Leopard Trails is situated just a few minutes from the entrance of Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s oldest and covering an area of 130,000 hectares. Our full and half day safaris were provided by a skilled driver and naturalist who helped us get the most out of our experience. Their knowledge and ability to spot animals was a key element to our fantastic experience. Drives were conducted using a 4×4 vehicle with raised and comfortable seating. which gave us a good viewing point.
There are six tents on the site, well spread apart and the small number of guests gave the camp a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Our luxury tent was vast inside and provided a comfortable queen sized bed, sofa, chairs and coffee table. Facilities included 2 air conditioning units, fan, tea and coffee making area, mosquito spray, fridge (with inclusive soft drinks) and ample filtered water in reusable bottles. The patio outside had 2 loungers, plus a bench seat with table. The overall footprint provided us with a simply luxurious space to rest and relax in between drives. The bathroom consisted of three separate areas (all within the confines of our tent). A toilet area (with door) utilising a flushable western toilet, a 2 sink wash area and a shower area (with hot and cold running water). The bathroom had a hairdryer and standard amenities kit e.g. toothbrush, soap but I’d like to see the single use plastic element here removed. Overall a great job is done to be environmentally friendly, refillable hand wash, shower gel, shampoo etc.
The camp worked on an all inclusive basis and breakfast, lunch and dinner were all superb. Fare was a mixture of western and Sri Lankan, served in style and wonderfully attentive staff catered for our every need. Dinner was served al fresco under gentle light from kerosene lamps and candle light, plus there is little light pollution in the area, so the stars are clearly visible. An evening dinner under a dark sky full of stars, meeting fellow travellers, whilst firefly danced around us was one of the highlights of this experience.
The camp has sandy paths leading to the tents, communal and dining areas, plus small ponds full of pink water lilies. Individuals with mobility issues may find this hard going, as well as the few steps around the camp. Going on drives will involve climbing in and out of the 4×4 or using the seat beside the driver (losing the height advantage). Whilst the staff have expressed their willingness to assist customers in any way practical, individuals should check carefully to ensure their particular needs can be met.
Thank you to all the staff for a superb experience during our two night stay, the complimentary night and upgrade, plus an outstanding level of customer service. Wild animals are just that and don’t appear to a timetable, thus every experience will be different, and we have no hesitation about staying with Leopard Trails again.
