Private Tour: Wilpattu National Park Safari

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Wilpattu National Park, off Chilaw Anuradhapura road, Saliyapura, Anuradhapura 50008 Sri Lanka

Meet up with your driver at the gate of Wilpattu National Park in Anuradhapura at approximately 5:30am or 2:30pm to start your exciting safari tour in Wilpattu National Park.

Wilpattu National Park, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, spans an area of approx. 131,693 hectares with altitude ranging between the sea-level and 152 meters. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1905 and in 1938 elevated to the status of National Wildlife Park. On November 7th, 1947, the northern area of Wilpattu was declared as Wilpattu North Sanctuary. Wilpattu National Park is situated in the dry zone and is unlike any other wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka. A unique complex of over 50 wetlands called “Villu” is the most prominent topographical feature of the national park. ‘Villu’ are shallow natural lakes filled with rainwater surrounded by open grassy plains amidst the dense scrub jungle. The presence of these Villus with an abundance of water can best be explained in the weather patterns that prevail over the park: while the period of drought is only during the months of May to early September, the main rainy season is during September to December with the heavy downpours of north eastern monsoon; inter monsoon season visits the park March and April. Annual temperature in the Park is around 27.2 Celsius and its annual rainfall is approximately 1000 mm.

Wilpattu National Park has various natural habitats - coastal belt, natural lakes (villus), rocky outcrops, scrublands, open grasslands and dense forest provide for numerous species of animals. Among the species are 31 mammals. The biggest draws in Wilpattu are Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) and Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus). Apart from those two mammals are Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus), Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, jackals, sambhur, barking deer, mouse deer Wild Pig, Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Mugger Crocodiles. Butterflies recorded include the Great Eggfly, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose.

Countless species of birds can also be found and the park plays host to numerous winter migrants from November to March, while menacing crocodiles top the list of reptiles. Also roaming on the grasslands are Star tortoises (Geochelone elegans) at Wilpattu. In the large Villus are Pond turtle (Melanonchelys trijuga) and the Soft shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata). The tour ends at the original departure point.

Duration: 8 hours