Mahoora tented safaris - Wilpattu National Park
Wilpattu National Park sri lanka located on the west coast of Sri Lanka, the Wilpattu National Park extends inland towards the ancient city of Anuradhapura in the heart of the Cultural Triangle. The Park is a fairly thick dry zone jungle interspersed with a number of flood plain lakes banked with delicate white sands. It boasts an impressive variety of flora in huge expanses of forest with varied wildlife.
A topographical feature particular to this part of the island is the abundance of villus or natural lakes - like basins. All bar two of the villus within the Wilpattu National Park contain pure rainwater and support a vast range of resident and migratory water-birds.
The Wilpattu National Park is one that is steeped in history and legend. According to some identified ancient ruins, it is said that Queen Kuweni lived in the place now identified as Kalli Villu. Queen Kuweni is in essence the mother of the Sinhalese race as it is out of her marriage to Prince Vijaya (the first king of Sri Lanka) that its people were born.
Big game and other mammal encounters at the Wilpattu National Park
Big Game safari at Wilpattu Sri Lanka of the 31 species of mammals residing within Wilpattu four are threatened. These are the Sri Lankan Elephant, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear, Sri Lankan Leopard and the Water Buffalo. Other animal species that can be seen on safari drives are the Sambar, Spotted Deer, Mongoose, Mouse and Shrew.
Bird life at the Wilpattu National Park
Many species of Owl, Tern, Gull, Eagle, Kite and Buzzard along with the Painted Stork, Sri Lankan Junglefowl and the Little Cormorant can be found at the Wilpattu National Park. Wetland bird life includes the Garganey, Pintail, Whistling Teal, Spoonbill, White Ibis, Large White Egret, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron.
Reptiles and Amphibians at the Wilpattu National Park
The most common reptiles found at Wilpattu National Park are the Monitor Lizard, Mugger Crocodile, Common Cobra, Rat Snake, Indian Python, Pond Turtle and the Soft Shelled Turtle which reside in the villus.
Flora at the Wilpattu National Park
Many species of Sri Lankan flora can be identified in the Wilpattu National Park, with three distinct types of vegetation being prominent - salt grass and stunted shrub bordering the coastal areas, a coastal strip of approximately three to six miles of monsoon scrub and dense monsoon forests further inland like in the western sector. Many species of flora can be identified at the Wilpattu National Park such as Palu (Manilkara hexandra), Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), Milla (Vitex altissima), Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) and Wewarna (Alseodaphne semecarpifolia).
