For those staying at Ahaspokuna Glamping, few excursions capture the essence of wilderness and culture like a safari through the rarely explored Handagiriya Gate of Udawalawe National Park. Unlike the busy main entrance, this lesser-known access point on the park’s eastern edge offers a truly off-the-beaten-path Udawalawe National Park Safari—a highlight among unique adventure tours in Sri Lanka.
Your day begins at dawn with a scenic drive from Ahaspokuna to the Handagiriya gate, entering a quiet, untouched sector of the park where jeep tracks weave through open grasslands, forest patches, and riverine habitats. This secluded area allows for more intimate wildlife encounters, free from crowds, making it one of the most authentic things to do in Belihuloya.
Udawalawe National Park is world-renowned for its elephant population, with an estimated 800 to 1,100 wild elephants roaming its plains. The Handagiriya side is especially favored by small herds and solitary bulls, offering incredible sightings of elephants grazing, bathing, and even interacting with calves. It’s not uncommon to find yourself just metres away from these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
But the wonders of Udawalawe National Park go far beyond its iconic elephants. This biodiverse sanctuary is teeming with wildlife, offering an unforgettable Udawalawe Safari experience. As you traverse the park's grasslands and forest edges, you may spot spotted deer moving gracefully through open clearings, sambar deer and wild boar foraging near waterholes, and water buffalo contentedly wallowing in muddy pools. Keep an eye out for the agile Sri Lankan jackal darting through the underbrush, while the treetops above may be alive with the calls of gray langurs and playful Toque macaques. This rich variety of mammals adds depth to every game drive, making your stay at Ahaspokuna Glamping a true immersion into the wild heart of Sri Lanka.
The park is also a birder’s paradise, home to over 180 bird species. Keep your eyes peeled for raptors like the white-bellied sea eagle, crested serpent eagle, and changeable hawk-eagle soaring overhead. Along water bodies, you may spot painted storks, herons, egrets, little cormorants, and a dazzling array of kingfishers, bee-eaters, and Indian rollers. Migratory birds arrive between November and April, adding even more color and excitement to your Udawalawe safari experience.
After a rewarding morning game drive, enjoy a picnic breakfast within the park, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild. From there, you’ll travel a short distance to uncover the Handagiriya Forgotten Kingdom—a mysterious archaeological site cloaked in forest, with evidence of prehistoric human settlement and ancient monastic ruins.
The journey continues with a visit to a nearby paddy field where a village-style picnic lunch awaits—a perfect blend of rustic charm and local flavor. Your final stop includes a guided visit to a local curd maker, where you can observe the age-old process of preparing buffalo curd, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic delicacies.
This unique full-day tour offers an extraordinary mix of wildlife safari, archaeological exploration, cultural immersion, and rural village life, all within easy reach of Ahaspokuna Glamping. It’s an ideal addition to your Glamping Sri Lanka itinerary—immersive, offbeat, and deeply rewarding.
Phone : (+94) 70 222 8 222
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In the Sinhalese language (spoken in Sri Lanka), “Ahas” means “Sky” and “Pokuna” means “Pond” or “Pool”. Ahaspokuna is so named in reference to the lake here, high up in the hills, that is only fed by rainwater. A former settlement that sprung up on its shores was subsequently also named “Ahaspokuna”. Today, the jungle tide has washed over where people once lived and the camp provides a wilderness retreat for those in search of something different. Ahaspokuna by Eco Team
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