Nyika Plateau

The Nyika Plateau is in the far north of the country and is a unique area of rolling montane grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see.

It is an extraordinary area with pine plantations and huge numbers of plains game such as eland (herds of up to 300 in the summer), roan antelope (the highest concentration in Africa), zebra, reedbuck, bushbuck, klipspringer, three species of duiker (red, grey and blue), warthog, bushpig and blue monkey. The plateau is known for its rich and diverse flora, and amateur botanists will find the park highly rewarding in the summer months (November to March), when the wild flowers come into bloom. It’s also a great area for birders: this is one of the best places in Africa to see the localised wattled crane, Denham's bustard and mountain marsh widow, and remnant forest patches support a number of rare residents including the exquisite bar-tailed trogon.

Did you know?

• You can find herds of over 300 Eland in the summer months.
• There are some of the highest numbers of roan antelope in Africa on the plateau.
• You can find over 80 species of wild orchid.
• There is persistent moisture from the mist and this ensures a perfect environment for flowers and plant species.
• It’s a birdwatchers paradise with over 400 species recorded.
• Nyika has one of the largest populations of leopard in Central Africa.
• It’s a great place for mountain biking.