The beautiful history of Wilpattu takes us back to when prince Vijaya in Lanka from East India In543 BC arrived along with his friends the landing is known as ‘Kudriamalai’. The location of the Palace of the native tribe princess Kuveni where the place was called ‘Kali Villu.’
It says in the history that Because Prince Vijaya and his followers landed on the Putalam beach which was during the 5th Century BCE, The first thing Prince Vijaya noticed was the copper colored sand which inspired him to call this island ‘Tambapanni’, Which gives a meaning of copper in Sanskrit.
Wilpattu got its name as this national park consists of a large number of willus (natural lakes) That is filled with rainwater. It’s situated on the north west coastal dry zone in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu gives you a whole new traveling experience of wildlife sanctuary. Wilpattu is worldly famous for the majestic Sri Lankan leopard spotting and not only that you can find animals like sloth bears, wild elephants, And a variety of both endemic and migrant birds. It’s a home for both animals that are all over the world.
As the National Park is located in the dry zone in Sri Lanka, the climate is sunny and humid. It’s annual temperature is 27 degree Celsius. Due to its location In the dry zone of the country the temperature can reach up to 37 Celsius during the hottest time of the day.
The main entrance to Wilpattu is from ‘Hunuwilgama’ and also you can easily get there from Puttalam and Anuradhapura too. From Kalpitiya town, it will roughly take 1.5 hours.
There are few important things you should be advised in advanced before entering the National Park as it’s not only a habitat for a wide range of animals and birds but also a home for a vast number of flora and fauna. These rules were made by the Department of wildlife conservation.
- Without a permit, entering is prohibited.
- Gun shooting, hunting, killing, eggs collection, capturing, birds and rap tail,
- Cutting tree, seed collecting, mining, extracting minerals, cleaning land, and construction of buildings he’s completely prohibited.
You can find several circuit bunglows close by and also ones that are far away from the National Park. You can stay overnight after making an advanced booking. To reserve a bunglow you have to go to the wildlife department and do the needful then they will give you a number and according to that, your reservation could be done. If you are looking for a cosy, little place and to suit your budget you can always find a place to stay over through Trip Advisor, Booking.com apps And also with the help of locals for lower prices.
When you need to book a bungalow, first and foremost you have to register in the wildlife department. (The office is located in Battaramulla.) Then you can do the booking according to the instructions given by the officers. Usually, the bookings will begin at 8 in the morning, but it’s better if you can go there at least by 6 in the morning. We would recommend you to do the booking at least 30 days or so prior the day you planning to visit as the specific dates needs to be available too.
The best time to visit national is mostly during the month of May – September and during early October as it’s a very dry and humid season. Planning to go on a safari jeep to explore about this unique historically important park? Here are some of the tips for you to find a jeep to enjoy your journey. These safari jeeps are driven by well experienced and friendly drivers, and also you can request a tour guide if you wish. Usually, you will find Toyota Hilux comfortable double cab which consists of Comfortable and adjustable seats. These jeeps are mostly owned and driven by the locals from the village and by nearby areas. These drivers are very well known for their driving skills as there are no carpeted roads in the park, And as well for their knowledge about the animals, birds and trees in the Wilpattu national Park. These drivers come in real handy for locals and as well as tourists who are wildlife photographers, as they will take You right into their habitats without invading the species’s privacy. So that they can capture their natural behavior as it is which is very important.
For a full day safari trip in Wilpattu Will be around Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 35,000 And the entrance fee for little girls will be Rs.300 per person and for foreigners it will be a sum around Rs.1000 to Rs. 1500. Wilpattu Safari jeeps the rates approximately start with us some of Rs.13 500 per jeep which will be applicable for half day the Safari trip duration is usually 4 hours, the rates will differ if you want to spend more hours of your safari trip.
Usually those who are joining the Safari from Anuradhapura it will be picked up from the lodge by five in the morning as it takes around 1 hours’ time to reach Wilpattu, from Wilpattu to safari game will commence at 6 in the morning. In a jeep of Toyota Hilux, the maximum capacity seven people to a guide excluded depends on the weather conditions you can experience a sea bath in Wilpattu which will add more colours to your Safari experience, as well as your stay in Sri Lanka.
When you book a jeep for your safari trip the payments for the entrance, we will sometimes be taken separate late or together depending on the Safari jeep driver. For locals the entrance fee will vary from the price for the foreigners. As you know you were only allowed to stay inside the jeep throughout your safari trip it’s best if you could take a binoculars with you that could be very helpful for you to have a better view of leopards, crocodiles deer, jackals also Eagles resting on top of trees.
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