Wilpattu Half Day Safari From Anuradhapura
Description
Join us for an exhilarating safari in Wilpattu National Park, starting at 5:00 AM, where you have a prime opportunity to see Sri Lanka's elusive leopards in their natural habitat. Wilpattu is renowned for its healthy population of these magnificent big cats, making it a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Tour Highlights: Leopard Spotting: With its unique mix of open plains and dense scrub, Wilpattu provides the perfect environment for spotting leopards, especially during the early morning when they are most active. Expert Guidance: Our knowledgeable safari guides are experienced in tracking leopards and will share their insights on the behavior and habitat of these majestic animals. Rich Biodiversity: In addition to leopards, you’ll have the chance to see elephants, deer, and a variety of bird species, all set against the backdrop of the park’s stunning landscapes. Embark on an extraordinary journey to witness the beauty of wildlife.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Wilpattu National park is among the oldest and most important of protected areas in Sri Lanka. It also contains a number of important cultural sites. The sanctuary lies inland from the coast and is entirely within Northern Province. It is contiguous with the park, the intervening boundary being marked by the Moderagam Aru. The only practical access from Colombo would be via Negombo, Chilaw and Puttalam. The turn off is at the little hamlet of Thimbiriwewa on the 28 th mile post along the Puttalam Anuradhapura road and the park office where one obtains permit and a guide is at Hunuwilagama 8km from the turn off. The main topographical feature in this park is the concentration of “villus” or “lakes” within it. The striking feature, though confined to certain sectors of the park, is copper red, loamy soils extremely varied. The western sector of the park with deeply forested areas and thorny bushes is reminiscent of Yala National Park in southern Sri Lanka. Characterized by inter monsoon rains in March and April, an extensive drought from May until early September and a major rainy season (Northern Monsoon) from September until December. Mammalian diversity and ecological densities are highest in such ecotomes as the interfaces between forest, scrub and grasslands converge in the west and the “villus” and drainage systems in the center of the park. A total of 31 species of mammals have been recorded but additional species of Rodentia and Chiropotera undoubtedly present. Among the most conspicuous reptiles are common.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(8)
What a trip... Our guide was very observant picking out many creatures along the way, he had a very keen eye & was passionate seeing them in the wild. This Safari is totally different to Yala as terrain very different & not as many Jeeps chasing after the perfect picture. Travelling through the jungle areas was like being back in Jurassic times. Very quiet travelling along, one can hear the animals & birds calling. Such a great experience from being picked up from out hotel, driven early morning, even to see a wild elephant on the roadside & the careful driving through the park.
Excellent tour - easy pick up and return, clear communication, well priced. The best part was the safari guide the team had arranged, Supur was a zoologist by training with a clear passion for the animals and Wilpattu park, and an absolute eagle eye for spotting the wildlife. No leopards for us, but plenty of gorgeous birds and other creatures. Highly recommended to add in to your Anuradhapura trip.
Thank you for the excellent feedback! 😊 We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour and found everything smooth, well-organized, and great value. It’s wonderful to know that Supur’s expertise and passion made the Wilpattu safari such a special experience—even without the leopards, nature still had plenty to offer! 🐦🌿 Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Sri Lanka.
It was a really nice experience. We saw every animal besides the bear. Our guide showed us every other animal. We recommened him as well. His number is: +94 71 348 2141
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re very happy to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed the safari with our guide. Nature always has its surprises, but we’re glad you could see so many animals. Thank you for the recommendation—we truly appreciate it!
Bad luck! In 4 hours only small wild pack, 2 buffalo, water birds (2x each) 4 monkeys, 2 mongooses 1small crocodile (1x each) seen
We had a great half day trip to Wilpattu from Anuradhapura. We were picked up from our hotel in an air conditioned car, then transferred to the jeep at Wilpattu. The jeep driver was also the guide. It’s a beautiful park, lots of birds and other wildlife and we saw two leopards. Highly recommended.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review on TripAdvisor We truly value your feedback and are delighted to hear about your experience. It motivates our team to continue delivering exceptional service and unforgettable memories. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next adventure!"
Great way to experience Wilpattu from Anaradurapura. The car transfer to the park was timely and well arranged and the park safari went smoothly. When they say that entrance ticket is not included know that you’ll have to pay an additional $45 for park admission and admission of the driver and jeep and service frees. That part was a surprise to me as I thought I’d just be paying my admission to the park. Other than that it was well arranged and I enjoyed the safari.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review on TripAdvisor We truly value your feedback and are delighted to hear about your experience. It motivates our team to continue delivering exceptional service and unforgettable memories. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next adventure!"
They contacted us a few days before via WhatsApp to agree again the exact pick-up location, as well as the exact time. Even with further questions, one could obtain all information here. On the safari day we were picked up on time by a driver and driven to the national park. Our luggage for the further journey was left in the trunk. At the national park we were welcomed by our guide. From 6 am we were able to get the tickets and the safari started. The landscape of Wilpattu is totally different and diverse. We could see all kinds of animals. Our guide is always stopped as soon as there was something interesting to see. Just a great experience. The safari went a good 4.5h, then we slowly made our way back. Our driver was waiting for us at the parking lot. For a small cost we were even driven to our next stop instead of the pick-up location. Service and National Park all top!
"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review on TripAdvisor! We truly value your feedback and are delighted to hear about your experience. It motivates our team to continue delivering exceptional service and unforgettable memories. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on your next adventure!"
