Dynamite comes in small packages and despite being one of Africa’s smallest countries, Malawi offers visitors a variety of unique experiences. Despite being most associated with going on a safari or diving in the crystal-clear waters of one of Africa’s major Rift Valley lakes, the northern region of Malawi also has a couple of unexpected and lesser-known gifts up its sleeve.
The image of high-altitudinal green rolling grasslands shrouded in a layer of fine mist is typically associated with countries like Scotland, but in the north of Malawi sitting 2 000 metres above sea level, lies Nyika National Park. The habitats found in this unique environment is like none other in Africa and often leaves visitors in awe of the beauty that it holds.
A Challenge Awaits
As Malawi’s largest national park, gaining access to the far-flung reaches of this vast area can prove to be a challenge and today, Peace Parks Foundation’s Counter-Poaching Coordinator in Nyika, Norman English, is making it his mission to get to the north of Nyika. But as he leaves camp, he is faced with his first challenge ¬– crossing the Rumphi. It seems this rising river has made it impossible to cross, so with the help of additional hands, a bridge is soon completed using logs and a lot of manpower.
These men have been employed from the local communities that surround the park, and the income earned from working here go a long way in lifting them and their families out of poverty.
With 4×4 mode activated, Norman makes his way up the tricky terrain to the top of the valley where he gets a panoramic view of the park.
The Place Of Water
Nyika, means “where the water comes from” and as the name suggests, it is one of Malawi’s most important catchment areas. The park contributes a whopping 10% of the water that flows into Lake Malawi. The conservation of Lake Malawi is vitally important and is widely regarded as the most biologically important freshwater lake in the world due to the diversity of aquatic life found there. Further to this, at least 9 million people are directly dependent on the lake for their livelihood through access to water, transport, recreation, electricity, irrigation, and most importantly, fish.
Why Visit Nyika?
The montane vegetation in Nyika National Park attracts a large array of wildlife including duiker, eland and roan, as well as having a high density of leopard and hyena. Not only is it great for a unique safari experience, but birders are known to flock to the park with over 400 species having been recorded here. This includes some special species like the rare Denham’s bustard, wattled crane and the red-winged francolin which is endemic to Nyika.
Nyika is an adventurer’s playground and offers those in search of movement some great trekking and mountain-biking routes. Just make sure to have your binoculars and camera on hand, as you never know what special fauna or flora you might come across.
To protect this precious and unique wilderness area, Peace Parks Foundation and partners have continued to ensure the protection of Nyika and the conservation of its incredible habitat.
