All this started as my friend Yasa a keen wildlife enthusiast and the CEO of a private restaurant chain were planning to open their newest outlet in Anuradhapura and from last October, every weekend both of us were in and out to Anuradhapura to find a suitable location with the help of their Project Manager who was stationed in A’pura and all the time we used to go to Wilpattu on return journey for just a half a day run.

Later when I met Yasa I asked him to get a booking to stay at least one night so we could see some Animals.

Last Sunday (11th) he called me and asked whether I would like to join him for a two night stay in Wilpattu commencing from Tuesday the 13th (Mahashivaratri Day) as he would once again go to A’pura to see the renovation part of their new venue.

In-fact I was thrilled and gave my concern then and there.

We started Colombo at about 7.00 in the morning. (Scheduled to leave bit early, but couldn’t) The crew was three on his KIA Sorento (me, Yasa and his capable driver Lal). The jeep was packed with rations for two night stay.

Since our main priority was to go to A’pura, we had breakfast in a place near Mundal and drove straight to A’pura. We reached A’pura around 11.00 am and were welcomed by his Project Manager and his crew. As my friend was engaged with some official discussions with the contractors I went to the A’pura town to do the last minute shopping.

Around 1.30pm we left A’pura to come to Wilpattu. His Project Manager also joined us to make the crew to 4. We bought lunch packs from A’pura and Veggie’s from Nochchiyagama since there wasn’t time to get the lunch cooked at the bungalow as it would take some time to reach the bungalow that was about 48Km from the main entrance.

The main points of interest inside the park. Note how far the Kokmote Bungalow from the entrance!

We entered the park at around 2.30pm with the Tracker Saman and just drove on the main road towards Kumbuk Villa hut to have our lunch. As it was a weekday only few vehicles was in the park and the park was more or less flooded due to previous week’s showers.

Kokmote Bungalow with our Vehicle

As we were not in a hurry to go to the bungalow, we just drove along the main road and near Ibban wala our Tracker spotted a huge sloth bear within couple of meters away feeding on something. We were very lucky to see a Bear at that time as usually Bear’s could be seen in early morning or late in the afternoon.

Bear near the Ibban wala

Bear near the Ibban wala

In the vicinity we saw a juvenile Samber feeding the lush green leaves and grass

After about 15 – 20 minutes the Bear went in to the jungle and we just drove to Kumbuk Villa to have our lunch.

It was around 3.30pm when we had our lunch and Saman said that we will proceed towards the Bungalow since we have to travel another 35 – 40 Km’s on the worst road with huge muddy pot holes in Wilpattu. (It is the furthest bungalow in the park, bordering Modaragan Aru). It is closer to Villachchiya – about 15 Km’s than to the Entrance – 48 Km’s from the Bungalow.

While enjoying the scenery and could see the road condition

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A lone Bull Elephant

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On the way to the bungalow, Saman (Tracker) said that there is a shortcut on the Kokmote road that could avoid the huge muddy pot holes but he is not sure the condition of it since it passes through two Villu’s and sometimes the road get submerged due to rain and that we could do a test run in the afternoon round.

We reached the Bungalow at around 4.30pm and had a quick was and instructed Indika the bungalow keeper/cook to prepare a basic dinner Dhal and Pol-sambol and Samon to go with “Poran Pann” brought from Nochchiyagama and did the afternoon run

As we were on the shortcut road we spotted a Leopard on the road but vanished into the thick undergrowth. We stayed there for some time to see whether it would come back and drove down to the villu in the vicinity and just parked the vehicle. Within minutes a herd of deer came running out from the jungle patch where the Leopard was but it didn’t come out. We stayed there for about an hour but no luck.

Then we drove down towards Panikka Villa and its surroundings, but no luck. (all the animals may have gone inside since there was ample water after the rain)

Sunset at Panikka Villa (from the Panikka Villa Bungalow side)

At around 6.30pm we came back to the Bungalow and had some refreshments and played Oomi till the dinner was ready.

Next day morning we left the Bungalow around 7.30am as it was very gloomy in the morning and drove down the shortcut road towards the villu’s but could see many animals.

Chestnut headed bee eater

Painted stork fishing on a road pool

.	The best captures so far

A lone bull Elephant at Panikka Villa

A lone bull Elephant at Panikka Villa

Stag at Kuda Pallassa

Clearing jungle road blocks (Tracker Saman in Orange T-shirt, Our Friend in Dark Blue Shirt and the Driver in stripped shirt)

Majestic Samba

After a long round, we came back to the bungalow around 11.30am and had B’fast and had a cool dip in the Modaragan Aru.

Modaragan Aru – little bit over flowing

Modaragan Aru – seen from the Bungalow

Saw near the Bungalow

It was late by the time we had our lunch and thought to do a quick round but unfortunately it started to rain and so we had to cancel the afternoon round.

The evening went on a pack of cards and had early dinner and played cards till bit late into the night in candle light since it was the last night on our trip. (Usually Bungalows has solar power electricity which could handle for about 5 hours, but the Batteries at Kokmote was week and could handle only for couple of hours).

At around 10.30pm we heard some noise from the entrance roadway and aimed our flashlights and saw a huge elephant approaching towards the bungalow. We just waited to see what he is going to do, but it turned towards the jungle within few meters to the bungalow and went away.

Next morning was our last day at the park, so we had our things packed and had an early Breakfast and left the bungalow. Our idea was to do a round before exiting the park.

We took the usual by-roads we travelled the last two days and approached the main road thinking to see a Leopard since we had seen other animals at least once in the trip. As we were driving on the main road we say a glimpse of a Leopard by the side of a bend near the Ibban Wala.

Finally, there he was….

Was there only for couple of seconds and vanished into the undergrowth. (Photo is bit out of focus since I didn’t had much time to focus)

At last we saw the Leopard and fulfilled our list and happily ended our trip and returned to Colombo at around 4.30pm