Nyika National Park

Nyika is Malawi’s largest park, often compared to wilderness areas found in Europe. Nyika has the added attractions of being inhabited by large numbers of game and, at times, sitting above the clouds.

The name, Nyika, means “where the water comes from” and it is, indeed, one of Malawi’s most important catchment areas.  It is perhaps at its best in the rainy season when over 200 types of orchid are in bloom, the richest concentration of orchids in south-central Africa. 

The park is home to a diverse array of wildlife including large numbers of antelope, from the diminutive duiker to roan and eland. During the breeding season, both the roan and eland gather into herds as large as any seen across Africa. Zebra are common and bushbuck are regularly seen outside the only lodge in the park, Chelinda Lodge. The park has one of the highest densities of leopard in central Africa and there are good sightings particularly in the forest behind the lodge. 

This is also a birdwatchers paradise with over 400 species recorded. The rare Denham’s bustard and the wattled crane are among those to be seen, as are the red-winged francolin – endemic to Nyika.

Nyika is wonderful for trekking and mountain biking as well as more conventional 4×4 excursions and safaris.