Sloth bears, leopards and adventure
Leopard Hills camp is about four hours north of capital Colombo and just a 15 minute drive to the main gate of Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest but yet lesser-visited park. Wilpattu was temporarily closed to the public following the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s civil war, and since reopening has remained off the tourist trail, despite it being widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s best places for seeing leopard and sloth bears.
The Lowdown
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Best For
Adventurous family holidays and wildlife lovers.
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Think about
Combining with a stay on the white sand beaches of the East coast.
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When to go
May to September is an ideal time to visit Wilpattu.
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Cost
From £2,850 per person for 10 nights including flights, all transfers with a chauffeur-guide and most activities.
Accommodation in the Wilpattu area is typically very simple, but Leopard Trails’ tents deliver a high level of comfort – set as a colonial-style safari lodge. Its lounge area has bucket seats, sofas and books to read. Even the entry-level Classic Mobile Tents have air-conditioning and private bathrooms with outdoor showers. Their Luxury Tents provide additional space and indoor showers.
Twice-daily jeep safaris are the main thing: you may also see elephant and water buffalo amid the scrub jungle and open grasslands. Consider also delving into Wilpattu’s history – about 500 years before the birth of Christ, it is believed that Prince Vijaya from India came here, as attested by many ruins. Seeing them requires a full day.
Anyone keen on adventure, wildlife and nature – this is your perfect combination. The guides and naturalists are the true heroes of Leopard Trails; they are incredibly passionate, knowledgeable and skilled at tracking.
Sophie Garland
Travel Planner
sophie@realholidays.co.ukI’ve no idea how the chefs managed it: they cook with minimal facilities, and yet we had the best food of our entire time in Sri Lanka here, including curries to die for.
