From misty mountains to golden coastlines - discover the best of Sri Lanka with Lisence to Travel Lanka.
A vast, wild expanse of dense forest and natural lakes on the northwest coast, best known for leopard sightings, quieter jeep tracks and a raw, untouched feel that the more visited parks have lost.
Wilpattu takes its name from the "willu" — dozens of natural sand-rimmed lakes scattered through the park — that draw wildlife to their edges and give the landscape a look unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. It's the country's oldest and largest national park, and after decades of restricted access during the civil war, its leopard population has flourished largely undisturbed, making it one of the best places on the island to spot one in the wild.
We build Wilpattu in as an early-morning or full-day jeep safari on the north-west route, timed for the cool hours after dawn when leopards, sloth bears and elephants are most active around the willu, with far fewer vehicles on the tracks than at Yala.
TripAdvisor