Wilpattu National Park Experiences
It's the largest national park in Sri Lanka, with as many leopards as the more well-known Yala National Park. The best thing about Wilpattu is how much quieter it is. While every leopard or elephant sighting in Yala National Park will have 30-40 jeeps crowding around the wildlife, a sighting in Wilpattu will only have 5-6 jeeps around the wildlife.
Wilpattu is most famous for its leopards - there are over 300 leopards estimated to live here. Other than leopards, Wilpattu is also home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, deer, wild boar, water buffalo, and crocodiles. It's also a great place for birders as its home to endemic birdlife such as the Jungle Fowl, Painted Stork, Owl, Terns, Gulls, Eagles, and Heron.
The best time to visit Wilpattu National Park is from February to October, during the dry season when animals come out to water sources. During the rainy season (November to January), the park is often closed due to heavy rain and flooding.
If you're looking for an adventure and fewer crowds, head to Wilpattu. It's a little harder to get to compared with Yala, so it feels a lot more off-the-beaten-path. Wildlife here may be a little harder to spot as the national park is covered with thick forest, so its for those who love the hunt. That said, when we went we did see a leopard and elephant!
- It's crucial to get your own naturalist guide, and not a park-appointed guide. Park guides are of inconsistent quality - some can't spot wildlife and don't have much wildlife knowledge.
- Try to go for a full-day safari as it takes a while to get in and out of the park. If you do a half day safari you don't get to spend as much time in the main areas.
