Choosing a safari in Sri Lanka seemed near impossible, from popular Yala to the large Wilpattu and lesser known Horton Plains we struggled to decide which one we wanted to visit.
After extensive research we decided on the Wilpattu National Park Safari, with the second highest chance of seeing leopards and the status of Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park, we were happy with our choice.
Wilpattu, meaning land of lakes, has a variety of environments and animals that can be sited. You must go on a guided tour, private vehicles are not allowed and you can choose between a half day or full day safari.
I think it’s important to note here, after being in Sri Lanka for two months, we wouldn’t really recommend doing a safari, especially if you’re a budget traveller like us! They’re expensive and you can see most of the wildlife in Sri Lanka without a safari. The main reason for a safari would be to see a sloth bear or leopard!
Chapters
No time to read now?
Save this guide on Pinterest
Where Is Wilpattu National Park?
Wilpattu National Park is in the North West of Sri Lanka close to the main town of Anuradhapura. It lies around 180km north of Colombo and covers 130,000 hectares.
How To Get To Wilpattu National Park?
Tuktuk Rental or Hire Car
Our favourite way to travel was by Tuk Tuk, in fact we drove everywhere in our little red machine that we rented from Tuktuk Rental. We visited Wilpattu after Anuradhapura which was just a short drive away.
Train
You could catch a train up to Anuradhapura then make the one hour journey to Wilpattu by taxi. The other option would be to do a day tour to Wilpattu but this would be an extra early start and a tuk tuk taxi to the park’s entrance costing around LKR 2000.
Bus
The final option and cheapest is to get the bus heading to Anuradhapura and ask the driver to get off at Nochiyagam, here take a taxi to Wilpattu. From Colombo it will take 4.5 hours and cost LKR 500.
Overview Of Wilpattu National Park
Being the largest of Sri Lanka’s 22 national parks means there’s lots to explore, from large lakes, open grasslands and dense forests, but it also means the animals have a vast area to roam, and therefore may be harder to spot. Your guide will help out but keep your eyes peeled as you never know what’s hiding in the bushes. We also advise you to bring binoculars for a closer view and always be prepared not to see everything, this is a wild park after all and not a zoo! Wilpattu is however the second best park to see leopards and sloth bears and this was another reason we chose to do our safari here.
Another positive is that compared to Yala, the jeeps also have a chance to spread out meaning you will often find yourself alone with the wildlife and in only a few traffic jams. We found ourselves in two, once when there was a leopard sighting and the other time when a sloth bear was blocking the road. We heard rumours of unethical Safaris, and although this one wasn’t perfect, we felt like we got a more authentic Safari experience than reviews we read about Yala.
Best Place Tours
What Can You See In Wilpattu National Park?
Wilpattu is diverse, meaning you can see a variety of different species here. It’s not the best for elephants (Minneriya) or leopards (Yala) but we feel it’s the best to see a variety of species with a chance to see the bigger animals.
Wilpattu Big Game Camp allows you to sleep inside the National Park
Inside the park you can see: elephants, sloth bears, leopards, water buffalo, spotted deer, wild boar, jackals, crocodiles, monitor lizards, pelicans, owls, eagles, peacocks and of course a lot more…
You can also see the Sri Lankan National bird, the Jungle Fowl which underwhelmingly looks similar to a chicken.
We managed to see all the animals above apart from the elephants, leopards and a sloth bear! Yes! All the ones we wanted to see, as mentioned above, while in the park, the bear and leopard were sighted but we didn’t get to catch a glimpse. This goes to show these animals are wild and not guaranteed, even if you do pay $100.
Book Your Wilpattu Safari Online For A Hassle Free Day Out!
Tours and Costs Of Wilpattu National Park
There are two options to visit the national park, a half day safari or a full day safari. Private vehicles are not allowed and therefore you have to join a tour. Annoyingly, they don’t seem to encourage shared Jeep safaris, meaning each travel group has to fork out for their own tour making them more expensive.
We advise teaming up with any travellers you can find and secretly sharing the cost, if you’re a solo traveller or a couple, try to find other people to share the vehicle with to keep costs down.
If your main reason for visiting Sri Lanka is a Safari we recommend heading on the full 12 hour day tour, this will give you the best chance to see the animals. If like us and you’re on a backpackers budget, a half day safari (5 hours) is still an amazing experience however the full day will give you a much higher chance of spotting the rarer animals.
We booked our tour through our homestay when we arrived, but if you like to be prepared you can pre-book a tour here. Remember prices can vary from place to place but you’re all going to end up in the same park.
Our Homestays Prices Were:
- Half Day Morning (6am – 11am): LKR 36,000 for two
- Half Day Afternoon (1pm – 5pm) LKR 34,000 for two
- Full Day (6am – 5pm): LKR 56,000 for two
On top of the tour you will need to pay the park’s entrance fees which are LKR 11,000 per person (included in the prices above). Make sure you also have your passport number handy as they ask for this before you enter the park.
Best Places To Stay In Wilpattu
$ Budget
Lakwin Guest
A great budget homestay for a one or two night stay. They can organise Jeep safaris and provide dinner at a reasonable cost. We stayed here and it’s a great option for backpackers!
$$ Mid-Range
Ceylon Resort
With an onsite restaurant and air-conditioned rooms with extras such as coffee machines, Ceylon Resort is a great choice. They can arrange luxury 4×4 wildlife experiences in the park.
$$$ High-End
Wilpattu Tree House
Situated on the edge of the park, Wilpattu Tree House is a great luxury choice. With a balcony to look over Hornbills and breakfast included we love this unique accommodation.
Spacing
Camping Inside Wilpattu National Park
Something that we’d love to do, but didn’t have the budget for was to camp inside the park. We imagine waking up to the sounds of Wilpattu and the potential to see a leopard would be an unforgettable experience. Dine under the stars and make your trip extra species by staying with Wilpattu Big Game Camp!
Wilpattu National Park Safari Common Questions
What Is The Best National Park In Sri Lanka?
This depends on what you want to see. If your main aim is to spot a leopard then Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards and therefore offers you the best chance to see one. If you would like a chance to see a variety of animals in a less crowded space then Wilpattu is a great choice. Although we didn’t do a tour through Yala, we did drive the famous elephant road shown in the picture below!
The best park to see elephants would be Udawalawe National Park which has a large population. You are nearly always guaranteed to see elephants in their natural habitat, making it a great choice for Safari.
If you’re visiting during the dry season (May to September), Minneriya National Park is another excellent choice. It hosts the famous “Gathering,” where hundreds of elephants congregate near the Minneriya Tank to drink water and graze, creating a spectacular sight.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Wilpattu National Park?
The best time to visit the park is during the dry season which runs from December to March, this is when you have the best chance to spot animals. The vegetation is less dense and animals gather around the lakes to drink. Sloth bears are most commonly spotted from May to July when palm trees produce fruit for the bears to eat.
You can visit the park all year round and we heard if you’re into bird watching – the wet season is actually better due to the migration patterns of the birds.
What To Wear For Your Wilpattu National Park Safari?
It’s most likely going to be hot so lightweight, light coloured clothing is the best option also don’t forget spf and a hat!
Wilpattu National Park Map
Final Thoughts on Wilpattu National Park
I found this blog hard to write, after travelling around Sri Lanka for two months via tuk tuk, I felt we saw more wildlife on the road than in the park: hornbills, crocodiles, elephants, mongoose, peacocks… of course I know this is down to good or bad luck. However, with that said if you want a chance to see a sloth bear or leopard, then Wilpattu is a good stop on your trip, it’s less crowded than Yala but still accessible.
Wilpattu is the largest national park and offers a large variety of species to be spotted. If you’re not on a strict budget, then I’d say go for a full day safari as you never know you might be lucky and see a leopard! If you’re on a tight budget don’t worry there are lots of free spots in Sri Lanka to spot wildlife, two of my favourites are Crocodile Viewpoint in Arugam Bay and the B35 Elephant Road through Yala National Park.
Essential Items for Sri Lanka
Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind, plus you’re helping the environment
The week sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high DEET percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes.
Water Shoes – Lightweight with Protection
Stay protected from sea urchins with these shoes. Also useful for trekking to waterfalls and snorkelling. We also love our microfibre towel and dry bag.
Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country… game changer.
