Twelve days of wildlife
Negombo → Wilpattu → Sigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → and 3 more
North-west
Wilpattu
The island's largest national park, a forest of natural lakes called villus where leopards, sloth bears and deer are seen with far fewer jeeps than at Yala.
- Time to spend
- 1 night
- Best months
- February to October. November to January is the wettest time.
- Getting around
- Safari jeeps from the lodges near the Hunuwilagama gate.
- Good to know
- A full-day safari gives you time to reach the deeper villus. Bring water, a hat and binoculars.
Wilpattu National Park covers more than 1,300 square kilometres of dry forest dotted with villus: shallow natural lakes that fill with rain and attract animals. It closed for much of the civil war and reopened in 2010.
It is known for leopards, sloth bears, elephants, spotted deer and many water birds. The forest is denser than Yala, so sightings take patience, but you will often have an animal to yourself.
Most safaris start from the Hunuwilagama entrance on the east side. There are simple lodges and camps along the access road, and Anuradhapura is about an hour away.
What to see and do
A half-day or full-day jeep safari through forest and villus, looking for leopards, sloth bears, elephants, deer, crocodiles and water birds.
Per person estimate: park fees for foreign adults (US$25 entry plus a US$10 service charge and a small vehicle charge, with 18% VAT, about US$42 in all) plus a share of a jeep; confirm with your driver.
Also consider
Worth the trip if you have time. The planner leaves these out unless you add them.
Full-day safari to the deep villus
A longer day in the park, with a packed lunch, to reach the remote villus and the coastal side where fewer jeeps go.
Per person estimate for park fees plus a share of a full-day jeep, which costs more than a half day; confirm with your lodge.
Thanthirimale temple
An ancient rock temple with a large seated and a reclining Buddha carved into the granite, on the old pilgrim route north of Anuradhapura.
Donations are welcome.
Nearby places to stay
- AnuradhapuraAbout 1 hr by carPlan with both
Wilpattu: quick answers
- When is the best time to visit Wilpattu?
- February to October. November to January is the wettest time. A dry-zone park. Rain comes mostly with the north-east monsoon from October to January, which makes some tracks muddy.
- How long should you spend in Wilpattu?
- Plan on 1 night.
- How do you get around Wilpattu?
- Safari jeeps from the lodges near the Hunuwilagama gate.
- What are the main things to see in Wilpattu?
- Wilpattu National Park safari.
Photos
Ready-made trips that include Wilpattu
Use one as it is or open it in the planner and make it yours.
Twenty-five days of wildlife and wild places
Negombo → Kalpitiya → Wilpattu → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → and 8 more
Two months around the island
Negombo → Kalpitiya → Wilpattu → Anuradhapura → Jaffna → and 21 more
Two months of nature and adventure
Negombo → Kitulgala → Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) → Knuckles Range → Kandy → and 18 more
Ninety days: the whole island
Negombo → Kalpitiya → Wilpattu → Anuradhapura → Jaffna → and 31 more
