Sri Lanka · Safari

4-Day Sri Lanka Wildlife Safari through Wilpattu and Minneriya

4 Days Round trip from Katunayake Hard pace

View all 12 photos

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Spot Wilpattu National Park's distinctive natural lakes, known as "willus"
02 Explore Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Wasgamuwa on 4x4 jeep safaris
03 Immerse yourself in Anuradhapura's ancient history and culture
04 Enjoy optional local culture and cuisine experiences in a nearby village
05 Visit the optional Dambulla Cave Temple en route to Colombo

Discover Sri Lanka's mesmerizing wildlife and rich culture on this 4-day tour through the North Central Province. Explore Wilpattu, Minneriya, Kaudulla, and Wasgamuwa National Parks, with safari experiences by 4x4 jeep and opportunities to spot the region's remarkable wildlife. Along the way, stay in Anuradhapura, Habarana, and Wasgamuwa, and enjoy optional cultural experiences including a village visit and the Dambulla Cave Temple. This journey combines national parks, local culture, and ancient heritage in one memorable itinerary.

Discover Sri Lanka's mesmerizing wildlife and rich culture on this 4-day tour through the North Central Province.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Anuradhapura, Colombo, Dambulla, Minneriya National Park, Habarana, Katunayake, Wilpattu National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Wasgamuwa National Park

Languages English, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival and Transfer to Wilpattu National Park

Arrival at Katunayake International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
Meet and greet by a representative at the airport lobby.
Transfer to Wilpattu National Park and explore it.
After visiting Wilpattu, proceed to Anuradhapura and check in to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at Anuradhapura Hotel.

Day 02

Transfer to Habarana and Minneriya Jeep Safari

Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to Minneriya National Park.
Check in to Habarana Hotel.
Rest for a few hours.
In the evening, travel to Minneriya National Park by 4x4 jeep.
Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at Habarana Hotel.

Day 03

Kaudulla Safari and Wasgamuwa National Park

Early in the morning, a 4x4 jeep will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Kaudulla National Park. Collect the breakfast packets from the hotel reception.
Optional: If interested, you can experience one of the following sights on this day.
Elephant Back Ride: Elephant Back Safaris are one of the newest and most thrilling safari experiences in Sri Lanka. They use tamed elephants for riding. Elephant riding is a great opportunity to observe both wildlife and people's traditional lifestyle, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
Check in to Wasgamuwa Hotel.
In the evening, proceed to Wasgamuwa National Park and explore it.
Return to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at Wasgamuwa Hotel.

Day 04

Village Experience and Transfer to Colombo via Dambulla

Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to a nearby village to gain knowledge of Sri Lankan culture and cuisine (optional).
Transfer to Colombo via Dambulla.
Dambulla Cave Temple (optional).

This program can be slightly changed as per your arrival and departure time.

End of services!

Where this trip takes you

Wilpattu National Park willus, Minneriya National Park jeep safaris, Dambulla Cave Temple

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Katunayake 9 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Inclusions for the rate:

Accommodation in standard rooms on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner) at the hotels specified or of similar standard.
Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle from airport pickup to drop-off in Colombo (car or KDH van).
Services of a National Guide/Chauffeur-Guide.
Insurance cover for transport.

Value-added services:

One 500 ml bottled water per person during the tour.
Gift souvenirs.

What's Not Included

Exclusions for the rate:

Visa fees
Entrance fees for the sites/parks mentioned (National Park entrance fees: US$25 per adult; child aged 5 years to 11.99 years - US$15; below 5 years - FOC; safari jeep - from LKR 10,000 to 12,000)
Cost of beverages throughout the tour
Expenses of a personal nature
Tips and porterage
Any other services not specified above
Optional excursions and additional services could be provided, for which we will charge additionally.
Visits to wildlife parks will be at the client's own risk.
Available jeeps are very basic and include only basic insurance cover, not comprehensive insurance as in the case of vehicles used for tours.

What to bring

Protection from the sun (hat, cap, or suitable cover)
Camera equipment
An extra bottle of water

Know before you go

Do not get down from your safari jeep until the end of the tour.
Obey the instructions given by your guide/safari jeep driver.
Do not feed animals.
Do not try to touch animals.
Do not collect any plants or fauna.
WILPATTU NATIONAL PARK: Wilpattu National Park (Willu-pattu; Land of Lakes) is a park located on the island of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of "Willus" (natural lakes) - natural, sand-rimmed water basins or depressions that fill with rainwater. It is located in the northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka.
MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK: The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having originally been declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The reason for declaring the area protected is to protect the catchment of the Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area.
KAUDULLA NATIONAL PARK: Kaudulla National Park is a national park on the island of Sri Lanka, located 197 kilometres (122 mi) from the largest city, Colombo. It was designated a national park on April 1, 2002, becoming the 15th such area on the island. The best time to visit Kaudulla National Park is between August and December, with the population of elephants peaking at over 200 from September to October, following the period of the famous elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park. However, elephants can be seen in either one of these parks at any time of the year.
WASGAMUWA NATIONAL PARK: Wasgamuwa National Park was declared to protect and provide refuge for displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984. It was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s, the area was regarded as a strict nature reserve. Wasgamuwa is one of the protected areas where Sri Lankan elephants can be seen in large herds.