Wasgamanuwa national park is located in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts of Sri Lanka. As early back as 1938 the park was nominated as a nature reserve. However, in 1984 when the Mahaweli Development Project was underway, the Park was designated as a reserve to protect the wildlife that was displaced as a result of developments. The park is one of the most protected areas for wildlife and a haven for wild elephants that can be seen in herds. The name “Wasgamuwa” came about by the words “Walas Gamuwa.” “Walas” means sloth bear in Sinhala and “Gamuwa” meaning wood.
Situated 225 kms from Colombo, the park can be reached through Kandy. Visitors need to turn off at Hasalaka which is on the Kandy Mahiyangana Road and then proceed through Wilgamuwa.
If you are travelling to Wasgamuwa, one needs to indulge in the wildlife safaris. Wasgamuwa is famous for its sloth bears and wild elephants. Wasgamuwa has a vast expanse of land, but is the least visited park by tourists who visit Sri Lanka. Safaris come in three varieties, one in the morning, in the evening or a full day safari can be arranged. Safaris are conducted by experienced guides who will explain every bit of the park to visitors. It is recommended that visitors indulge in the full day safari, when visitors will be able to witness a wide range of fauna and flora and cover most of the park’s beauty it has to offer.
Wildlife other than elephants and sloth bears includes the purple faced langur monkeys, wild boar, sambar and spotted deer and buffalo. If you are lucky you will be able to sight leopards and may be sloth bears. Reptiles include the water monitor, mugger crocodile, estuarine crocodile and the python.
