Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park

Nyika National Park

Nyika National Park is located in the far north of Malawi near the town of Mzuzu. It is wetter than surrounding areas and the wet season brings beautiful wildflowers and orchids into bloom. It is home to a variety of wildlife with horse riding and mountain biking safaris are a highlight.

Nyika National Park Highlights

Nyika National Park is the oldest and largest park in Malawi. It boasts spectacular scenery with blankets of wildflowers and more than 200 species of orchid, while it has an incredible diversity of wildlife. The Nyika National Park is situated on a scenic 2000m plateau offering breathtaking views of Lake Malawi as well as the expanse of the northern country.

Nyika National Park is characterised by scenic mountain landscapes and endless grasslands. Four rivers originate on the plateau and flow down into the surrounding forests creating beautiful waterfalls. Highlights in the park include the Juniper Forest, a particular area in the national park where a forest reserve has been proclaimed to protect the Juniperus procera, the southernmost species of the tree in Africa.

Another highlight is Jalawe rock which offers a spectacular viewpoint. The rock consists of a single piece of granite that stands out from the plateau with an incredible sheer drop of hundreds of meters on three sides.

Ready to Go on Safari?
Where to go icon
Tell us where you would like to visit.
Tailored solutions icon
We will work on some tailored solutions.
Safari icon
It's time for your safari! Bon Voyage!
Useful Information

This park on the Nyika Plateau is the largest in Malawi, and also the oldest, having been declared as a National Park in 1965. 'Nyika' means 'where the water comes from', referring to the plateau's elevation, making it wetter than surrounding areas.

This vast plateau is a perfect place for game drives, horseback riding and long walks through the forests and grass.

Streams and dams are stocked with trout - good news for keen fishermen - while game species such as eland, zebra, roan, waterbuck and the diminutive duiker roam the area.

Nyika National Park crosses over inoto Zambia, and the Zambian park keeps the same name. The only access to the park is through Malawi, and in the old days, there was no border post, merely a park fee for crossing over into Zambia.

Chelinda Lodge stands on the edge of pine forest, with panoramic views over the plateau, and is built entirely out of timber and stone collected from the plateau.

How to Get There

Malawi is primarily a driving destination and there is very little use of light air transfers. The country is very small and the roads have been well maintained, making for efficient and enjoyable road transport.

The primary international airport is in Lilongwe, the capital city, which is located in more or less the centre of the country. Sun Safaris will fly their guests into Malawi at Lilongwe International Airport from where they will connect with an arranged road transfer that will take them to their wildlife destination.

In other cases, Chileka International Airport, located 16km out of Blantyre, can be used as a domestic terminal for guests choosing to fly as close as possible to their destination in the south of Malawi.

Nyika is located in the far north of Malawi, about 480km from Lilongwe. Sun Safaris will arrange for a road transfer for guests from Lilongwe airport to their lodge in Nyika.

Nyika National Park Game Viewing and Activities

Activities at the camps and lodges in Nyika National Park conduct a diversity of activities that truly offer guests an experience of this beautiful landscape. Horse riding, mountain biking, forest walks and fly-fishing are available, alongside the more conventional 4x4 game drives.

The summer months offer a vibrant display of wildflowers, orchids, as well as incredible bird-watching, which tickles any twitcher's fancy with almost 400 recorded species in the park. These include the wattled crane, Denham's bustard, bar-tailed trogon and Auber buzzard, while the red-winged francolin is endemic.

Wildlife that can be seen in Nyika National Park includes eland, roan, zebra, warthog, hyena, leopard (of which it has the highest number in Central Africa), jackal and serval cats. About 100 mammalian species have been recorded in the park. Elephants and buffalo have been seen in the lower lying areas in the past, however, recently there have been sightings of lions and elephants up on the plateau.

Nyika National Park Price Guide Enquiry
More From Nyika National Park
Sun Safaris

Sun Safaris organises African & South American safaris, holidays and honeymoons. We are based in Cape Town, South Africa. Both continents are specialized and complex, yet exciting destinations. For this reason, Sun Safaris aims to help you make well-informed travel decisions by calling on our extensive knowledge and first-hand experience, providing you with up-to-date travel information, and to ensure all your enquiries and bookings are handled efficiently.

Find out More
About Us
Contact Us
PO Box 52160
Waterfront
8002
South Africa
Follow Us
Facebook Icon
Instagram Icon
Brett Thomson
Sun Safaris
Sun Safaris
Janelle Thirsk
Your digital guides
PayGate - online payments