“Wilpattu” translating to mean “the Land of the Lakes”, this national park delivers on their well-earned name, with an astounding 106 lakes and tanks spread throughout the 1,317 sq kilometers of its land! It is the largest Sri Lankan wildlife park, and is located approximated 188kms away from the city of Colombo, in the west coast close to the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura.
Here are some facts you should know before you take a Safari ride at Wilpattu.
History
Being so closely situated to one of Sri Lanka’s historical and archeological hotspots, it is not surprising that the Wilpattu National Park has been mentioned in the writings depicting the golden past of Ceylon. About 500 years before the birth of Christ, The Mahavansa records that in 543 BC Prince Vijaya landed at Tambapanni now known as Kudrimalai Point (Horse Point), estbalished a Kingdom that laid the foundation for what was to become the current nation of Sti Lanka.
This is modern day’s North West Wilpattu. In 1905, the area was designated a sanctuary and in 1938 it was upgraded to the National Park status.’
It is also rumored that this same Kudrimalai or Horse Point, was visited by a subject of Emperor Claudius in 47 AD, who was blown off course by the monsoon. The local king was said to have sent his own envoys to Rome during the time of Pliny.
Fascinating, isn’t it? The park still has archeological remnants and ruins which will captivate you, without a doubt.
When to Visit:
The average temperature in the Park is between 27°C to 30°C and its annual rainfall falls at approximately 900 mm. The Wilpattu National Park is situated in the dry zone but most of the time flora is bright and has ample water sources, owing to the large number of lakes in the area. The period between September to December is the rainy season while inter-monsoonal rains are expected between March to May. The period of drought in the Park extends from June to early September. For best sightings, February through October is considered to be the optimum period.
Wildlife at Wilpattu:
Let’s be honest. The wildlife is where the party is at and Wilpattu is the place to be! Famous for being home to the Sri Lankan Big Three; Sri Lankan Leopard, The Sloth Bear and the Asian Elephants, Wilpattu has recorded more than 30 mammal species as being inhabitants of the park, which include, the sambar, mongoose, spotted deer, and buffalo. The park also sees many resident and migrant birds such as Garganey, Pin tail, Whistling Teal, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Large White Egret, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron, as well as the endemic Sri Lankan Jungle Fowl. Reptiles and amphibians roam freely in these lands, and you would even get the chance to see crocodiles, cobras and pythons in action.
Flora at Wilpattu:
It doesn’t stop with the certainly impressive range of animals, Wilpattu also boasts an interesting ecosystem with many species of flora such Palu, Satin, Milla, Weera , Ebony and Wewarna . There are three types of vegetation at Wilpattu: Littoral vegetation, monsoon scrub of very low stature and monsoon forest with tall emergent.
