CHELINDA LODGE
Welcome to the Nyika National Park.
Chelinda Lodge consists of eight cabins, each with a central dining area and two floors made entirely of timber, log and stone. The cabins are connected by walkways and main building has a dining room, lounge, reception and curio shop. Catering is to high standards including English breakfasts, cold lunches, 3 course dinners, coffee and tea anytime. All safari activities are led by experienced guides.
Daily Activities
- Gamedrives
- Nightdrives
- Walks
- Mountainbiking
- Flyfishing
- Horseriding
- Scenic Flights
As well as morning or afternoon safaris we can take a picnic lunch and spend all day out.
Mountainbiking
There are numerous wonderful routes around Chelinda for mountainbiking. These range from a short trip around the pine forest (12 kms) to longer trips to Chosi Peak (17 kms) or all day trips up to 50 kms.
Troutfishing
The rivers and dams were stocked with rainbow trout 35 years ago. We have rods available for use. A daily fishing licence costs US$4 and flies are on sale at US$1 each. 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.
Horseriding
All horseriding operates from the Mbawala Stables situated 3 kms from Chelinda Lodge. Rides are available from 1 hour to all day rides. There are horses to suit all levels of rider, and hard hats are available if required. All rides are accompanied by two members of staff for safety reasons. There is an extra cost for horseriding unless you are specifically booked on a horse safari.
Scenic Flights
The lodge has their own Cessna 206 aircraft positioned at Chelinda and are able to offer scenic flights (minimum half 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.
Fireplaces
The room attendants will light your fires in your rooms in the early evening, but if you would like a fire during the day please just ask.
Lighting
The lighting in the Lodge is powered by a generator that is on from dusk until the last guest goes to bed! After the generator is switched off there are candles in your rooms.
Laundry
A daily laundry service is available. Please leave your laundry in the baskets provided in the bathroom. We will endeavour to return your laundry the same day (depending upon weather conditions!).
Reference Books
There is a limited selection of reference books in your room and a more extensive library in the main lodge. Please do not remove these books from the Lodge. However, we are very happy for you to take away a copy of the Classic Retreats brochure, our own brochure and any other brochures of other Lodges and Camps we might have on display.
Personal Items
If you have any valuables that you would like to be locked up then please hand them into reception. However, we regret that the company cannot be held responsible for any theft or loss of items during your stay.
Curio Shop
There is a well stocked shop at the reception, including maps and guidebooks to the Park.
Fuel
If you have your own vehicle, fuel is normally available for sale at our workshops.
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.
• Chelinda Pine Plantation
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.
• Little and Big Mwenyenyezi (or Dam 2 and 3!)
Dam 2 is a short 15 minute walk from the Lodge 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 wet areas. These dams are also stocked for trout fishing so please do not swim in them.
• Chosi Peak
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.
• Lake Kaulime
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.
• Chelinda Bridge and Falls
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.
• Dembo Bridge and Mpopoti Peak
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.
• Nganda Peak
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 Rock
Jalawe is 34 kms from Chelinda and also offers views north 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 Viewpoint
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.
• Zovo Chipolo Forest
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 visit to Zovo Chipolo can be combined with Chisanga Falls.
• Chisanga Falls
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.
• Fingira Rock
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.
• Kasaramba
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.
• 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.
KAZUNI SAFARI CAMP
Kazuni Safari Camp is fully catered with four grass huts under thatch with ensuite showers and flush toilets. Kazuni Camp is a self catering bush camp with five grass huts and a central ablution block. There is a campsite as well. Both camps overlook Lake Kazuni where it is possible to see elephant, buffalo, kudu, impala and hippo as well as a large variety of birds. It makes a great combination with the Nyika, as it is such a contrast!
The camp is only 18 kms off the Chelinda – Rumphi road.
There is also an airstrip 1 km from the Camp. Charter flights are available to this airstrip.
If you are interested in visiting please ask the management for details or contact: