Udawalawe is a small town located in the southern part of the Ratnapura District in Sri Lanka. It is situated in close to the district's boundary with the Hambantota District and Monaragala District.

The Udawalawe National Park is a wildlife reserve covering nearly 120 square miles of land with a number of geological formations. Established on the 30th of June 1972, the park lies on the boundary of the Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces of Sri Lanka. As such, it majorly consists of plains, grasslands, forests and marshes - while being bounded by soaring mountains along the northern border. A major river, the Walawe and a many of its tributaries run pass through the park, providing ample water for the wildlife. The annual rainfall in the Udawalawe National Park is around 1500 millimeters, and the average temperature stays at a comfortable 27° - 28° Centigrade (81°-82°F). The park has over 94 species of plants, 21 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, over 30 species of reptiles, over 180 species of birds (33 of which are migratory), 43 species of mammals and 135 species of butterflies.