Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Tourism

Type of destination: Wildlife Sanctuary

Ideal visit duration: 2-3 hours

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, located in the village of Pinnawala near Kandy, Sri Lanka, is a sanctuary and breeding ground for wild Asian elephants. Established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, the orphanage was originally designed to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As the largest herd of captive elephants in the world, Pinnawala has become a notable attraction for visitors from across the globe. The orphanage spans over a vast area where elephants roam freely during the day and are corralled at night. It includes a nursery and captive breeding program, which have been quite successful over the years. Visitors to the orphanage can observe the daily routines of the elephants, including bottle feeding of calves, the elephants bathing in the Oya River, and the feeding of all the residents. The sight of the herd mingling and socializing is both heartwarming and educational, offering insights into the behavior and conservation of these magnificent creatures.

Top 5 Reviews on Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

JimitR5

Wrote on 27th Jun, 2024

See Elephants closely

We saw elephants bathing and returning back to their enclosures. In the souvenir shops nearby, Elephant poo paper is available, be sure to see how it is made. You can give fruits to the elephants for ..

951nayaa

Wrote on 15th Jun, 2024

Beautiful place and great experience

So the thing is.. you read and hear a lot about this place and some of the bad reviews about the bad conditions that the elephants live in almost made us change our minds about going. BUT the conditio..

assumptab2023

Wrote on 10th Jun, 2024

Tourist trap.

The visit was part of our circuit and was something I was so looking forward to. However, the reality was something else. The view from the restaurant upstairs overlooking the river where the elephant..

Navigator59114629891

Wrote on 2nd Jun, 2024

A beautiful experience with the real giants on lands..

A sanctuary for the abandoned and wounded elephants in Sri Lanka. Each and every elephant is being taken care of with the best of their ability by the keepers and management. Entrance price for the or..

maltodintop

Wrote on 23rd May, 2024

Pinawalla pachyderm playground.

Extraordinary experience. The elephants seem to be genuinely happy. They go to the river morning and afternoon and are fed and graze in the mean time. Several lie in the water with the tips of their t..