Sri Lanka's largest national park, a wilderness of scrub jungle and natural lakes famous for leopards, sloth bears and quiet safaris.

Overview

Wilpattu is the biggest and one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka, sprawling across the dry lowlands north of Puttalam. Its name means 'land of lakes', after the dozens of villus, natural sand-rimmed rainwater basins scattered through the forest that draw wildlife to drink. The park is celebrated for its elusive leopards and sloth bears, along with elephants, spotted deer, water buffalo, crocodiles and rich birdlife. Far less crowded than Yala, it offers a wilder, more solitary safari experience through thick jungle and open lake country.

History

Wilpattu was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1905 and declared a national park in 1938, making it one of the country's earliest protected areas. It was closed for much of the civil conflict from the late 1980s until reopening in 2010, after which its wildlife populations and visitor numbers steadily recovered. It is managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.