Wilpattu National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Sri Lanka, a landscape of dry tropical forest, shallow lakes and small water pools, dense scrubland and open, treeless grassland. This full-day trip runs from Anuradhapura, with a chauffeur collecting you at your hotel and a safari jeep and tracker waiting at the park.
Leopards, elephants, spotted deer, barking deer, jackals, sambhar, wild pigs and water buffalo all live within the park, and the water bodies scattered through it draw aquatic birds and reptiles. Butterflies are part of the picture too, among them the great egg fly, the great orange tip and the crimson rose.
Highlights
- A jeep safari through Sri Lanka's largest and oldest national park.
- Dry tropical forest, shallow lakes and small water pools, dense scrubland and treeless grassland.
- Habitat for leopards, elephants, spotted deer, barking deer, jackals, sambhar, wild pigs and water buffalo.
- Aquatic birds and reptiles around the park's water bodies.
- Butterflies including the great egg fly, the great orange tip and the crimson rose.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Anuradhapura with an English-speaking chauffeur.
What to Expect
The day begins at 04:00, when your chauffeur collects you from your hotel in Anuradhapura and drives you to Wilpattu. You arrive at the park by 06:00 and meet your safari jeep, whose driver is also your tracker.
From there the safari works its way through the park's dry tropical forest, scrubland and grassland, and past the shallow lakes and small water pools. This is the habitat of leopards and elephants, along with spotted deer, barking deer, jackals, sambhar, wild pigs and water buffalo. Around the water, look for aquatic birds and reptiles, and among the vegetation for butterflies such as the great egg fly, the great orange tip and the crimson rose. What you see on any given drive is down to the animals themselves, which is part of the experience.
The safari ends back at the park entrance by 13:00. Your chauffeur then drives you to your hotel in Anuradhapura, arriving by 15:00.
Park entrance tickets are included when Tickets is set to Yes, and excluded when Tickets is set to No.
Includes
- Park entrance tickets, when Tickets is set to Yes.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from and to Anuradhapura.
- Transport throughout the tour in an air-conditioned vehicle with the service of an English-speaking chauffeur.
- Safari jeep with the service of an English-speaking driver, who is also your tracker.
- One litre of bottled mineral water per person.
- All taxes and service charges.
Excludes
- Park entrance tickets, when Tickets is set to No.
- Food and drinks.
- Gratuities (optional).
- Expenses of a personal nature.
