The Elephant Transit Home — the ETH — is a Department of Wildlife Conservation facility that has been rescuing orphaned elephant calves since 1995. Calves are hand-reared on milk until they are old enough to survive alone, then released back into the wild in managed groups. It is the counterpoint to Sri Lanka's captive-elephant attractions: no riding, no bathing, no chains, and no hands-on contact.
Feeding times
Visitors come for the milk feeding, which happens four times a day and lasts about 30 minutes. You watch from a raised viewing platform.
| Session | Notes |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | The most popular — and the most crowded |
| 12:00 PM | Our pick. Quieter, and it lands right after a morning safari |
| 3:00 PM | Good if you are going into an afternoon drive afterwards |
| 6:00 PM | Last session of the day, in the softest light |
Arrive at least 15 minutes early for a good position at the platform. Times are approximate and set by the DWC.
Tickets
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult | ≈ $5 USD (about LKR 1,500) |
| Foreign child (6–12) | ≈ $3 USD (about LKR 900) |
| Sri Lankan citizen | LKR 50 |
Camera use is included — there is no separate photography permit. The ETH has its own entrance and its own ticket, so you do not need a national park ticket to visit it and you can come without doing a safari at all.
Transit Home or Pinnawala?
This is the choice most visitors are actually weighing, so it is worth being blunt about the difference.
| Elephant Transit Home | Pinnawala | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Rehabilitate orphans and release them | Permanent captive herd |
| Human contact | Kept to a minimum, viewing from a platform | Close contact is part of the visit |
| Riding / bathing | None | Offered |
| Chains | No | Used on some animals |
| Visit length | About 45 minutes | Half a day |
Combining it with a safari
The ETH sits a few minutes from the Udawalawe park gate, so almost everyone pairs the two. The cleanest itinerary:
- 6:00 – 10:00 AM — morning jeep safari inside the park
- 10:00 – 11:30 AM — breakfast and a break
- 12:00 PM — noon feeding at the Elephant Transit Home
If you would rather start later, flip it: the 3:00 PM feeding followed by an afternoon drive works just as well. We can build either into a day trip from the coast or the hill country — see the Udawalawe safari options.
Practical notes
- There are toilets and shade at the viewing area — unlike inside the park
- A zoom lens helps; the platform keeps you a fair distance back
- Allow about 45 minutes to an hour in total
- It is an easy, low-effort stop — good for elderly visitors and small children
🐘 Safari plus the Transit Home, in one day
We time the pickup around the feeding session you want. Tell us your date and hotel.
❓ Elephant Transit Home FAQs
What are the feeding times?
Four sessions daily at approximately 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, each about 30 minutes. Arrive 15 minutes early.
Which feeding is best?
The noon session — quieter than 9 AM and it fits straight after a morning safari. The 3 PM works well before an afternoon drive.
How much are tickets?
Foreign adults ≈ $5 USD (about LKR 1,500), foreign children 6–12 ≈ $3 USD (about LKR 900), Sri Lankan citizens LKR 50. Camera use is included.
Do I need a park ticket too?
No. The ETH has a separate entrance and ticket from Udawalawe National Park, and can be visited on its own.
How is it different from Pinnawala?
The ETH rehabilitates orphans for release back into the wild and minimises human contact — no riding, no bathing, no chains. Pinnawala is a permanent captive herd built around close contact.
Can I touch or feed the elephants?
No, deliberately. The calves are being prepared for the wild, so contact is kept to the minimum needed to care for them. You watch from a raised platform.
How long does a visit take?
Around 45 minutes to an hour including parking, tickets and finding a spot.
Is it good for children?
Very — it is short, shaded, has toilets, and the calves are close enough to see without binoculars. It balances a bumpy three-hour jeep drive nicely. See Udawalawe safari with kids.
Keep planning: Udawalawe safari tours · Udawalawe National Park guide · In-depth ETH guide & 30 FAQs · Safari prices 2026