Celinda Camp Malawi

Chelinda Camp offers accommodation for 28 guests in addition to camping facilities.

There are six en suite twin rooms available on a full board basis. Half the rooms have showers and the other half baths.

There are four self-contained cottages available for self-catering groups. Each cottage sleeps four people in two twin rooms with a bathroom, living room and kitchen. There is an attendant in each cottage who cleans (and cooks if you wish).

Should you require an extra bed or baby cot this can be arranged. Please note, however, that both of these are limited in numbers.

Restaurant

The restaurant/bar complex overlooking the Chelinda Dam offers breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as morning coffee and afternoon tea. There is a set menu at each meal, but if you have any special requirements then please advise on booking. Packed lunches are available on request.

The licensed bar is open from 08.00 am till late and offers a full selection of beverages.

The camp lighting is powered by a generator that is on from dusk until 10.00 pm. Candles are available in the rooms. There are usually Nyika candles for sale in the shop for those staying in the self-catering chalets.

Laundry

There is a well-stocked shop at the reception, including maps and guidebooks to the park.

Fuel

Fuel is usually available at the pumps in the main compound on the other side of the dam, but is subject to availability during the rainy season. The pumps are open at the following times:

Daily Activities

Gamedrives Morning or Afternoon (2 - 3 hours)
Walks Morning or Afternoon (2 - 3 hours)
All Day Drives
Nightdrives (1 – 2 hours)
Horseriding per hour or all day
Mountainbiking
Troutfishing
Scenic Flights

You are able to walk and drive freely in your own vehicles from the camp during daylight hours, but please do NOT drive off the roads as this damages the grasslands. To obtain the most out of your visit a little local knowledge is a distinct advantage and our staff are very happy to advise on the best routes.

Night drives

Please do not drive in your own vehicle after dark as it is against the regulations of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

Horse riding

All horse riding operates from the Mbawala Stables situated 2 km from Chelinda Camp. Rides are available from 1 hour to all day rides. Please book at the reception well in advance. There are horses to suit all levels of rider and hardhats are available if required. All rides are accompanied by two members of staff for safety reasons.

Mountainbiking

Mountain bikes are available for hire from the reception on an hourly or daily basis. On day trips a guide MUST accompany all parties and it is advisable that a guide accompanies short rides as well in case there are any problems with the bicycles (i.e. punctures).

Troutfishing

The rivers and dams were stocked with rainbow trout 35 years ago. We have rods available for hire. Fishing licences and fishing flies can also be purchased at the Reception. The rivers and dams are open all year, but Dams 2 and 3 are on catch and release. The bag limit is six fish per day per rod elsewhere.

Scenic Flights

Chelinda has their own Cessna 206 aircraft positioned at Chelinda and are able to offer scenic flights (minimum half and hour) for up to 5 people. This is a wonderful way to view the Nyika from a completely different perspective. It gives you an idea of the immense scale of the Park taking you over areas normally inaccessible on the ground. If you are interested in experiencing this “bird's eye” view of the Nyika.

Places of Interest

There are many places of interest that can be visited on a morning or afternoon drive. As well as being of scenic interest they all offer good game viewing opportunities.

The plantation around the camp is a 542 ha stand of experimental pulpwood pines Pinus patula and Pinus elliottii. Bushbuck and leopard shelter in the forest and the augur buzzard with its distinctive red tail can be spotted perched high in the trees. There are a number of tracks through the plantation which can be driven or walked, but please stick to these tracks as it is easy to get lost.

Dam 2 is a short 15 minute walk from the camp with Dam 3 being a further 30 minutes. Both dams are excellent areas to watch for wildlife. During the rains there are numerous species of orchids to be found in the surrounding we areas. These dams are also stocked for trout fishing so please do not swim in them.

Chosi is 12 kms south west of Chelinda and affords pleasant panoramic views of the plateau. It is the nearest viewpoint to Chelinda and from there you can get a good idea of the size of the park. A visit to Lake Kaulime can be combined with Chosi.

This small lake is 8 kms west of Chelinda just off the main entrance road. It is the only naturally occurring lake on the plateau and is surrounded in mystery. Though only 1.3 ha at high water mark, an oral tradition holds that the lake is home to a powerful spirit, which takes the form of a great serpent. Even if the serpent does not appear it is a quiet place to wait for animals to come and drink. Roan antelope regularly come to eat the waterweed.

Other places of interest require more time to visit and are ideal for a day drive with a picnic lunch.

This bridge over the Chelinda River is 17 kms south of Chelinda and is a great spot for fishing. A 1.5 km walk downstream brings you to the beautiful 10 m high falls and above the bridge is Chelinda Hill, an excellent place for aloes and sunbirds.

11 kms east of Chelinda, the Dembo Bridge is another good area for fishing and above the river stands Mpopoti Peak. You need to walk the last 1 km to the peak as the track is in very poor condition. From the top there are marvellous views down the North Rumphi Valley to the distant village of Chakaka. In the wet season you may even see elephants as they traverse through the valley from the northern areas to the Mwenembwe Forest on the eastern escarpment.

At 2606 m this is the highest point of the Nyika and on clear days offers excellent views across Lake Malawi to the Livingstone Mountains in Tanzania. It is 29 kms from Chelinda, but the last 4 kms of the track from the main road junction are in poor condition and require a vehicle with a high ground clearance. It takes 30 minutes to climb to the summit from the end of the track. You are NOT permitted to drive this as it causes erosion and seriously damages the grassland.

Jalawe is 34 kms from Chelinda and also offers views eastwards to the Lake. It is a 1 km walk from the end of the track to the top of the rock. Please do not attempt to drive this last section. Please also take care when climbing the rock. From the top, eagle eyed visitors can spot elephant and buffalo far beneath you in the miombo woodland 1000 m below. You do need binoculars!! Klipspringer are also regularly seen.

Domwe is on the northwest edge of the plateau 29 kms from Chelinda. Perched on the edge of the western escarpment looking across Zambia you may feel you are on top of the world. This is a good place to see various birds of prey as they use the thermals to soar above the plateau.

Nganda, Jalawe and Domwe are on the same circuitous route so a combination of two or three can be done in a day.

15 kms west of Chelinda are many relic evergreen sub montane forest patches that are very rich in flora and fauna. Zovo Chipolo is the largest of these (12 ha) on the Malawian side of the road and there is a well marked walking trail through the forest. This is a top spot for forest birds and mammals. The trail is only 2 kms long, but many hours can be spent in the forest, as you require patience and silence to see the forest creatures.

Nearby are Chowo and Manyenjere Forests on the Zambian side, which are also worth a visit.

A further 8 kms past Zovo Chipolo is a footpath clearly marked to the spectacular Chisanga Falls. Here the North Rukuru River cascades over the western escarpment for 500 feet in a series of secluded falls. The walk down to the top of the falls takes approximately 45 minutes and an hour to return. You need to be reasonably fit to do the walk. There is, however, a very rough track only suitable for 4 x 4 vehicles down to the river, from where you can walk downstream until you reach the falls.

This huge conical rock rises 60 m out of the surrounding miombo woodland and can be seen from most places in the park. It is 22 kms south of Chelinda, but again the last 4 kms of the track are very rough. Halfway up the eastern side of the rock is a large overhang, which was used as a shelter in the late Stone Age period 3000 years ago. There are some rock paintings, but they are very weathered so difficult to see. Please do not touch them.

This viewpoint is 43 kms from Chelinda on the eastern edge of the plateau. It is frequently in cloud, but if not then Lake Malawi can be seen as well as the famous Livingstonia Mission. Directly below is the Mwenembwe Forest. A visit to Kasaramba can be combined with the Juniper Forest.

This is a unique 20 ha relic and is the most southerly stand in Africa of naturally occurring Juniperus procera in Africa. This area was first declared a forest reserve in 1948. The trees are recognized by their red wood and their enormous height with some reaching 35 m. There is a short walking trail through the forest. It is 50 kms from Chelinda, but the last section of the road is normally in very poor condition. Much smaller Juniper trees can be seen at the Chelinda Falls and downstream from the North Rukuru Bridge.

Accommodation