Pinnawala

Pinnawala

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle. Halfway between the capital Colombo and the ancient city of Kandy. It was established in 1975.

By the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department in a 25 acre coconut property adjoining the Maha Oya River.

The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned Elephants found in the jungles of Sri Lanka.

Prior to the invasion of the British in Sri Lanka in 1815. An estimated 30,000 elephants lived on the island. In the 1960s.

Following nearly a century of game hunting and slaughter by the British. The elephant population was close to extinction.

The tragedy of decimation of the elephant population prompted the Government of Sri Lanka to initiate the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

The good news is elephants are not extinct and the number of elephants living in Sri Lankan wilderness exceeds 3,000.

 

Elephants Bathing Twice a Day

In 1978 the orphanage was taken over by the Sri Lanka National Zoological Gardens from the Department of Wildlife. A captive breeding program was launched in 1982.

Since the inception of the program over 30 elephants have been born here. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate a natural habitat to these elephants. However, there are some exceptions.

The elephants are taken to the river twice a day for a bath. Also all the babies less than three years of age are still bottle fed by the mahouts and volunteers.

Each elephant has around 76 kg of green matter a day. Also around 2 kg from a food bag containing rice bran and maize. The orphanage which boasts to have the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. It’s very popular and visited daily by tourists. The main attraction is clearly to observe the elephants bathing which is quite a spectacle.

We can offer our guests an incredible hotel.  Overlooking this bathing area which has amazing views of the elephants. Click HERE for more information.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage can be reached via the A1 ColomboKandy main road. Turn off at the 82 km post at Kegalle. The nearest railway station is at Rambukkana 2km away from the village of Pinnawala.
Times to visit the Orphanage.
The centre opens at 8.30 in the morning and closes at 6pm daily. Bottle feeding is at 9.15am, 1.15pm & 5pm. Bathing times at the river are at 10am & 2pm. Pinnawala Entrance Ticket Fees.
Adult – $16 Children $8.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

mef6 mef712049380_10153250511208299_7335633501804696610_nAlternatively, we highly recommend the Millennium Elephant Foundation. This is much smaller. Much more hands on and is limited to so many visitors per day. So here you won’t find masses and masses of tourists as you do at the orphanage down the road.

Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) was the first place to offer bareback elephant riding. This was an educational theme in Sri Lanka. Offering people the chance to interact with elephants in a safe and responsible way. For both the person and elephant. Whilst learning about the plight of elephants in Asia.

Now MEF is home to the new and exclusive Elephant Walk Experience. The alternative to elephant riding option for tourists. An ethical, up close and personal experience unique to MEF. The most interactive enjoyable way to see domestic elephants in Sri Lanka.

Map Showing available hotels around Pinnawala

Hotel Offers in Pinnawala

Find a comfortable and affordable transfer all around  Sri Lanka. You can pre-order inexpensive taxi transfer to the city centre or to the airport. Comfortable car transfer for the family with children. Economy minivan for a tourist group or a Luxury transfer. The transfer cost is fixed at the time of pre-order and never rises. Either when the driver is waiting for the passenger, when the stop is necessary, or because of traffic jams.