The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The site is located between Colombo and Kandy, about an hour away. Better to integrate it in your circuit from the start. The adult entrance costs 2500 LKR. In addition you can buy a right to feed baby elephants, or to swim with an elephant (for children in general). Better to arrive at 1pm to attend the bottle feeding elephants, then their output to the river, where you can restore around 2pm admiring the herd of elephants swimming freely.

Orphaned elephants are bottle-fed. In fact the operation is very expeditious since they swallow each bottle in a few seconds. If you bought a bottle right then you risk staying on your hunger. The operation takes place in a small arena with platforms all around. It is better to arrive in advance at 1pm to have the best seats, which are standing behind the lowest barrier: this is where the children will give the bottle, and therefore where you will see the most elephants.

Then, go to the meadow to make contact with the herd of elephants and take photos in all angles. Elephant trainers ask for the room to take the photos.

Just before 2 pm, stand in front of the main street side door to see the herd of elephants coming out (at the corner of the jewelry store). Then follow the flock to the river.

The whole herd goes for more than an hour to bathe in the river in freedom. It is possible to wash them by giving money to their masters.

The place is very nice. Take a table on the terrace of the restaurant overlooking the river for lunch.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located between Colombo and Kandy. To incorporate it into your travel itinerary, see our tips on our article on recommended itineraries to visit Sri Lanka

We advise you to arrive around 12.30pm, which will give you the time to buy your tickets and be on the front line for feeding elephants, then for swimming in the river.

By car, it takes about 1h30 from the center of Kandy.

There is approximately 1h15 drive from the Royal Botanic Gardens Kandy to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

From the airport (or Negombo), the car ride will take a little over two hours. From the city center, it takes at least 3 hours, or more if there are traffic jams.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is located near the railway line connecting Colombo to Kandy. It will take a train that stops at Rambukkana station, then take a tuk-tuk to cover the remaining 3 kilometers.

Entrance to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage costs 2500LKR per adult, children from 3 to 12 years old get 50% discount, free for children under 3 years old.

The site is open every day from 8.30am to 5.30pm. It is advisable to arrive between 12pm and 1pm.

The official website of the Sri Lankan government zoos has a section dedicated to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage http://nationalzoo.gov.lk/elephantorphanage/

In front of the entrance, down the street to the river, two restaurants have beautiful terraces with a breathtaking view of the river where elephants take their bath (between 2pm and 3pm), with good food and reasonable prices.

Without hesitation, bool one of the two 3-star hotels by the river: Hotel Pinnalanda or Hotel Elephant Park. Both have beautiful restaurants overlooking the river where elephants bathe. If your budget is tighter, choose the Green Land Guest House.

Choose the Guest house Green Land or the Elephant Reach Villa Pinnawala.

In addition to entry fees, there are many opportunities to interact with elephants by taking pictures, or even taking a bath with them, under the supervision of their guardians. In this case it is advisable to give them a tip. 200LKR per person is a good starting point.

Not in the immediate vicinity, you will have to look to Colombo or Kandy for establishments superior to 3 stars.

There are many buses leaving from Colombo or Kandy that stop near the orphanage, but it will be easier for you to catch the train.

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