Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Visit

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is home to the world's largest captive herd of Asian elephants, currently numbering over 90 animals including calves, juveniles, and adults. Established to care for orphaned and injured wild elephants, the facility is best known for its twice-daily river bathing programme, in which the entire herd walks through the village to the Maha Oya River and wallows, plays, and drinks in the shallows for approximately one hour, allowing visitors to observe from the riverbank at close quarters.

The orphanage also offers elephant feeding sessions, in-depth information about each elephant's rescue story, and viewing of the nursery where the youngest calves are bottle-fed.

Shorta Tours arranges Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Visit as part of a tailored private itinerary, providing expert guides, comfortable private transfers, and hand-picked operators to ensure a seamless and truly memorable experience.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society to care for a small group of orphaned wild elephants found in the jungles of Sabaragamuwa. As the herd grew through natural breeding — making Pinnawala one of the only facilities in the world to have successfully bred Asian elephants in captivity at scale — the facility became a major attraction and one of the most iconic experiences in Sri Lanka.

The orphanage has faced ongoing debate about its conservation model, but it remains the largest free-roaming elephant experience available to tourists on the island.

Today, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Visit remains one of the highlights of visiting Sabaragamuwa Province, drawing guests from around the world who seek its unique combination of history, nature, and authentic Sri Lankan character.

Entry fee applies; bathing viewing from the river bank is free. Feeding sessions require a separate ticket.

Shorta Tours times arrivals to coincide with the morning or afternoon bathing programme and provides context on the ethical considerations around captive elephant welfare.

Essential items to pack: Camera, comfortable clothes, cash for entry and feeding, insect repellent..