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Overview

Willpattu (Villpathai) National Park, is the largest national park on the island covering just over 500 sq. miles and lies in the Northwest of the island and has a seafront as its western boundary.

The park was out of bounds for civilians for over 30 years as it was under the control of the “Liberation Tigers of Thamil Eelam” (LTTE), a separatist armed movement. Since re-opening in 2010 the park has quickly become one of the finest wildlife watching locations on the island.

The park is much quieter than Sri Lanka’s other popular national parks and offers a genuine sense of wilderness. This ‘Land of Lakes’ is dotted with water basins and hidden in the dense forests you’ll find an array of wildlife from leopards, elephants, sloth bears, mouse deer, sambar deer, spotted deer, and mongoose are a few to mention.
The birdlife is also plentiful with the Malabar pied hornbill, Indian hawk eagle, crested serpent eagle, and amphibian species like mugger crocodile, Indian python, common cobra, monitor lizard, and so on.

Little is known of the large population of leopards who reside in the park, but after Yala in the south this is the second-best place to spot them in Sri Lanka. With an intimate knowledge of the area, your safari guide and driver will navigate the day based on their experience, giving you the best chance to catch a glimpse of the abundant wildlife in their natural habitat.

• Daily departures
• Between February and October
• Private experience
• Visitors staying in Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Habarana, Kandalama, and Sigiriya can easily reach the National Park.

Good to know
Suitable for all. For those staying further afield and those who can’t commit to a day trip, we’d recommend an afternoon visit. It is recommended to take a pair of binoculars with you. There are excellent tented safari camps and resort accommodations available in or near the park.