Wilpattu National Park
The largest of Sri Lanka’s national parks at 1,085 square kilometres, Wilpattu National Park (Land of Lakes) is now enjoying a renaissance following the declaration of peace in the country; opening its doors to visitors again after 16 years of closure, with a new visitor centre established in 2003. Before visitor numbers fully return to Wilpattu (it was at one point the most visited of all Sri Lanka’s parks), it remains a relatively uncrowded and unhurried park filled with a network of ‘Villu’ reservoirs, dense scrub jungle and grass-covered clearings.
The unspoilt seclusion of the park makes it ideal for those looking for a peaceful safari experience away from the crowds found in other areas.
Wilpattu National Park Quick Facts
- Park history: Wilpattu was established in 1938 and is the largest park in Sri Lanka standing at 1320km².
- Topography: approximately 73% of the land is dense forest.
- Wildlife spotting: over 31 species of mammals can be found here including wild boar, spotted deer and Asian elephant.
- Water sources: the park is filled with ‘villus’ which appear to be lakes but are actually depressions in the land filled with rainwater.
Landscapes, Wildlife & Access
Starting at the northwest coast and sprawling across the north-central province, Wilpattu enjoys a diversity of landscape from coastline banked by white sands to open grassland and dense forest that creates an equally diverse mix of wildlife. Animals you stand a good chance of spotting include elephant, spotted dear, sloth bear, barking deer, mongoose, water buffalo and possibly leopard. The rivers are home to crocodile and freshwater terrapins, and the network of Villus makes it an area with huge birdlife diversity. Endemic species such as woodshrike, peacocks, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lankan jungle fowl and black-capped bulbul can be seen, but there is also a great variety of owls, storks, cuckoos and terns, amongst others.