25 October 2024 | 12 min
25 October 2024 | 12 min
Wilpattu National Park lies in the northwest region of Sri Lanka, around 35km west of Anuradhapura and 32km north of Puttalam. The place is approximately 185 km distance away from the capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo which is a 4-hour drive to the destination.
There are plenty of attractions inside this Srilankan National Park whether it is sightseeing, or witnessing distinct wild animal and bird species. When arriving at the location, take into account the following sights and experiences to enjoy
Wilpattu is an ideal habitat for various wild lives including the endemic and migrants. You also have the opportunity to see Sri Lanka’s most iconic animals. Witnessing Leopard is the prime attraction of the place and one of the best destinations in the country to encounter leopard closely on a guided jeep safari. Over 40 leopards are found inside and nearby the area of the park as per the survey.
Other dangerous and rare animal species have too their habitat in the Wilpattu sanctuary, which are as follows:
Various migrant birds are witnessed inside Wilpatu Park too, which are as follows:
Forest birds include:
Water birds include:
Spoting the various reptile species is another must activity to be done inside the the park. You will gain an insight into the reptile species, their habitat and their edibles. Here is the list of common forms of reptiles that are witnessed in the park:
Like other national sanctuary parks in Sri Lanka, Wilpattu also offers tourists to enjoy a thrilling safari ride. A ride on safari throughout the park along with the guide offers you to witness the animals roaming in their natural habitat or roaming freely. There will be the most captivating and unanticipated moment when you come across an elephant or spot a leopard or Asian Tiger while being in the Jeep Safari.
You can also have a meet and greet with the un-hazardous animals where you can feed them or touch under the surveillance of the export. Likewise, you will also have a stop at the habitat of the attracting migrant birds. You can choose a Jeep safari option for hours, half-day or full-day tower.
The unique feature of the Wilpattu is the existence of the willus which is the lake. There are nearly 60 lakes and water tanks located throughout the Wilpatttu region. These wetlands make the park a wonderful tourist spot to have a glimpse of the aquatic creatures and sightseeing. Visitors can also engage in activities like boating or kayak riding, sit nearby the lakes to catch the amazing sites of the park and appreciate the area's lush scenery.
Although the destination is idle for year-round visits by the tourists and locals. However, the best time to enter the place is in the dry weather from May to September. As there is rainfall in the region from October to December and after that, the reserve appears more appealing due to the green lush. After the monsoon, travellers also get to spot different butterflies budding on flowers, mud and fruits during the beginning of the year. Also in May, and June animals like sloth bears are more active and easily traced by the visitors.
For the best experience, a visit to the park in the morning or late afternoon is considered to be idle. You can easily see the wildlife creatures roaming out of their habitat during this time. The crowd are expected less in the morning and the natural charm of the park during the evening offers a wonderful experience.
Here are the details of the entry fee for the visit to the reserve charged by the Department of Wildlife, Sri Lanka:
| Category | Applicable Fee |
|---|---|
| Local Resident Adult | LKR 60 |
| Local Resident Child (between 6-12 years) | LKR 30 |
| School Children (per child) | LKR 20 |
| Foreign Adult | USD 15.00 |
| Foreign Child (age between 6- 12) | USD 8.00 |
Travellers can visit “Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka” following various ways:
The nearest major city to reach the destination is Anuradhapura, a 40-minute drive from the park. You can either take the bus or book a rental car to stop nearby the Wilpattu location.
Travellers can take a train from Fort Railway Station Colombo, stop at Anuradhapura, and take a tuk-tuk to Wilpattu. They can also take a bus from Colombo to Anuradhapura where they have to get off at Nochchiyagama which is 20-minute drive away from the park.
You can also checkout Ridiyagama Safari Park too.
The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is in the dry weather from May to September when most of the animal and bird species are witnessed easily in the park.
The place is famous for its natural serene beauty, different animals and bird habitats from the world and obviously, it is known for the Leopard which are in numbers
As per the report, there are an estimated 40 leopards inside and nearby the Wilpattu.
You can visit the park from Columbo or another prime location by reaching Anuradhapura or Nochiyagama. From Nochiyagama, Wilpattu is a 20-minute drive away and from Anuradha, it is approximately 40 minutes.
There are around 30 mammal species in the Wilpattu reserves including leopards, elephants, and Asian tigers.
Yala and Wilpatu National Park are the best place in Sri Lanka to spot leopards.