සොබාදහම Nature: 2014

Date - 15.12.2013

Days - 2 days one night

Crew
Between 5-35 years of age (16 Persons)

Vehicles

ISUZU Big Horn
2 Mitsubishi 4dr5

Accommodation

1^st day at Wilpaththu (Rest housed and family cottages you can find at near the entrance)

Transport

To Wilpaththu – Kandy >Kurunegala>Padeniya Junction>Galgamuwa>Thabuthtegama>Wilpaththu
Inside Wilpaththu - Hunuwilla Entarnce > KudiraMalai Point > KuweniPlace > and return Route

Events

Pilgrimage
Wildlife
Photography
off-road driving

Weather

Dry Weather

Roads

Good road condition to Wilpatthu (Highway) and

Offroad inside the national park

You have to get the permission (Tickets) from Wild Life Department at the entrance.

Important when Travelling (vehicles)

it is better to use Jeeps/Land rover or Similar vehicles.
4WD is must
Mechanical Jack
A belt polyester
Extra Fuel Tank
Extra Battery
Tool Kit
Torch
Any other relevents

Important when Travelling (Crew)

Enough Water Bottles

About Wilpaththu

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. Located in the Northwest coast lowland dry zone of Sri Lanka. The park is located 30 km west Anuradhapura and located 26 km north of Puttalam (approximately 180 km north of Colombo). The park is 131, 693 hectares and ranges from 0 to 152 meters above sea level. Nearly sixty lakes (Willu) and tanks are found spread throughout Wilpattu. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu is among the top national parks world renowned for its Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) population. The Leopard population in Wilpattu is still not yet known.

Reference - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilpattu_National_Park

Flora

There are many types of vegetation to be found in Wilpattu; Littoral vegetation, including Salt grass and low scrub monsoon forest with tall emergents, such as Palu (Manilkara hexandra), and Satin (Chloroxylon swietenia), Milla (Vitex altissima), Weera (Drypetes sepiaria), Ebony (Disopyros ebenum) and Wewarna (Alseodaphne semecapriflolia).

Faun

31 species of mammals have been identified within Wilpattu national park. Mammals that are identified as threatened species living within the Wilpattu National Park are the elephant (Elephas maximus), Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) and water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Sambhur, spotted deer, mongoose, mouse and shrew are more of Wilpattu's residents.

Birds

The painted stork, the open bill, little cormorant, Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii) along with many species of owls, terns, gulls, eagles, kites buzzards are to be found at Wilpattu National Park. Wetland bird species that can be senn in Wilpattu are the Garganey (Anas querquedula), Pin tail (Anas acuta), Whistling teal (Dendrocygna javanica), Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), White ibis (Threskiornis malanocephalus), Large white egret (Egretta alba modesta), Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and Purple heron (Ardea purpurea).

Reptiles

The most common reptiles found in the park are the Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis), Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Common cobra (Naja naja), Rat snake (Ptyas mucosus), Indian python (Python molurus), Pond turtle (Melanonchelys trijuga) and the Soft shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata) who are resident in the large permanent Villus.

Reference - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilpattu_National_Park