Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at every turn, complemented by lush wildlife photography on the walls, glittering chande-
liers and very comfy couches.
After a day's hiking or biking settle back for the communal candlelit dinner, or train
your binoculars on the opposite valley for passing zebra. No less enchanting are their
Swiss-style timber chalets with roaring fires, wood floors, clawed baths and hot water
bottles in beds! Chelinda's elevated views are best enjoyed at dawn when the surrounding
grasslands are cloaked in blue mist that seems to possess a magical life of its own. Bliss.
BUNGALOW
Chelinda Camp $$$
(
01-771393;
www.wilderness-safaris.com
; Nyika National Park; chalets US$160;
)
Nestled into the lee of a valley beside a small lake, Chelinda Camp (run by Wilderness
Safaris) is insanely picturesque. Its bungalows have an unfussy '70s aspect to them and
are ideal for families, with decent self-catering facilities, cosy sitting rooms and stone fire-
places.
Keep your eyes peeled for leopards drinking at the lake come dawn (and ask to see their
claw marks on one of the chalet walls!). Reception and a highly atmospheric restaurant
are but a few yards away.
Getting There & Away
Despite most maps showing otherwise, there is no road of any sort between Chelinda and
Livingstonia or any other town on the eastern side of the plateau. Getting to the park by
public transport can be a bit of an ordeal, so it's much easier if you can hire wheels in Li-
longwe. Wilderness Safaris can also organise transfers here from their base in Lilongwe as
can Ulendo Travel Group (
Click here
)
.
Air
Charter flights from Lilongwe to Nyika are now operating through Ulendo Airlink, the
aviation wing of Ulendo Travel Group (
Click here
)
, and cost US$500 each way, per per-
son.
Bicycle, Bus & Car
It's possible to bring a mountain bike into Nyika and you can cycle the 60km from Thazi-
ma (pronounced and sometimes spelled Tazima) Gate to Chelinda, but an early start is re-
commended due to the distance.
