Malawi : Nyika Plateau

The Nyika Plateau is a unique area of rolling montane grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see. It is an extraordinary area with pine plantations and huge numbers of plains game such as eland, (herds of up to 300 in the summer), roan antelope (the highest concentration in Africa), zebra, reedbuck, bushbuck, klipspringer, three species of duiker (red, grey and blue), warthog, bushpig and blue monkey.

Nyika is known for its rich and diverse flora. Amateur botanists will find the park highly rewarding in the summer months (November to March), when the wild flowers come into bloom. Particularly noteworthy are the 200 orchid species that have been recorded, at least 12 of which are unique to the park.

Birders, too, will find much to interest them at Nyika. This is one of the best places in Africa to see the localised wattled crane, Denham's bustard and mountain marsh widow. Remnant forest patches support a number of rare residents including the exquisite bar-tailed trogon. In all, some 400 bird species have been recorded in the park, including four endemic subspecies.

Chelinda Lodge
Chelinda Lodge reminds one of an alpine village rather than an African lodge, huge log cabins with sitting rooms and roaring fires, which are needed most of the year as it can get pretty cold in the evenings, even heavy frosts in the winter months. Chelinda is a great base to go out on walking or cycling safaris and camp out in mobile camps or just explore on day trips from the lodge. There are also a number of dams, which are stocked with trout for any fishermen.

Nyika is best known for its riding safaris for day after day you can explore the remotest regions of this 3,000 sq km wilderness. Follow Elephant trails down secluded steep sided valleys, trot with the herds of Eland, Roan, and Zebra, canter the edge of 1,500 ft high escarpments and gallop across the rolling hills of the plateau. On the Nyika you are riding on top of the world. All levels of riders can ride up here, you can get so close to the game and go out for a whole day or just a couple of hours.

This is a unique area to explore and take in the views and really the game is an added bonus, it's definitely well worth a visit, as you won't see the likes of it anywhere else in Africa.

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zebra	cycling safari	horse riding	Chelinda Lodge