Wilpattu National Park
All Wilpattu National Park Experiences
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Visiting Wilpattu National Park
Why go
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.
What to do or see here
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.
Best Time to Go
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.
Who is it for?
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!
Top Tips
- 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.
Top things to see & do
Helpful Questions
Should I visit Wilpattu or Yala National Park?
We prefer Wilpattu as it's much less crowded than Yala even though it's larger than Yala, so it feels a lot more off-the-beaten-path. However most visitors do prefer Yala because it's smaller, with a greater concentration of wildlife and it's also easier to get to.
In terms of wildlife sighting, there are as many leopards in Wilpattu as there are in Yala, though there are fewer elephants in Wilpattu than Yala.
So it depends on what you're looking for - if you're looking for an adventure, head to Wilpattu. If you just want to maximise your chance of seeing wildlife and you don't mind the crowds, head to Yala.
What is the best time of year to visit Wilpattu National Park?
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.
What animals can be seen in Wilpattu National Park?
Wilpattu National Park is the largest national park in Sri Lanka, and is best known for its population of leopards, which can be difficult to spot, but with the help of an experienced guide, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one. Other than leopards, it is also home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, deer, wild boar, water buffalo, crocodiles, and various bird species. Do note though that because of the size of the national park, you may have less concentration of wildlife in any given area (so they may be slightly harder to spot).
