Elephant Transit Home

★★★★★ 4.5/5 (52,494 reviews) Excellent

About This Museum

Tucked away near the Udawalawa National Park, the Elephant Transit Home feels less like a traditional museum and more like a living, breathing story of second chances. It was established to address a heartbreaking reality: many young elephants were orphaned due to human-wildlife conflict. Instead of static displays, its key exhibits are the playful, mud-splattered calves themselves, who arrive scared and scrawny before being nursed back to health. The air is filled with the sounds of rumbling bellies and occasional trumpets, especially during the chaotic bottle-feeding sessions that are the main event for visitors.

Collection Highlights

The viewing platform overlooks the main feeding area where you can watch the dedicated keepers prepare giant milk bottles for the hungry herd. There's nothing quite like seeing a wobbly calf, still finding its feet, eagerly trotting toward its meal.

Visitor Information

Plan your visit around one of the scheduled feeding times—that's when all the action happens. It’s a wonderfully raw and uplifting experience that connects you directly to Sri Lanka's incredible conservation efforts.

Architecture & Building

The structures are purposefully simple and functional, designed not for grandeur but for the well-being of its residents, blending seamlessly into the surrounding scrub jungle with open enclosures and plenty of space.

Contact & Location

Address: Elephant Transit Home, C.P De Silva Road, Udawalawe, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, 70190, Sri Lanka

Phone: +94 472 232 147

Website: Visit Website