Client Experiences
“Very Calm National Park. Best Safari Ever In Sri Lanka. Can’t wait to Return!”
Client Experiences
Memories captured by our guests during their Wilpattu journeys.
"Absolutely breathtaking! The expertise of the guides made every moment unforgettable. The low-angle jeeps were a game-changer for my photography."
"Five stars don't do justice to the incredible safari. The attention to detail and knowledgeable guides exceeded my expectations. It was more than just a safari."
"The low-angle jeeps were a game-changer for my photography. A truly remarkable safari experience! I highly recommend Wilpattu Safaris."
"We saw many animals, including a majestic leopard. The guide was informative and helpful. The natural beauty of the park is amazing."
Client Experiences
Memories captured by our guests during their Wilpattu journeys.
Chamalka Yasiru
5 hours ago
Ricky Ahs
2 days ago
We had an amazing safari experience at Wilpattu National Park during our trip around Sri Lanka. I visited with my family, and it became one of the most memorable parts of our journey. The nature, peaceful environment, and wildlife were truly beautiful.❤️
Sri Lanka is such a wonderful and naturally rich country. During the safari, we saw several groups of deer, herds of elephants, and even a bear, which made the adventure even more exciting. The scenery inside the park was breathtaking, and the whole experience was unforgettable.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves wildlife, nature, and adventure! 🌿🐘🦌🐻
Sri Lanka is such a wonderful and naturally rich country. During the safari, we saw several groups of deer, herds of elephants, and even a bear, which made the adventure even more exciting. The scenery inside the park was breathtaking, and the whole experience was unforgettable.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves wildlife, nature, and adventure! 🌿🐘🦌🐻
Dulshan Hemasinghe
3 days ago
If you love nature and wildlife this is the place to be. Not many jeeps so you can enjoy the reserve.
Emily Ja
4 days ago
Beautiful reserve but there doesn’t seem much to see. Saw 1 elephant, birds, and that’s pretty much it. Entry alone is like $42 which is kinda a lot. Jeep cost was 15,000 lkr so overall kinda expensive to see not much.
hylke baltussen
4 days ago
Very good, with nice facilities, even in between. Please note, however, that there is no toilet paper available! So, for women, it is handy to bring some with you.
Dineth Sachin
2 weeks ago
Shalitha Weerasingha
2 weeks ago
One of best national park in srilanka
Secret of Sri Lanka
3 weeks ago
Renowned for leopards, sloth bears, Asian elephants, spotted deer, and water buffalo. It is also a premier destination for birdwatchers.
Krisztian Nagy Szeder
3 weeks ago
Marianne B
3 weeks ago
Like something out of a fairytale forest. We really enjoyed it. We were also lucky enough to see the bear.
Atily Gunaratne
3 months ago
Nice nature park, get to see lot of birds, Eliphants were in short supply due to abandace of water holes due to rain. There were Leopards and Bears amoung all the other mammals. Hold on to the jeeps well otherwise you can get thrown off.
Anne-marie Van Reek
3 months ago
Drive trough park was fun, but have not seen much wildlive... Trucks were driving behind eachother all the time. At the end our drivers chose a different road and that's when it became interesting.
Dhanushka T Weerawardhana
3 months ago
Wilpattuha (Wilpattu) National Park is Sri Lanka’s largest and one of its most ancient wildlife sanctuaries, offering a raw and authentic safari experience. Unlike the crowded parks in the south, Wilpattu is renowned for its unique landscape of natural lakes and its healthy population of elusive leopards and sloth bears. Here is a detailed review for tourists planning a visit.
🌳 An Overview of Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu isn't just big; it's a place of profound natural beauty and history. Spanning over 1,300 square kilometers in the island's dry zone, it was designated a sanctuary back in 1938 . Its very name, 'Wilpattu', means "Land of Lakes," referring to the park's most defining feature: the "Willus" . These are natural, sand-rimmed, rainwater-filled basins. There are nearly 60 of these lakes scattered throughout the park, acting as vital water sources that attract a dazzling array of wildlife, especially during the dry season .
The park's history adds to its mystique; it remained closed for over 16 years during the country's civil conflict, reopening in 2003. This closure inadvertently helped preserve its wilderness, making it a less commercial and more pristine safari destination today .
🐆 Wildlife: What You Can Expect to See
Wilpattu offers a genuine wildlife experience. While sightings are never guaranteed (which is part of the thrill), the park is a haven for some of Sri Lanka's most sought-after animals.
· Leopards: Wilpattu has the second-highest density of leopards in Sri Lanka, after Yala. With an estimated population of around 40 individuals, your chances of spotting one are quite good, especially with an experienced guide .
· Sloth Bears: This is one of the best places in the country to see wild sloth bears. They are most active in the early morning, foraging for termites and berries in the dense forest .
· Elephants & More: While the elephant population is smaller than in parks like Udawalawe, they are regularly seen, often around the Maradanmaduwa reservoir. You'll also encounter spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, water buffalo, and crocodiles .
· Birdlife: With over 200 recorded species, it's a paradise for birdwatchers. Keep an eye out for painted storks, peacocks, hornbills, and the endemic Sri Lankan junglefowl .
To give you a realistic idea, here’s an estimated guide to wildlife sightings from an experienced tour operator :
Species Probability of Sighting Best Time Preferred Area
Leopard 50% Morning / Evening Shaded Willus
Sloth Bear 30% Early Morning Dense Forests
Elephant 25% Afternoon Maradanmaduwa Reservoir
Spotted Deer 90% All Day Open Areas
Water Buffalo 60% Morning Wet Grasslands
🧭 Safari Experiences and Practical Information
Planning a safari here is straightforward, with options to suit different budgets and schedules.
Safari Options & Costs
You can choose from a half-day or full-day safari, typically starting early morning (around 6:00 AM) or late afternoon for the best wildlife viewing .
· Budget Safari: A private, 8-hour tour from nearby Anuradhapura, including hotel pickup, a 4x4 jeep, guide, and amenities like water and king coconut, costs around $111 per person. Note that park entry fees are usually extra .
· All-Inclusive Full Day: A full-day private safari that includes the park entry ticket can cost upwards of $308 .
· Park Entry: The government-managed park entry fee is separate from your safari jeep hire and typically costs around $35-$37 USD per person .
🌳 An Overview of Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu isn't just big; it's a place of profound natural beauty and history. Spanning over 1,300 square kilometers in the island's dry zone, it was designated a sanctuary back in 1938 . Its very name, 'Wilpattu', means "Land of Lakes," referring to the park's most defining feature: the "Willus" . These are natural, sand-rimmed, rainwater-filled basins. There are nearly 60 of these lakes scattered throughout the park, acting as vital water sources that attract a dazzling array of wildlife, especially during the dry season .
The park's history adds to its mystique; it remained closed for over 16 years during the country's civil conflict, reopening in 2003. This closure inadvertently helped preserve its wilderness, making it a less commercial and more pristine safari destination today .
🐆 Wildlife: What You Can Expect to See
Wilpattu offers a genuine wildlife experience. While sightings are never guaranteed (which is part of the thrill), the park is a haven for some of Sri Lanka's most sought-after animals.
· Leopards: Wilpattu has the second-highest density of leopards in Sri Lanka, after Yala. With an estimated population of around 40 individuals, your chances of spotting one are quite good, especially with an experienced guide .
· Sloth Bears: This is one of the best places in the country to see wild sloth bears. They are most active in the early morning, foraging for termites and berries in the dense forest .
· Elephants & More: While the elephant population is smaller than in parks like Udawalawe, they are regularly seen, often around the Maradanmaduwa reservoir. You'll also encounter spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, water buffalo, and crocodiles .
· Birdlife: With over 200 recorded species, it's a paradise for birdwatchers. Keep an eye out for painted storks, peacocks, hornbills, and the endemic Sri Lankan junglefowl .
To give you a realistic idea, here’s an estimated guide to wildlife sightings from an experienced tour operator :
Species Probability of Sighting Best Time Preferred Area
Leopard 50% Morning / Evening Shaded Willus
Sloth Bear 30% Early Morning Dense Forests
Elephant 25% Afternoon Maradanmaduwa Reservoir
Spotted Deer 90% All Day Open Areas
Water Buffalo 60% Morning Wet Grasslands
🧭 Safari Experiences and Practical Information
Planning a safari here is straightforward, with options to suit different budgets and schedules.
Safari Options & Costs
You can choose from a half-day or full-day safari, typically starting early morning (around 6:00 AM) or late afternoon for the best wildlife viewing .
· Budget Safari: A private, 8-hour tour from nearby Anuradhapura, including hotel pickup, a 4x4 jeep, guide, and amenities like water and king coconut, costs around $111 per person. Note that park entry fees are usually extra .
· All-Inclusive Full Day: A full-day private safari that includes the park entry ticket can cost upwards of $308 .
· Park Entry: The government-managed park entry fee is separate from your safari jeep hire and typically costs around $35-$37 USD per person .
Amber Hol Horeman
4 months ago
Amazing National Park in Sri Lanka where we did a full day safari with Mirando, a naturalist guide that knew everything about the park and the animals living in it, and Desa who drove us through the park. Going on safari with an expert guide enriched our experience a lot and we would really recommend going with a guide! Many thanks to Mirando and Desa for the beautiful safari day! We hope we can come back to keep learning about the wildlife of Wilpattu.
Arin Goswami
5 months ago
This is the most fun thing I've had the opportunity of doing on my trip to Sri Lanka so far! Wilpattu National Park boasts leopards, sloth bears, some elephants, peacocks, shepherd eagles, crocodilians, monkeys, multiple species of kingfishers, and so much more! We were able to see the bulk of these animals starting at 6AM until 3PM.
[safari_testimonials_grid title="Client Experiences" subtitle="Memories captured by our guests during their Wilpattu journeys."]
“Choosing Wilpattu Safaris was the best decision for the Best Wilpattu Experience.”
