1 Day
Pinnawala lies on the Maha Oya river, roughly 100 km from Colombo on the road towards Kandy. The government-run orphanage there opened in 1975 to care for young elephants found alone or injured in the wild, and it now has one of the largest captive herds in Asia. This day trip takes you there from your hotel and back.
What you see
The two moments most people come for are feeding and bathing. At feeding time the youngest elephants are given milk from large bottles, which they finish remarkably fast. At bathing time the keepers walk the herd across the road and down to the river, where the elephants wade, spray each other and lie in the shallows. It is a rare chance to see so many elephants together at close range.
Feeding and bathing happen at set times each day, and we plan your pickup so you arrive for at least one session. Times can change, so we confirm them before you go.
Before you go
Pinnawala is popular and can be busy, especially at bathing time. It is a working facility rather than a wild habitat, and the elephants are handled by keepers. If you would rather see elephants living free, consider a safari at Minneriya or a visit to the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe, which returns young elephants to the wild.
The day
- Pickup from your hotel or a meeting point in Colombo, Negombo or Kandy.
- Drive to Pinnawala and time at the orphanage, including a feeding or bathing session.
- Lunch, then the drive back, arriving at your hotel in the late afternoon or evening.
The tour includes lunch, private air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide and the orphanage entrance fee.
Combining it with Kandy
Because Pinnawala is roughly halfway between Colombo and Kandy, it fits easily into a transfer between the two. Many of our round trips stop here on the way up to the hills. Read more on our Pinnawala page, or plan the rest of your stay with our guide to Kandy.
What to wear
Light clothes, a hat and sandals or shoes you do not mind getting dusty. The path down to the river can be busy with people and elephants at bathing time, so keep to the side and follow the keepers' instructions.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage from Colombo or Negombo (full day)
We collect you from your hotel and drive about 90 km inland towards Kandy to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. It cares for elephants that were orphaned, separated from their herds or injured in the wild.
Visits are planned around the feeding and bathing times. You watch the young elephants drink from large milk bottles, then follow the herd down to the Maha Oya river to bathe. After lunch, drive back to your hotel, arriving in the late afternoon.
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: None (day tour)
Entrance tickets and excursions included: Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Other inclusions: Private air conditioned transport with pickup and drop off in Colombo or Negombo, English speaking guide, two 500 ml bottles of water per person, 24 hour emergency support