It depends on your purpose of travel and period of stay. Since Wilpattu National Park is one of the best safari parks in Sri Lanka, we recommend you to do a jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park. Wilpattu National Park is one of 2 National Parks in Sri Lanka where you can witness Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera Pardus Kotiya). If you access Yala National Park during your holiday, you may skip Wilpattu.
But, If you are on your wildlife photography tour or wildlife educational field trip to Sri Lanka, Wilpattu National park is a MUST.

Foreign adults approximately Sri Lankan Rupees 5,500 (LKR) including taxes / local guide entrance / service charges etc.
Foreign Children age 6 – 12 Year approximately Sri Lankan Rupees 2,500 including taxes / local guide entrance / service charges etc.
Foreign Kids 0 – 6 Year Free of Charge subject to accompanied by parents.
Note – These prices are as per the 2022 January update and prices can be changed at any time without prior notice.

You will be able to witness Leopards, Elephants, Bears, Deer, Crocodiles, Reptiles and many varieties of birds

Yes possible, but if you are on your wildlife photography tour in Sri Lanka, we strongly recommend you to spend 2 nights in Wilpattu National park area.

No. Wilpattu National park is rich with leopard / elephant / sloth bear and other animals. But we cannot guarantee that you will witness a leopard during your wildlife tour in Wilpattu. But being one of the best travel agents in Sri Lanka, Ceylon Expeditions do our level best to show a leopard during your safari.

Yes this is possible to do a half day safari while you are in Anuradhapura sacred city.

Wilpattu is 365 days safari park in Sri Lanka but recommend to visit between February to October

No online purchase of Wilpattu National Park entrance fees as of 2022 January and you must get it from the entrance gate. (But the online ticket process will be implemented soon)

No, you must pay in Sri Lanka Rupees and any international currencies are not accepted for National Parks of Sri Lanka for entrance fees

Approximately cost of half day safari Jeep at Wilpattu National Park is 40 – 45 $
Fully day safari jeep cost at Wilpattu National Park 85 – 90 $
All are private jeeps by different owners but all are duly registered under DWC Department of Wildlife Conservations.
Note – This price is based on 2022 January rates and the new prices may vary

Yes. Most of the Wilpattu Safari jeeps are Indian made but there are Japanese made Toyota / Mitsubishi jeeps as well. Price will be slightly higher than the Indian made jeeps.
Keep JK Travels or your travel agency in Sri Lanka informed in advance that you need a Toyota jeep for Wilpattu National Park safari.

6 people can accommodate in 1 jeep but it’s comfortable for 3 – 4 people in 1 jeep
If you are on a wildlife photography tour in Sri Lanka, please reserve 1 jeep for 3 people where you can comfortably handle your equipment etc.

Yes, the Department of Wildlife provides a wildlife tracker for each jeep free of charge subject to availability. But your Ceylon Expeditions guide also will join for the jeep safari together with the jeep driver.

Not really. If you are coming with a big tourist group through a travel agency in Sri Lanka, you will be on a shared jeep but for all other regular safaris, you need to get a private jeep.

Tipping is a common practice in Sri Lanka. If you are satisfied with the service you received from them, recommend a reasonable tip for a tracker & jeep driver.

We recommend Wilpattu National Park / Minneriya National Park / Yala National Parks safaris and Uda Walawe National Parks are the best safaris in Sri Lanka. But note there are 22+ National Parks in Sri Lanka and it is better if you consult your travel agent in Sri Lanka before selecting the best National Park you should visit.

Light costumes / recommended colours are Green, Beige, khaki, tan etc.
Sunblock / Sunglasses / Lip balm / hat
Insect repellent
Binoculars are recommended to improve sightings
Camera and accessories such as spare batteries, memory cards
Cool bottled water / soft drinks/snacks will be provided by us.
How can I get lunch during full-day safari in Wilpattu National Park?
Generally, travellers bring packed breakfast & lunch, but we deliver fresh hot meals (Lunch) to inside the park on request.

Early morning and the evening hours are ideal times to view wildlife.

Cannot give a Yes or No answer since you are entering the zone of untamed wild animals. The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has fully committed to the safety of the visitors. Code of conduct/rules for the safari jeep drivers are well in place. But make sure your own safety and always be inside the safari jeep and avoid unnecessary behaviours like feeding/shouting/selfies / high-speed driving etc.

If you are travelling on your own, make sure to reserve a safari jeep well in advance to avoid last-minute hassle at the entrance gate searching for jeeps that destroy your holiday. You can buy your entrance ticket at the gate. Keep water / camera / light dress / binocular ready. If you travel through a travel agency in Sri Lanka, they will organise all these well in advance.

eMail to info@jktravelssrilanka.com or SMS / WhatsApp / Viber to our hotline +94 766915112

As of January 2022, this facility is not available.

Yes, possible but subject to availability. Make sure to inform your travel agent in advance.

Since you are in a tropical country, yes, bugs/mosquitoes are there but this won’t affect your jeep safari

Not at all. You are not allowed to feed animals at any National Park in Sri Lanka. This is an offence.

Yes, can but subject to medical advice. We operate babymoon holidays in Sri Lanka including safaris with very comfortable spacious safari jeeps with very careful slow driving and with very special care. In this case, you need to inform your travel agency in Sri Lanka.

Casual, comfortable cotton clothing is suitable due to temperature and ideal colours are Khaki, brown, white, green, and beige. Please note: that brighter colours like blue or red are proven to attract insects.

All jeeps are open, but the tent is there to cover you if it rains

Regular safari will take 3 – 4 hours but if you are on your wildlife holiday or bird watching tour in Sri Lanka, we recommend a full day + half-day safari since Wilpattu is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka with high animal sightings.

Yes, there are few luxury tented camping operators in Wilpattu and contact your travel agency in Sri Lanka or JK Travels to go with the safest / luxury tented camp.

Yes these are escorted safari

Yes, toilets are available at the entrance premises.

No mobile signals are available inside the Wilpattu National Park. Signals are jammed purposely by the government to enhance the experience of wildlife enthusiasts.

There are only 2 National Parks to see Sri Lankan leopards namely Wilpattu & Yala National Parks which are mostly recommended for visiting during your wildlife photography tour or family holiday in Sri Lanka.

Our exclusive jeeps are fully loaded with cool box water/snacks / soft drinks etc. but if you are an individual traveller, it is better for you to check with your travel agent in Sri Lanka beforehand.

Not at all. You are not allowed to get down the Jeep and must be inside the vehicle unless otherwise instructed by the wildlife tracker. You can get down at a few selected locations inside the national Park in consultation with your tracker/tour leader.

We generally check meal plans well in advance and arrange them accordingly. If you are an individual traveller, better you check with your Travel Company in Sri Lanka.

Tanks, Buddhist monasteries, stupas, and rock inscriptions are among the buildings scattered across the park, indicating a civilization focused on irrigated agriculture in the area. Much of the legend and history is associated with the park and its surroundings. It is said that King Vijaya landed in about 500 BC and founded the Sinhalese people in Tamanna Nuwara, which is said to be in Wilpattu National Park between Kudiramale point and Moderagam Ara mouth. According to the facts it is remarked that Galbendi Neeravia, North-East of Maradanmaduwa tank, is supposed to be the place where Prince Saliya, the son of King Dutugemunu, lived with his bride Asokamaala 2,000 years ago. Further, prehistoric sites of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic period have also been recorded around the area. (Channa Bambaradeniya, 2006)

The park was reopened on 27th February 2010 which had been closed to the public for nearly 20 years during the civil conflict in Sri Lanka. Due to the war the area suffered a lot. Substantial amount of time, parts of the frontline ran through or near the park. As a consequence, the management was severely disrupted, and the park staff and many animal populations suffered. Now the park infrastructure and management are being rehabilitated and the wildlife is almost recovered.

In the immediate neighbourhood of Wilpattu, there are approximately 34,000 people living in 135 settlements. Coastal fishing, livestock-rearing in the north and south, but largely rain-fed agriculture, are among their main sources of income. Living next to a national park has its drawbacks, such as animals eating the crops, but it also has its advantages, such as job opportunities in the tourism industry. Wilpattu has a Community Outreach program that aims to reduce such problems and to increase the benefits by working closely with the local people. Visiting the Wilpattu National Park leads the way to study about typical livelihood of the people who are living in the buffer zones of Wilpattu National Park and this is recommended for your experiential holidays in Sri Lanka.