Supported by the Born Free Foundation (www.bornfree.org.uk), this complex is a halfway house for orphaned elephants. After rehabilitation, the elephants are released back into the wild, many into the Uda Walawe National Park. Although you can’t get up close and personal with the elephants, seeing them at feeding time (from a viewing platform) is still a lot of fun. It’s on the main lakeside road, about 5km west of the Uda Walawe National Park entrance.

Elephants here are not normally chained at night (unlike at other elephant ‘orphanages’) in Sri Lanka. Over 100 elephants have been rehabilitated at the Elephant Transit Home and subsequently released into the wild. Around 40 or so juvenile pachyderms are usually here at any one time. Most tour operators include a visit to the Elephant Transit Home in their trips. There are also decent information displays where you can learn all about elephants and their ancestors. Try to avoid weekends and holidays, when dozens of people are packed together on the viewing platform.

If you have not visited this place, then it must be listed in your bucket list. If you are planning to visit, then here are some tips. Ideal period to visit is December to April. Others may have their opinion, but who cares. First travel to the area. That gives you the chance of starting the hike early, increasing the chances of catching the diverse bird population that roam the forest. There are many treks to take such as the Sinha Gala, translated to Lion’s Rock, approx. One day hike. If you are bit more adventures, try a difficult freak going up a creak called Pittakele River towards a waterfall called Duvilli Ella, translated as Dust Falls. Breath taking. Scenic, totally cut off and worth every minute and sweat.