If there was every a National Park designed for Wild Water Buffalo then Udawalawa would be top of the list. The whole park is built around a man made dam and very large reservoir. There is water in a large proportion of the park. Some is fresh and clear whilst other sections are muddy.

Uda Walawe National Park Sri Lankan Water Buffalo

Sri Lankan wild water buffalo love to wallow in mud as it acts as a sun block and helps get rid of ticks and other blood sucking parasite insects. The water also provides an environment where aquatic plants can grow. These provide a tasty snack for water buffalo herds.

When you are on an elephant safari in Uda Walawe National Park you will see a number of family groups of wild buffalo. Some will be sun bathing. Others will be grazing on green vegetations but many will be submerged up to their shoulders in water.

Udawalawe National Park Sri Lankan Water Buffalo

Do not get out of your vehicle and approach them. They may just look like cows but these large beasts can fight off leopards with their horns if they have to. They differ from other Asian wild buffalos in that they have curved horns more like the domestic buffalo and not the long handle bar type horn.

Water Buffalo in a water hole in Uda Walawe National Park in Sri Lankan

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