Chelinda Lodge
Nyika Plateau
Accommodation
Chelinda Lodge is situated in the highlands of the Nyika National Park in the north of Malawi – the only mountain biome with large game in South-Central Africa. The eye beholds vast expanses of grassy hills, all covered in orchids and wild flowers throughout the summer.
Chelinda Lodge offers six mountain chalets and a double/family chalet with its own kitchen. The chalets are double storey, with bedroom, lounge, bathroom and veranda on the ground floor, and a further ‘living area’ on the upper floor. Each room has its own comfortable bathtub, and a fireplace for those cold nights. Being at Chelinda Lodge is like being in the Swiss Alps – but without the snow and the ski lifts.
The main building is reminiscent of an observatory, except the round red tower houses a bar and not a telescope.
Location
The height of Nyika Plateau at 2300 m means it can get very cold. The journey from Lilongwe takes about 8 hours, and is usually planned in two parts. Alternatively, the lodge is accessible by air from Lilongwe in approx 2 hours, and from Likoma in one hour.
A pine forest stretches away behind the lodge. Before the area was declared a national park, plans were drawn up to turn the whole area over to the timber industry.
Wildlife
The grassy plateaus are home to roan and eland antelope, Crawshay’s zebra, reedbuck, bushbuck and bush pigs, not to mention jackal, hyena and even leopard – the latter three, however, are only spotted in the presence of lady luck. This camp is a veritable paradise for bird lovers; the plateau and its neighbouring areas are home to approximately 400 species of bird, including several endemic species.
Activities
The plateau’s rolling hills are explored in closed off-road vehicles. The vehicles’ roof hatches open upwards allowing photographs to be taken while standing up, or through the side windows.
Guided walks in the indigenous forests are very exciting. A whole kingdom of birds awaits discovery as soon as one steps into the forests’ semi-darkness. The surrounding hills may be explored alone on foot.
Chelinda Lodge on the map
Learn more about these areas
Lake Malawi
Liwonde National Park
