Nyika National Park

National Park · Malawi

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Photo © Ludger Heide

Photo © Ludger Heide — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the great plateau rolls toward the horizon in waves of montane grassland, broken by pockets of evergreen forest and granite outcrops, the high country reveals itself as one of Africa's most singular landscapes. This is a world shaped by a Cwb climate — mild, high-altitude and sharply seasonal, with a dry winter that strips the grasses to gold and a wet summer that greens them again. The terrain is open and immense: rolling hills, dambo wetlands threading the valleys, and patches of forest clinging to sheltered slopes and drainage lines. Wildlife follows this mosaic closely. Herds of large grazing mammals move across the open grassland, while small antelope and shy forest-dwelling mammals keep to the thicker cover. Birds of prey ride the updrafts above the escarpment, woodland and grassland songbirds fill the scrub, and the wetlands draw waterbirds and seasonal migrants. It is a landscape defined by altitude and openness rather than density of cover.

For photographers and birdwatchers, the appeal lies in that clarity of light and space. The dry winter months bring crisp air, low golden light and unobstructed views across the rolling grassland, ideal for tracking herds and raptors against a clean horizon. The wet summer transforms the plateau, drawing in migratory birds and concentrating wildlife around the dambos and drainage lines, though access becomes softer and more weather-dependent. Reaching this high ground requires a deliberate journey, and the reward is solitude: vast skies, dramatic cloudscapes and the chance to work a landscape where wildlife is observed at a respectful distance rather than crowded. Come prepared for cool nights and changeable mountain weather, and let the plateau set the pace.

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-winged Francolin

Scleroptila levaillantii

Coturnix coturnix

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Accipiter rufiventris

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Bar-tailed Trogon

Apaloderma vittatum

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Moustached Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Falco biarmicus

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-tailed Blue Flycatcher

Elminia albicauda

White-tailed Crested Flycatcher

Elminia albonotata

Corypha nigrescens

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Black-browed Mountain Greenbul

Arizelocichla fusciceps

Pycnonotus barbatus

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Hirundo rustica

Hirundo angolensis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Cecropis senegalensis

Phylloscopus trochilus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Black-lored Cisticola

Cisticola nigriloris

Churring Cisticola

Cisticola njombe

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica

Slender-billed Starling

Onychognathus tenuirostris

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-starred Robin

Pogonocichla stellata

White-chested Alethe

Chamaetylas fuelleborni

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Scarlet-tufted Sunbird

Nectarinia johnstoni

Eastern Miombo Sunbird

Cinnyris manoensis

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Euplectes capensis

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Estrilda astrild

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Anthus trivialis

Southern Citril

Crithagra hyposticta

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Yellow-browed Seedeater

Crithagra whytii

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Ciconia ciconia

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

African Black Swift

Purple-crested Turaco

Gallirex porphyreolophus

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Denham's Bustard

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Centropus senegalensis

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Centropus grillii

Chrysococcyx klaas

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Aplopelia larvata

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Striped Flufftail

Sarothrura affinis

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Ciconia abdimii

Western Cattle Egret

Scopus umbretta

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

White-backed Vulture

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

Stactolaema whytii

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Black-backed Barbet

Pogonornis minor

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Falco amurensis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Poicephalus meyeri

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

White-winged Black Tit

Melaniparus leucomelas

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Rufous-bellied Tit

Melaniparus rufiventris

Melaniparus griseiventris

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Grey-olive Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cerviniventris

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Neophedina cincta

Hirundo atrocaerulea

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Red-capped Crombec

Sylvietta ruficapilla

Mountain Yellow Warbler

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Evergreen Forest Warbler

Bradypterus lopezi

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Rock-loving Cisticola

Cisticola aberrans

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Wailing Cisticola

Levaillant's Cisticola

Cisticola tinniens

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Red-winged Prinia

Prinia erythroptera

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Chapin's Apalis

Brown-headed Apalis

Apalis alticola

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

African Hill Babbler

Sylvia abyssinica

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

African Spotted Creeper

Salpornis salvadori

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Waller's Starling

Onychognathus walleri

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

Turdus olivaceus

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Miombo Rock Thrush

Monticola angolensis

Saxicola rubetra

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Oenanthe familiaris

Anchieta's Sunbird

Anthreptes anchietae

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Cyanomitra olivacea

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Magpie Mannikin

Spermestes fringilloides

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Red-faced Crimsonwing

Cryptospiza reichenovii

Glaucestrilda perreini

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Dusky Indigobird

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus vaalensis

Anthus lineiventris

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Black-eared Seedeater

Crithagra mennelli

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

Papio cynocephalus

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Mesic Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys dilectus

Side-striped Jackal

Lupulella adusta

Crocuta crocuta

Hippotragus equinus

Oreotragus oreotragus

Southern Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

Tragelaphus oryx

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Sylvicapra grimmia

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Lepus saxatilis

Redunca redunca

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