See all properties
Save

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort

5.0 star property

Photo gallery for Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort

Outdoor pool, open 8 AM to 8 PM, pool umbrellas, pool loungers
Garden
Exterior
Staircase
Property grounds

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning
  • Gym

Explore the area

View map
912, Thanamalwila Road, Udawalawa
  • Place, Udawalawe National Park
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Elephant Transit Home
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Tangalle Beach
    ‪60 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Exterior
Centauria Wild
Udawalawa
  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Kids’ pool
  • Free Wi-Fi
4.3 out of 5, Excellent, 55 reviews
The price is NZ$166
includes taxes & fees
9 June - 10 June
Centauria Wild

About the area

Udawalawa

When you stay at Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort in Udawalawa, you'll be in a national park, you'll be a short 2-minute drive from Udawalawe National Park. .This family-friendly hotel is within the region of Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Tangalle Beach.

What's nearby

  • Udawalawe National Park - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Elephant Transit Home - 4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Ridiyagama Safari Park - 42 min drive - 45.5 km
  • Lunugamvehera National Park - 47 min drive - 49.9 km
  • Tangalle Beach - 60 min drive - 72.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Butterfly Restaurant - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪vibeX - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Grand Toscana Restaurant - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Craft Tunnel: A Potter’s Retreat - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Kottawaththa Village Inn - ‬2 min drive

About this property

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort offers 79 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Flat-screen televisions come with cable channels.

Bathrooms include bathrobes, slippers, bidets, and complimentary toiletries. This Udawalawa hotel provides complimentary wired Internet access. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea makers. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily. Amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards.

An outdoor pool and a children's pool are on site. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa.
Make yourself at home in one of the 79 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and bidets. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and coffee/tea makers.
Take time to pamper yourself with a visit to the full-service spa. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find an attached winery, an outdoor pool, and a fitness center. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and an arcade/game room.
Enjoy a meal at Una Sevana, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's 24-hour room service. Unwind at the end of the day with a drink at the bar/lounge or the poolside bar. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 6:30 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. A shuttle from the airport to the hotel is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 6:30 AM and 10 AM.
Una Sevana - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine.
24-hour room service is available.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour airport pick-up shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Daily buffet breakfast available 6:30 AM to 10 AM for a fee: USD 10 for adults and USD 5 for children
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • Couples/private dining
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Una Sevana

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Children's pool
  • Ecotours
  • Full-service spa
  • Gym
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Shopping
  • Winery

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • In-room cot
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Banquet hall
  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes
  • Free cot
  • Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Champagne service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: noon
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 30.0 per night
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 60.00
  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per child: USD 30 (from 5 to 12 years old)
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 60.00
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per child: USD 30 (from 5 to 12 years old)

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately USD 10 for adults and USD 5 for children
  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 150 per room
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 30.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 8 AM to 8 PM
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Udawalawa
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Embilipitiya
Grand Udawalawe Safari Embilipitiya
Udawalawe Safari Embilipitiya
Udawalawe Safari Udawalawa
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Hotel
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Udawalawa
Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Hotel Udawalawa

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 36 out of 88 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 28 out of 88 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 13 out of 88 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 11 out of 88 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 88 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kyle

An easy, relaxing base before and after our safari.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

John

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kevin

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff always have a smile and will get you anything you need. Nice and clean room and communal areas, good variety of food. Great location if you are visiting for the Safari, only ten minutes up the road. The transition centre, where you can see the young elephants being fed, is even closer.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great service and very hospitable team. Secure and convenient location for national park. The bathroom in the standard room is very tired and needs refurbishment
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Amanda

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent staff great safari clean property but food was poor
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Lisa

We
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

samila

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

4/10 Poor

Christopher

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Property was hugely convenient for the udawalawe game reserve. The staff were very pleasant. And that was about it…. The hotel was dark, our room was unbelievably dark, and the food was disgusting. Our two meals were inedible. We left a day early.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew, Mayfield

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a great stay... only down side being we were only there for 2 nights Lovely hotel, with very friendly staff. Rooms great and well appointed.Great setting and relaxing after or before safari. Only bit of advice is dont go too late for breakfast or buffet evening meal, as its all been hoovered up. Would recommend and if we find ourself in same area again, will re book.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved our stay here! The staff were all great, the campus was clean and well taken care of, and our room was very nice. The restaurant breakfast and dinner buffets had a nice variety of food options as well. Watch out for monkeys in the morning - one tried to steal our cream and sugar during morning coffee on the balcony.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samaraweerage

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to relax and enjoy. A convenient location if you’re going for safari in Udawalawe national parks
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Danette

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful time and experience here. The staff were above and beyond, the amenities were also really nice. We enjoyed the restaurant and bar and the food.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The staff were pleasant. The room was large and comfortable. The bathroom was a bit gritty. The décor was gloomy. The food was good.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

great stay in a great hotel

We had a fantastic time, the food was great - so many gluten free options, I’m coeliac so that made a huge difference. It was my 30th birthday when we arrived, they decorated my room, gave me a free drink and also made me a gluten free cake and sang to me - brilliant! This hotel was lovely, clean, had great pool and the staff were kind, attentive and always pleasant. we would definitely visit again :)
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2020

8/10 Good

Corey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Murray

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good Spot

A great place to stay when planning a safari! Not much else to do in the area and hotel but perfect for a one night trip!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Sneha

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Good place but very average food

The hotel was nice and well kept. The room was really big and comfortable, the staff was helpful. The biggest issue that we faced was with the food. we are vegetarians so there were very limited choices to begin with (we are used to less options but this was abnormally low). Even the few options that were available tasted very bad. It was excessively salty and slightly under-cooked. The hotel’s safari jeep package was almost double of what we paid outside.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

6/10 Okay

BRIAN

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location as near to the park and it has a pleasant swimming pool and Deluxe rooms were nice (not as described on website but still ok). Food was very poor and catered for tour groups and very expensive for food and drinks. They have no tour desk or leaflets regarding tours for independent travellers, however they booked an excellent trip for 2 people. One night here is enough as tour leaves at either 0530 or 1430 so only trip is needed and then elephant orphanage / transit home, which was worth a visit and in walking distance. Only hotel like this in the area so if you want the facilities then book this but be aware not up to expected standards.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nicklas Møller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Excellent hotel - except for the food

Based on the hotel itself, we'd give this hotel a 5 star rating. The only reason we have to give it a 4 is that the food war really disappointing. We had been in Sri Lanka for about a week in various hotels and restaurants prior to this stay, and really love the food and have found the quality and flavor of food in this country to be very consistent. However, the food here was really rather bad. We ate dinner and breakfast here twice, and all meals were consistently poor. Even the papadums were kind of stale tasting - this is not that hard an item to cook well! Otherwise, the hotel was great - great rooms, great staff, excellent grounds, nice pool. But they really need to replace the food service manager or chef and upgrade their food.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

4/10 Poor

James

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Disappointing stay

Unfortunately we did not have a great stay at Udawalawe Safari Resort. The hotel is in definite need of an upgrade and is very dated. The price is definitely overpriced for what you get (especially for Sri Lanka). The reception staff were very friendly but we had a bad experience in the restaurant for dinner and then again the following morning for breakfast. I am vegetarian and was served bacon in my breakfast. The main issue we had was the language barrier and attitude of the staff in the restaurant.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jared

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

4/10 Poor

Tahsin

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
No wifi in room. Public places have wifi very bad. Took spa but the towel was very dirty
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2019