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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage sits 13 km northwest of Kegalle on the road toward Kandy, and is one of the most visited wildlife stops on the island. Established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, its purpose is to rescue, care for and protect orphaned, injured and abandoned wild elephants — it's known worldwide for its large herd living in a semi-natural environment.
What to know before you go
- Established: 1975, by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation
- Bathing times: 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:00
- Location: 13 km northwest of Kegalle, on the route between Colombo and Sigiriya
- Typical visit length: Around one to two hours, timed around a bathing session where possible
On the day
Most visits are timed around one of the two daily bathing sessions, when the herd is walked down to the nearby river — one of the more memorable wildlife moments on a Sri Lanka trip, and usually easier to watch comfortably than a jeep safari sighting.
How this fits into your route
Pinnawala sits conveniently on the route between Colombo and Sigiriya, so we build it in as a stop on your transfer day rather than a separate excursion, timed against a bathing session where your schedule allows.
Other places to visit
Questions about visiting Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
The elephants are bathed twice daily, from 10:00–12:00 and again from 14:00–16:00.
It's roughly two to two-and-a-half hours by private vehicle, and is usually visited on the way to Sigiriya rather than as a separate day trip from Colombo.
Yes, it's included as a stop on the Colombo–Sigiriya route on our 10-night and 6-night packages, and can be added to any custom itinerary.
Around one to two hours covers a bathing session and time to walk the grounds.
Yes, it's a popular stop for families and one of the more accessible wildlife experiences on the island.
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