Guides & Safari Jeep Drivers
There are a number of excellent guides attached to the Department of Wildlife Conservation at Wilpattu National Park. It is always better to contact a guide at least a few days before you arrive at the park to ensure the availability of one of them to accompany you in to the park. It is customary for you to give them a “tip” at the end of your game drive.
You should enter the park in a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. If you are planning to leave your vehicle at the park entrance and hire a safari jeep it is better to contact a safari jeep operator prior to your arrival. All the Safari jeeps at Wilpattu are owned and operated by people from the villages bordering the park.
Given below are the contact numbers of some of the guides as well as Safari Jeep Drivers at Wilpattu National Park.
Guides - Hunuwilagama 1. Tissa Ratnayake - 0724169408 Guides - Eluwankulama 1. Wasantha - 0776538464 |
Safari Jeep Drivers - Hunuwilagama 1. Hemantha Wimalasena/ Jagath Wimalasena - 0773024071, 0779713538 Safari Jeep Drivers - Eluwankulama |
Tips on Fuel, Food & Accommodation at Wilpattu National Park
Wimal’s Stores just out side the park is a general store, which also offers a variety of dry rations as well as frozen meats, bottled water and chilled soft drinks. They also sell fuel and open around 7 am till about 8pm. The proprietor Mr. Wimalasena can be contacted on 0253255908.
The closest fuel station is at Saliya Wewa, between Puttalam and Wilpattu turn off which is open from 7am to about 10pm. Super Diesel is available at this outlet. A reasonably well-stocked super market is located at Puttalam. Nochciyagama town, which is about 20 minutes drive from the Wilpattu turn off towards Anuradapura, is the largest town close to the park where Commercial Banks, Super Markets, Fuel stations etc. are all available. Regional hospitals are located at Puttalam as well as Nochchiyagama but in case of an emergency such as a poisonous snakebite or cardiac arrest one should rush the patient to the main government Hospital at Anuradapura, which is about a 45 minute drive from the park.
PARK BUNGALOWS
The holiday bungalows located inside the park are owned and operated by the Department of Wild Life Conservation (DWC). On the first Monday of each month bookings are accepted for the following month at the head quarters of the DWC located at 811A, Jayanthipura Road, Battaramulla. Bungalows also can be booked on line by accessing the DWC web site www.dwc.gov.lk You may contact the DWC on 0112888585 or 0112868323 for further details.
These bungalows are located at picturesque locations and can accommodate a maximum of 10 adults. They operate on electricity generated by solar power and will offer you basic facilities. Each bungalow is provided with a cook and a caretaker who should be provided with the provisions/dry rations for cooking. It is very important for you collect all your garbage to be removed upon your return.
Rooms & Guest Houses out side the Park
Hunuwilagama entrance
- Leopard Den Hotel – 0253259128, 0772465959
- Dolosmahe Guest House - 0772060265, 0713903504
- LLT Guest House – 0779478036, 0253253838
- Teal Cottage – 0254901500
Eluwankulama entrance
- Wild Wadi - 0770097888, 0771661818
- Back Waters - 0763313119
- Leopard Lakes – 0777767777
- Wilpattu House – 0770682743, 0778584009
Bungalows / Safari Camps out side the Park
Hunuwilagama entrance
- Wilpattu Safari Camp - 0777155020
- Aanawila Bungalow – 0777718045
- Anuhas Holiday Home - 0773064398
- Wilpattu Bungalow – 0773739057
- Park View Bungalow – 0774809113
- Willys Safari Bungalow – 0112806311, 0112805313
- Wilpattu Tree House – 0773767113
Eluwankulama entrance
- Hotel Gangewadiya - 0772381215