Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu is a vast national park, the largest in Sri Lanka, that encompasses a massive 131,667 ha chunk of the northwest dry lowland zone. It is one of the most exciting and perhaps least known of Sri Lanka's national parks having been re-opened only in 2003, so the highlight is that you can enjoy exploring its hidden gems almost to yourself. Wilpattu borders the Indian Ocean and surprisingly, despite its huge expanse, its undulating landscape reaches a maximum height of only 152m.

Prepare to experience a flurry of numerous ecosystems as you journey though Wilpattu's seemingly endless wilderness whose scrublands, open grasslands and dry mixed evergreen forests are broken up by more than 60 lakes or villus and numerous coastal lagoons. Most characteristic of the park, the villus; natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater, are numerous and will be found at every twist and turn of your adventure. Considered to be the only natural lakes found in Sri Lanka, they provide vital refreshment for wildlife, including for the 31 mammal residents. A sighting of a leopard, whose numbers are still not yet known in Wilpattu will be extremely rewarding and certainly not impossible as will a glimpse of barking deer all from the safety of your jeep. Sloth bears, elephants, sambhur, spotted deer, water buffalo, mongoose, mouse and shrew are more of Wilpattu's residents.

The villus also support both resident and migratory birds including large breeding populations of the painted stork, a splendid sight, as well as the open bill, little cormorant, whistling teal, white ibis and purple heron along with many species of terns and gulls. Driving through the dense forests that account for approximately 73% of the total area of Wilpattu, you may be lucky to spot owls in the early evening or hear them hooting as well glimpse eagles, kites and buzzards.

Wilpattu is also known to be a place of great historical and archaeological interest whose ruins evenly match the spectacle of the wildlife. The Mahavansa records that in 543 BC Prince Vijaya landed at Kudrimalai Point, married Kuweni and founded the Sinhalese race. Some remains of the residence of Queen Kuweni can be found at Kali Villu. In addition, you'll seek out an ancient burial ground of the pre-Vijayan era of Sri Lanka that was discovered in Pomparippu.