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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

3,637 Reviews

#1 of 5 things to do in Pinnawala

Features Animals

Nature & Parks, Nature & Wildlife Areas

B199, Pinnawala 71100, Sri Lanka

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Day trip Kandy & pinnawatal

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from $24.00*

Private Kandy Day Tour with Pinnawala From Colombo

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4,812

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Traveler Overview

3.5 3,637 reviews

Excellent29%
Very good33%
Average17%
Poor8%
Terrible13%

Travelers talk about

“the river”(1,187 reviews)

“baby elephants”(374 reviews)

“sri lanka”(304 reviews)

About

Suggested duration: 1-2 hours

Local Weather

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71°

Jan

Contact

B199, Pinnawala 71100, Sri Lanka

Website

+94 35 2 265284

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Ways to Experience Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Day trip Kandy & pinnawatal

2 Reviews

from $24.00

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Private Kandy Day Tour with Pinnawala From...

from $72.00

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Highlights Of Kandy Day Tour From Colombo

from $12.00

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Private Day Tour To Kandy From Kaluthara

from $22.00

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Most Helpful Positive Review

Caroline M

Chandler’s Ford, United Kingdom

138186

Reviewed July 6, 2005

A must Do for everyone - What an experience

I was fortunate enought to have the opportunity to spend a week working at the Orphange -Thanks to winning it on a TV show here in the UK (Richard and Judy) As you would expect the TV camers offered me extra opportunities but for anyone...More

47 Thank Caroline M

Most Helpful Critical Review

h0t_h0lidays

Bedford England

1273

Reviewed September 1, 2010

DO NOT GO

We went to Elephant Orphanage as my parents went on there 1st trip to Sri Lanka and loved it well it was very expensive and the elephants were all chained up and in distress including one that was very ill. I would say to anyone...More

70 Thank h0t_h0lidays

1 - 10 of 2,721 reviews

NikhilJ600

16318

Reviewed yesterday

Not value for money

Has a collection of injured or orphaned elephants but the entry fee and charges for bathing, feeding and riding the elephants is very high and not worth it.

Thank NikhilJ600

SujeetP42

Vadodara, India

710

Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile

Good time with giants

It was really a good time spent with loveable giants. The awesomeness of place is it has river where these giants taking bath and playing with waters. You will love it when you see them. Another good experience is to feed them. I was lucky...More

Thank SujeetP42

S2946WPannal

Reviewed 3 days ago via mobile

Please don't go!

Please do not go to this dreadful place! Shame on the people for allowing the abuse of these beautiful, intelligent animals to happen. The elephants were getting taunted by their handlers and were getting spiked with sticks with metal spears on the end for no...More

1 Thank S2946WPannal

gilld969

Pottsville, Australia

6735

Reviewed 6 days ago

A mixed reaction

It was very sad to see some of the elephants chained in solitary confinement. The reason that they are adults and may pose a threat to others at certain times does not seem a true statement. This as supposed to be an orphanage but it...More

Thank gilld969

Sandra H

essex england

812

Reviewed 1 week ago

Visit to Sri Lanka

I was so looking forward to seeing the elephants. At first it looks lovely when you get to the elephants, they are all in the river, but I started looking closely and noticed one elephant on his own at the back on his own, he...More

1 Thank Sandra H

Daybreak1229

Hong Kong, China

247

Reviewed 1 week ago

Wild elephant was more worth seeing

Read a lot of extreme comments of this site beforehand. This place was highly recommended by the agent and was a midpoint from capital to Dambulla. We spent an hour here for a short walk with the elephant, feed with fruit, and watched it at...More

1 Thank Daybreak1229

Aditya S

Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Reviewed 1 week ago

Excellent facilities

Went to this orphanage couple of days back. Was a wonderful experience. There is a disclosure / notice board indicating why the elephants are chained. The animals are well maintained. You can also feed milk / fruits, subject to conditions that you have to buy...More

1 Thank Aditya S

Joe S

5039

Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile

Disappointed: Do not Recommend

Many of the elephants were chained and appeared distressed. I am disappointed that the elephants are not being prepared to be returned to the wild. I do not recommend visiting this elephant tourist attraction.

2 Thank Joe S

jaykay808

Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

don't go!

Please do not go to this awful place! Wish we had read some reviews before we went. Shame on the Sri Lankan government for allowing the abuse of these beautiful, intelligent animals to happen. The elephants were getting taunted by the people working there and...More

5 Thank jaykay808

Riyad A

21142

Reviewed 2 weeks ago via mobile

A nice outing...kids would love it!

The orphanage is about 1 1/2 hrs from Kandy, it is definitely worth the visit especially if you have children because they would love it!