Nyika National Park – Overview

Nyika National Park, Malawi’s largest national park, protects a vast highland plateau of rolling grassland and heather interspersed with indigenous forest and pine plantations. Very different in character from most other African parks, it is notable for its wild mountain scenery, immense horizons and thrilling sense of isolation. Although Nyika isn’t primarily a Big Five destination, a good amount of wildlife can be seen on game drives and guided walks, and birds and wildflowers are abundant.

Best Time To Go

November to May (More animals and pleasant temperatures)

High Season

July to October (Never busy, but high-season rates apply)

Size More info

3,134km² / 1,210mi²

Altitude More info

590-2,482m / 1,936-8,143ft

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Pros & Cons

• Beautiful mountain scenery
• Well-organized lodge and attractive cottages and campsite
• Activities include game drives, walks, mountain biking and fishing
• The only place in Malawi where leopards are regularly seen
• Common wildlife includes zebra, eland and roan antelope
• Superb bird watching includes a long list of local specials
• The remote highland location offers stunning night skies
• Very uncrowded and unspoiled
• Limited accommodations
• Not good for Big Five viewing
• Access and internal roads ideally require a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle
• Very cold in winter

Wildlife

Nyika NP is not a conventional wildlife destination. Although elephants inhabit the lower slopes of the plateau and lions occasionally cross over from Zambia, the only member of the Big Five encountered with any regularity is the leopard, which is quite often glimpsed on night drives. Crawshay’s zebra is abundant, and you should also see plenty of eland, roan antelope, bushbuck, common reedbuck, common duiker and warthog. Also look out for spotted hyena and side-striped jackal.

Scenery

Nyika Plateau is one of the largest areas of high montane (mountain) grassland left in Africa. The rolling grasslands are studded with gigantic granite domes and pockets of indigenous forest, while the exotic pine plantations evoke the Scottish Highlands. Of note is the abundance of wildflowers, especially the roughly 200 orchid species that flower in January and February, of which 11 are endemic to Nyika.

Activities

Guided game drives are offered by the lodge, but they can also be undertaken on a self-drive basis in a good 4x4 vehicle. Although the variety of large mammals is limited, the vast scenery offers a great opportunity to photograph zebra, eland and sable antelope in their natural habitat. Leopard, side-striped jackal, honey badger and other small carnivores are often seen on night drives. Guided walks and mountain biking are also on offer, as well as bird-watching excursions in the indigenous forest.

Weather & Climate

Due to its high altitude, Nyika Plateau (the area of the park accessible to tourists) has a temperate climate. Temperatures are relatively uniform throughout the year, but there is a peak in October/November before the rains arrive. The yearly rainfall occurs almost entirely during the Wet season (November to April). The Dry season (May to October) is colder, and from June to August it can be bitterly cold at night.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Nyika Plateau is during the warmer months, from November to May. At this time, fair weather makes morning and afternoon game drives more pleasant. This differs from other parks in the region because of the plateau’s high altitude and cold temperatures.

Want To Visit Nyika NP?

• Nyika Safaris & Tours
• Tour Operators for Nyika