Travelling to Malawi can sound like a lot of fun, but would it not sound better to travel to Malawi’s largest park – Nyika National Park for a holiday.
Nyika is Malawi’s largest park with an area of more than 3200 sq km. It extends across the great plateau which is essentially a granitic dome and its environment is like none other in the whole of Africa.
The name, Nyika, means “where the water comes from” and it is, indeed, one of Malawi’s most important catchment areas.
Visitors to the park are treated to views of over 400 species of birds, as well as antelope, warthog, bush pig, elephants, leopards and other small wild cats.
Accommodation
The Nyika National Park offers a beautiful, refurbished lodge called the Chelinda lodge which is located high on the Nyika Plateau within Nyika National Park, and overlooks a crystal-clear dam with panoramic views of rolling hills, isolated ridges and open high-altitude grassland.
The chalets come in four-room or six-room occupation, provided with a small kitchen, bathroom and living area.
Guests are offered the option of self-catering or having meals provided by Chelinda’s staff, and are given the option to go on a guided game drive or a self-drive game viewing.
Prices for the chalets begin at R3 540 per night and go as high as R3 900 per night – per person sharing.
Attractions and activities
Nyika is wonderful for trekking and mountain biking and, as well as more conventional 4×4 excursions.
Other attractions include waterfalls, the most impressive being Chisanga Falls where the North Rukuru river falls off the plateau to Thalire District, neolithic rock shelter, trout pools and even a “magic lake”.
A cool fact: the national park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on May 17, 2000 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category, it has not been confirmed as a world heritage site.
