Spread over an area of 1,317 km2, Wilpattu is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of “villus” or natural lakes. Wilpattu broadly translates as the land of the lakes, and this is exactly what defines this beautiful reserve. There are over one hundred lakes spread throughout Wilpattu National Park. These villus are natural water basins or depressions that are filled with rainwater. Boasting a high biological diversity, this wetland system in Wilpattu belongs to one of the 6 RAMSAR wetlands in Sri Lanka.
Moreover, Wilpattu is the oldest National Park in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu was first designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1905 and it was elevated to a National Park in 1938. It is fed by 2 main rivers, the Modaragam Aru towards the north and the Kala Oya to the south of the park. Thus, the wildlife is drawn to these rivers, pristine villus and waterholes. Particularly, the lush grassy banks that surround these waterbodies are a prime spot for wildlife spotting throughout the year. It makes Wilpattu National Park the most exciting wild safari destination in the country.
How to reach the park
Located on the northwest coast, the park is approximately 180 km north of Colombo and it takes around a 4-hour drive to reach there. You may travel through Colombo ⇒ Chilaw ⇒ Puttalam ⇒ Karuwalagaswewa ⇒ Wilpattu Hunuwilagama Entrance.
If you are visiting the sacred city of Anuradhapura, there is only a 30 km distance to reach the park. Also, if you are visiting Kalpitiya Beach, Wilpattu is located only 26 km north of Puttalam.
Main entrance
The main entrance of Wilpattu National Park is located at Hunuwilagama. There is another entrance at Eluwankulama, but it is less popular than the main entrance.
Wildlife of Wilpattu
After entering the park, you’ll see the safari track is weaved through huge trees that make wonderful scenery. This track runs for a long distance until you reach the major wildlife areas.
The amazing wildlife in Wilpattu includes leopards, elephants, sloth bears alongside spotted and sambar deer, crocodiles, mongooses, water buffalo, and many more bird species.
1. Leopards
Wilpattu is renowned for its leopard population. The number of Leopards in Wilpattu is estimated to be approximately 350. Its leopard density is between Yala Block I and Horton Plains National Park. However, leopards in Wilpattu are more elusive since the reserve is spreading over a vast area and has a much less dense leopard population than Yala National Park.
Currently, the most famous and top dominant male leopard in Wilpattu is called as “Nelumvila Big Boy”. This massive male is affectionately known as “Neluma” (Lotus) among wildlife photographers. He is a majestic leopard who rules a large area of the park. He is really handsome and around 8 years old. This fearless and photogenic leopard offers epic sightings for visitors.
The most popular female leopard at Wilpattu is “Cleopatra”. She is one of the most photogenic and bold female leopards in the park. Nowadays, she is rearing 2 beautiful cubs. Their family of 4, including the father- Nelumvila male leopard, the mother, and their two boys are a top sensation and a magical highlight in Wilpattu National Park.
2. Sloth Bears
The Sri Lankan sloth bear is a highly threatened, vulnerable species with a population of less than 1000 on the whole island. Among the 26 national parks, Wilpattu is famous as the best place for watching elusive sloth bears. If you love to see these black fur balls, an early morning or evening safari is the best time.
They depend on natural food sources such as yams, fruits, and bee honey. Mainly, they love feasting on the fruits of the Palu trees in the season between May and July. Therefore, sloth bear sightings are optimal at this time.
3. Elephants
Elephants are one of the most interesting animals you’ll see in Wilpattu National Park. There are large herds of elephants with 70 – 80 individuals. They often come to the Hunuwilagama Tank at the entrance to drink and play in the water. When the monsoon rains fill the villus and shallow lakes, elephant herds flock to indulge in the nutrient-rich long grasses. During the rest of the months, they are mostly found on the western side of the park.
Majestic tuskers are living among the dense foliage of Wilpattu, but witnessing them is a rare opportunity. Moreover, solitary bull elephants aren’t an uncommon sight. These solitary elephants are often roaming in the wild near the safari tracks. However, you may not be able to witness the elephants regularly in as same as Udawalawe or Yala National Park.
4. Deer
There are several types of deer in Wilpattu National Park. They are the Spotted deer, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, and Mouse Deer. Among them, Spotted Deer or Chital Deer are the most common species. They are herbivores, living only on grass, leaves, and fruits. These harmless animals are seen living in groups and sometimes a herd contains more than 100 individuals.
Sambar deer calls as Gona in Sinhalese. The males have large antlers both in size and body proportion. The sambar deer lives in both lowland dry forests such as Yala and Wilpattu and in the mountain forests such as Horton Plains. They live in small groups in Wilpattu National Park.
Barking deer also known as the Muntjacs or Olu Muwa/Weli Muwa in Sinhala. This is a small deer, that usually eats fruit and leaves. They have large canine teeth protruding from their upper jaw. Their chestnut color is brightest on its back and becomes lighter down the sides. It grows to a height of almost two feet.
The other type of deer found in Wilpattu is the mouse deer or “Meeminna” in Sinhalese. They also refer to white spotted chevrotain. Although they look like deer, they aren’t a type of deer. They are extremely small and do not possess any horns. Its name “mouse deer” originated from their face, which is similar to a mouse. They are endemic to dry zones of Sri Lanka. They live as isolated individuals or as pairs.
5. Birds
The aquatic wetland features of the park make Wilpattu one of Sri Lanka’s best places for bird watching. Thus, birding enthusiasts are attracted to the park to observe a wide array of birds. The park is home to over 200 bird species, including migratory birds that visit during winter.
Some of the endemics in Wilpattu include the Sri Lankan Jungle fowl, Grey hornbill, Brown-capped babbler Green pigeon and Red-backed woodpecker. As well, Bee eaters, peacocks, king fishers, doves & pigeons are quite common in the park.
One of the most interesting birds you’ll see in Wilpattu is the Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), locally called “Heen Bahuru Maanawa”. It is the largest wading bird in Sri Lanka though not as tall as very rare Black-necked stork. Like other members of the stork family, it has a bare neck and head. The adult’s neck is bright yellow.
You may also see a large number of aquatic birds living in the villus. The painted stork, open bill, little cormorant, along with many species of owls, terns, gulls, eagles, and kites are found at Wilpattu National Park. Many other wetland bird species such as pintails, teals, spoonbills, ibis, egrets, and herons can be seen in the park.
6. Reptiles
The most common reptiles found in the park are the monitor lizard, mugger crocodile, common cobra, rat snake, and Indian python. Mugger crocodiles are the largest residents in this permanent Villus. You may see they are basking in the sunshine near the banks of most of the water bodies.
There are several species of turtles and tortoises in Wilpattu, including pond turtles, soft-shelled turtles, and star tortoises. Among them, the most beautiful species is Star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) which are native to India and Sri Lanka. They are the largest and most strikingly colored species in the country.
Kudiramalai Point
Kudiramalai is a historical place located inside the Wilpattu National Park. This is a rocky promontory with a copper shoreline. It is widely believed as the landing spot of the Indian Prince Vijaya, the founder of the Sinhalese Kingdom.
This region is called Thambapanni or the “copper color beach” due to the reddish color of the sand on the beach. There are 68 archeological sites within this area in Wilpattu National Park.
Best time to visit the park
Wilpattu National Park is considered a year-round destination for wildlife safaris. However, the most popular time is the dry season from May to September. Particularly, this is the low season of tourism in Sri Lanka where you can enjoy many benefits than the peak season.
The northeastern monsoon brings rainfall to the park from October until December. After the rains, the forest reserve becomes lush green and beautiful where great clouds of butterflies are a highlight at the beginning of the year.
This wet season in Wilpattu is the best time for birdwatching. However, wildlife sightings may be less frequent this season, as the animals can access water throughout the park.
Benefits of visiting Wilpattu
Wilpattu National Park is eight times larger than the popular Yala National Park Block I. On the other hand, it is less popular among visitors due to its remote location. As such, the chances of encountering masses of jeeps are much less likely in Wilpattu.
Definitely, you’ll be less disturbed by the crowds or safari jeeps where you can take more time to fully enjoy the safari trip. When you see a leopard, sloth bear, or elephant, you’ll have the chance to watch them peacefully.
Camping in Wilpattu
Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy nature itself. There are 4 government-run wildlife circuit bungalows inside the park. They are Kokmote, Lunuwewa, Maha Wewa, and Manikwila bungalows.
The maximum occupancy in these bungalows is 10. You can reserve them through the Sri Lanka Wildlife website. Remember that the amenities in these bungalows are quite basic.
Glamping in Wilpattu
Luxury glamping is one of the best ways to witness the wildlife of Wilpattu while staying in comfy tents with all modern facilities. There are lots of privately run glamping spots around the park. These camping spots give you comfortable facilities with a boutique feel. They have all the modern amenities for tourists to enjoy their stay in the park.
The best glamping spots in Wilpattu include Mahoora, Big Game, and Leopard Trails. These luxury safari camps are located quite close to the park entrance. They offer fully furnished tents with bathrooms, hot water, and air conditioning. The camps also offer guided safaris inside the park. Thus, these glamping spots are highly popular among visitors.
To sum up, here we have shown all the details about Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest National Park, Wilpattu. You can experience the island’s most elusive wildlife in this vast nature reserve. A game drive in the park allows you to witness a countless number of unique flora and fauna. Visit Wilpattu and enjoy the glorious nature and amazing wildlife in Sri Lanka.!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Facebook, and Twitter. All the copyrights are reserved by the original authors.
