The Uda Walawe National Park is located in the south of the island between Ratnapura and Kataragama. The area was declared a national park in 1972 to provide protection for the species that live there.
Typical for the park is the relatively long dry season. Monsum is between May and September. The national park is famous for its large elephant population. Other species include water buffalo, muntjaks, mongoose, ax deer, wild boars and a small number of leopards.
