Wilpattu is Sri Lanka’s largest National Park, and only reopened to tourists in 2010. Within the park, you find leopard, elephant, jackal, sloth bear, spotted dear, sambar, buffalo and mongoose, alongside a host of smaller mammals. Birdlife is varied, and include painted stalk, cormorant and hornbill among others. Leopard sightings are on the increase but are not as common as Yala National Park, but the wildlife experience is better in many ways because you see fewer other vehicles. Game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon.