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oAthgira River Camping CAmPgROUND $$
(%047-223 3296; http://www.nilukasafari.com; off Army
Camp Rd; half-board s/d US$70/85; W) The most
appealing and best value place near Uda
Walawe National Park. It has 15 heavy canvas
safari tents strung along the river bank. The
tents are comfortable rather than luxurious,
but all have attached (cold-water) bathrooms
and proper beds. It’s a social place and the
friendly staff organise frequent riverside bar-
becue nights.
If arriving by public transport, hop off the
bus at the Elephant Transit Home and go to
the Athgira Restaurant opposite; they’ll pro-
vide onward transport.
Elephant Lane g UESTHOUSE $$
(%071 525 8280; http://www.elephantlane.com.lk; Army
Camp Rd; with/without air-con Rs 5000/3500, d
with/without air-con Rs 5500/4000; aW) Rather
ordinary rooms but it represents real value
for money in these expensive parts. All prices
include breakfast.
Elephant Safari Hotel lODgE $$$
(%047-567 8833; http://www.elephantsafarihotel.lk; 60
Aloka mawatha; half-board s/d Rs 14,960/18,301)
Set in spacious gardens filled with geese, this
place has a warm welcome and seven huge,
stylish cottages that feel genuinely luxurious.
It’s down a maze of muddy rural lanes but
is well-signed. The turn-off is a couple of
kilometres west of the park gate close to the
bridge.
Grand Uda Walawe RESORT $$$
(%047-223 2000; http://www.grandudawalawe.com;
912 Thanamalwila Rd; s/d half-board US$140/180;
aWs) This large, resort-like place centres
on an impressive pool complex; it’s every
tour group’s favourite place to stay. Although
it doesn’t blend seamlessly into the environ-
me nt, it’s slickly run and offers smart busi-
ness luxury for those who need it.
8 Getting There & Away
Buses from Embilipitiya, the launch pad for the
park, cost Rs 46. most of the cheaper accommo-
dation is in or close to the village of Uda Walawe.
m ore upmarket places can be found strung along
the road between the park entrance and Uda
Walawe village. Ask the bus driver to either drop
you off outside your hotel of choice or as close
as possible – some places are stuffed way down
alternately dusty and mussy side lanes. if you’re
just going straight to the park entrances ask
to be dropped off there. Jeeps are available for
safari from the gates.
Si nharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve PARK
(a dult/child Rs 644/325, compulsory guide per
pe rson from Rs 1000, video camera Rs 560;
h6.30am-6pm, ticket office to 4.30pm) The last
major undisturbed area of rainforest in Sri
Lanka, this forest reserve occupies a broad
ri dge at the heart of the island’s wet zone.
On most days the forest is shrouded by
co pious rainclouds that replenish its deep
soils and balance water resources for much
of southwestern Sri Lanka. Recognising its
importance to the island’s ecosystem, Une-
sco declared the Sinharaja Forest Reserve a
World Heritage Site in 1989.
Th e only way to get about the reserve is
by foot, and excellent park guides, or free-
la nce guides available through many hotels,
ca n lead you along slippery trails pointing
ou t the wealth of stunning plant, bird and
animal life.
̈ Landscape & History
Sinharaja (Lion King) is bordered by rivers:
th e Koskulana Ganga in the north and the
UDA WALAWE UNDER THREAT
Wildlife in Uda Walawe is under threat for several reasons, including illegal settlement and
the associated grazing of cattle. Another problem is poaching and the use of ‘Hakka Patas’,
small explosive devices that are concealed in food and left on the banks of the Uda Walawe
Reservoir, where wild boar graze. Though the explosives target wild boar, several elephants
have been severely injured in recent years.
All along the main road fringing the park, shops sell fruit to passing motorists who then
attempt to hand feed the wild elephants that gather along the edge of the park fence.
Be aware that feeding the elephants encourages dependence and erodes their fear of
humans. This frequently leads to human-elephant conflict, with the elephants coming out
worse off. While the park rivals East Africa for its elephants, the Sri Lankan National Park
authorities fall behind their competitors in Kenya and Tanzania when it comes to good
conservation practice.