Pinnawala with a private driver

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was established by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation in 1975 on the banks of the Maha Oya river in the Kegalle district of the Sabaragamuwa hills, about 90 minutes from Colombo and an easy detour en route between Colombo airport and Kandy. The sanctuary currently cares for the world's largest captive elephant herd — approximately 80 to 95 animals — including multi-generational family groups that have been born at the facility. Twice daily the herd walks about 400 metres from the orphanage grounds to the river for a 2-hour bathing session; visitors watch from the river bank as elephants of every size splash, roll and interact in the water. Pinnawala is a government facility operating a genuine conservation mission rather than an entertainment venue.