Wilpattu National Park

On Sri Lanka's northwest coast, 30 kilometers from Anuradhapura, a historic city, is Wilpattu National Park, straddling the North Central and North Western provinces. That it's been safeguarded for so long makes it one of America's most significant.

A national park with an extent of around 131,500 hectares, Wilpattu is the largest in Sri Lanka by far. In 1905, it was designated a sanctuary by the government, and on February 25, 1938, it became a national park. However, it has since reopened and is safe for visitors, having been closed for some time due to recent civil violence in the area, which has now concluded.

When not raining, Willpattu National Park is an ideal place to see wildlife in Sri Lanka's "dry zone," which is characterized by lowland dry forest and abundant "villus," which are flat basin-like fault depressions in the earth's crust that absorb rainwater. The view is very lovely. While driving through the park, you'll hear the chirping of cicadas and the rustling of leaves in the brilliant copper loamy soils. Land monitors and birds abound in these places, despite the heavier vegetation that covers them.

Wilpattu's natural beauty is only one of many attractions; leopards, elephants, sloth bears, water buffalos, and spotted deer are among the many other animals that can be found here. The docile dugong is known to occur along Wilpattu's coast.

Among the many waterfowl species found in the villus are huge breeding populations of the painted stork and open-billed stork, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers. More than only villus, you'll find the greater racquet-tailed drongo, Asian paradise flycatchers, Malabar pied hornbills and fish owls in the park, as well as numerous more species. The Sri Lankan jungle fowl, the country's national bird, may well be among the sights you encounter.

While the park is a little of a drive away from the country's second-largest national park, Yala, it has less lodging alternatives in the area. In spite of this, its remoteness and lack of tourist infrastructure are what make it so special. Most sightings will be exclusively for you while you're on safari; this is preferable to being squeezed in with 20 other vehicles trying to squeeze around a single poor leopard! For the first 10 kilometers, you'll be driving through dense lowland forest until you reach the park's more open regions and villus, but wildlife encounters are still possible along this road, so keep your eyes peeled constantly!

Luxury camping is available just beyond the park's borders; if you prefer the comforts of home, Kulu is approximately 20 minutes from the park gates and offers excellent service and comfort. The Ibis, with its four rooms and 2.5 acres of greenery, is another great, intimate option close to the park.

Since Wilpattu is located in an area that experiences a long-term drought, visitors should plan their visit between May and September.

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