Usually, all safari trips start in Udawalawa town, ask your guide about the exact meeting point. The park entrance is located about 10 km from the town.
By car
If you take a car you may navigate using the next coordinates:
6.419426926260856, 80.8069991570172 
– Udawalawa town, usually meeting point with a guide.
6.440250263601105, 80.89119955831876 – Main gate of the national park.
By taxi or transfer
The most common way is to take a transfer. If you haven’t a car transfer is the only option you may take a safari on a single day. You may ask to arrange a transfer to Udawalawa your hotel or host, but usually your guide may offer cheaper options.
Below you may find the table with approximate prices for transfers from the most popular places. It is a one-way price per economy car and it may differ depending on car type, fuel cost, season, etc.
| Starting point | Price, $ | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 120 | 4 hours |
| Galle, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa | 70 | 2,5 hours |
| Matara, Weligama, Mirissa | 60 | 2 hours |
| Tangalle, Hambantota | 50 | 1,5 hours |
| Ella | 70 | 2,5 hours |
| Nuwara Eliya | 120 | 4,5 hours |
| Kandy | 140 | 5 hours |
| Trincomalee | 250 | 8 hours |
By public transport
It is long, and not too comfortable, but the cheapest way to get to the park. Please note that it is just impossible to come to Udawalawe by public bus and have a safari on the same day, but if you have enough time and traveling, Udawalawa may be a perfect stopover on your heading up to Ella, central province, or vice versa.
By bus From Ella:
From Ella you will have to take 3 buses:
Ella to Wellawaya bus station. (Duration: ~45 minutes)
Wellawaya bus station to Thanamalwila. (Duration: ~45 minutes)
Thanamalwila to Udawalawe. (Duration: ~45 minutes)
It is from 4 to 8 hours trip depending on the bus timetable.
By bus From the South coast or Colombo:
First of all, you must get to Tangalle. You may do it using buses from Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, and all the main points on the South Coast. Alternatively, you may take a train from the nearest station to Beliatta and after use a tuk-tuk or bus to Tangalle.
After you will have to take 2 buses:
Tangalle bus station to Embilipitiya. (Duration: ~1 hour 30 minutes)
Embilipitiya bus station to Udawalawe. (Duration: ~30 minutes)
In any case, it is a whole day trip from any town, and you must check the actual timetable.
See also: