
The pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a species of water kingfisher widely distributed across Sri Lanka. Males have a double band across the breast, while females have a single gorget. Be careful to distinguish the male or female in front of you.
Chance to see: High
The white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), also known as the white-breasted sea eagle. You may see a lot of species of eagles, but the white-bellied sea eagle has a white head, rump and underparts, and dark or slate-grey back and wings. In flight, the black flight feathers on the wings are easily seen when the bird is viewed from below.
Chance to see: High
The brown fish owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) is a fish owl species in the family known as typical owls, Strigidae. It is native from Turkey to South and Southeast Asia.
Chance to see: Low
The Indian or Long-nosed vine snake (Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha) is a species of diurnal, mildly venomous, arboreal snake distributed in the lowlands of peninsular India. It is widespread but hard to spot during safari because it prefers the jungles far from roads.
Chance to see: Low
The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is the most widespread species of the genus Upupa. It is a distinctive cinnamon-colored bird with black and white wings, a tall erectile crest, a broad white band across a black tail, and a long narrow downcurved bill. Its call is a soft “oop-oop-oop”.
Chance to see: Medium
It is just a few common species that you may see on the safari in Udawalawe Park. There are a lot of other birds, insects, and animals that you may find in the park during your visit.
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