Wilpattu National Park

Let us tell you about Wilpattu National Park. It’s actually the biggest and oldest national park in Sri Lanka. 

What makes it really special is that it’s not as crowded as other tourist spots. So you get to experience the wilderness in a more personal way. 

In fact, the park has these really interesting natural lakes called “Willus,” and there’s so much wildlife to see. 

Anyway, if you’re looking to connect with nature without lots of other tourists around, this is definitely the place to be. 

Speaking of which, having a proper plan for the visit and knowing all the needed details is something important before going there. 

This is because there are specific points that you must know. In order to enjoy your trip to get the best experience in here.

About Wilpattu National Park

Here’s something interesting – the name “Wilpattu” comes from Tamil words: “willu” means natural lakes, and “pattu” means ten. 

But get this – there aren’t just ten lakes. There are actually more than 50 of them! 

These willus are basically shallow spots that collect rainwater, and they’re super important for all the wildlife that lives there. 

Moreover, the park is huge with a space of 131,693 hectares. And you’ll find everything from thick scrub forests to open grasslands in this park.

Anyway,  there is something really cool about the wildlife in here. 

Basically, the leopards! Wilpattu has one of the highest numbers of leopards in Sri Lanka, so you’ve got a pretty good chance of spotting one. 

In addition to that, you’ll also find sloth bears, Asian elephants, water buffalo, spotted deer, and tons of birds – more than 200 different species! 

Speaking of which, if you’re into birdwatching, you’re going to love it here.

Plus, the history of the place is pretty amazing too. 

Which means, people have been living in this area since way back in the third century BC (we know this thanks to archaeological findings). 

Location

The park is on Sri Lanka’s northwestern coast, about 180 kilometers north of Colombo. 

It’s so big that it spreads across two provinces as in, North Central and North Western. Moreover, it’s right next to the ancient city of Anuradhapura on the east side. 

Plus, the nearest big town is Puttalam, which is a good place to stay if you’re planning to visit.

When it comes to directions, getting there isn’t too complicated. 

This means, that if you’re driving from Colombo, it takes about 4 hours on the A3 highway. 

For instance, let’s say that you don’t have a car.

In that case, you can take a bus to Puttalam or Anuradhapura and then find a local transport vehicle to the park entrance. 

Note: There are also lots of tour operators that can arrange everything for you, including transportation and safari trips.

Entrance Fee

The park has different prices for different people. 

This means that if you’re visiting from another country, you must pay around $25-30 USD per adult, and for kids under 12 may get a discount. 

On the other hand, local visitors pay quite a bit less. 

Remember that your money goes toward keeping the park in good shape and protecting the wildlife in addition to their financial needs.

Note: The entrance fee isn’t the only cost that you have to pay. 

In fact, you’ll need to hire a safari jeep (that’s about $30-50 USD), and there are tracker fees and service charges too. 

Remember that most safari packages include all of this in one price. 

Our advice:  Book through a good tour operator who can handle all the documents and arrangements for you.

Opening Times

The park is open every day from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

Anyway, to get the best views of the animals, you must go early in the morning or late in the afternoon – that’s when the animals are most active. 

On the other hand, you can get your permits starting at 6:00 AM, and everyone needs to be out of the park by 6:00 PM.

When it comes to monthly periods, the best time to visit is between February and October. 

Plus, if you can make it between March and May, that is even better. This is because that’s when the animals gather around the will us due to the heat that is around. 

Anyway, you can visit all year round, but heads up – it can get tricky to get around during monsoon season (October to December).

Moving on, when it comes to the adventurous part, safari drives usually last between 3 to 6 hours. 

Speaking of which, you can start your adventure early at sunrise or take an afternoon safari that will start around 2:00 PM. 

Note: If you really want to make the most of it, go for a full-day safari.

Let us tell you – Wilpattu National Park is something special. 

Those natural lakes, all the different animals, and the history behind it makes it an amazing place to visit. 

It is true that Wilpattu National Park is not as famous as some other parks in Sri Lanka, but that’s actually a good thing!

It means that you can get a more genuine experience without the issue of being around many people at once.