Uda Walawe is one of Sri Lanka’s best and most popular national parks. Covering 30,821 hectares it is probably the premier place in the country to see wild elephants. Created in 1972 it offers sanctuary to animals displaced by the damming of the Walawe River.

Mobile billboards don’t come much bigger than an elephant and like us you are likely to be greeted by one as you cross the dam on the way to the park entrance. Admission includes a hawkeyed ranger who as in the case of ours may not speak much English but are usually very good at knowing the best spots for wildlife. They expect a tip and will often give a story about how they are a volunteer.

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