Overview
Udawalawe Jeep Safari Tour
Itinerary
RATHNAPURA & Udawalawe
Rathnapura (City of Gems). Sri-Lanka has been famous for its gems since antiquity – legend has it that a Sri-Lankan ruby was given by King Solomon to the Queen of Sheba. Rathnapura, ensconced in the verdant hills at the south-western corner of the hill country, is the island’s richest source of gems. A trip to a working gem mine provides a fascinating glimpse into the mining process, which is still largely carried out by hand. The finest blue sapphire found in Sri-lanka which is most expensive stone after diamond.
Jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park is undoubtedly the best place in Sri-Lanka to see wild Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) throughout the year. There are about 500 elephants in the park and they often roam in herds of up to 100 also you can see wild buffalo, samba deer and leopards. Udawalawe National Park is unique in terms of consistency in numbers of elephants roaming the park, it has no a seasonal variation in herds of elephants. The best hours to visit the park are in the morning and evening. Late evening also affords the photographic opportunities in the backdrop of loveliest sunsets. Udawalawe is the Sri-Lankan national park that best rivals the savannah reserves of Africa. The park 30,821 hectares centre on the large Uda Walawe Reservoir, fed by the River Walawe.
