Visit Nyika Plateau, Malawi

After a couple of years in the tourist wilderness due to government red tape, the Nyika Plateau is back as one of the highlights of any trip to Malawi.

Wilderness Safaris have recently won the rights to the concession, meaning you will be guaranteed high standards of service and accommodation for your stay in this special place.

Averaging over 2,000 metres in altitude, Malawi's largest national park provides visitors with a completely different experience of Africa. The Nyika Plateau is gently undulating and covered in montane grassland, interspersed with endemic herbs and heathers. It can be a cool and refreshing haven after a hot safari or a relaxing start to a trip around Malawi.

The breathtaking scenery, almost reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, is the park's greatest asset, but game watching is also enjoyable and rewarding. There are almost 100 mammal species, including Burchell's zebra, leopard, roan antelope, eland and hyena, while the presence of hundreds of species such as wattled crane make it a birder's paradise.

The open landscapes of the plateau make for easy viewing all year round, with horse riding safaris a major attraction. Visitors to the park will invariably stay at Chelinda, which also operates a stable to suit all levels of horse riders.

It is definitely possible to get much closer to animals such as zebra and roan on horseback than it is on foot or in a vehicle, and the scenery somehow seems more striking from this viewpoint.

You can additionally explore the area with a guide or independently on game drives, walks and mountain bikes.