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Chelinda Lodge, Nyika | Timbuktu Travel
Nyika

Chelinda Lodge

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!
Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024

About Chelinda Lodge

A cosy pine lodge in the highland hills of Malawi's Nyika Plateau
Chelinda Lodge in northern Malawi's Nyika National Park offers a one-of-a-kind African safari. The lodge sits 2300 metres above sea level (or 7590 feet), backs on to a large pine plantation and overlooks rolling grasslands dotted with herds of zebra, eland and roan. The landscapes are simply breathtaking. The lodge is run by Central African Wilderness Safaris (CAWS), a subsidiary, though now independent, of Wilderness Safaris, focused on high quality ecotourism in Malawi. Because of its altitude, temperatures can get chilly, though there's bound to be a log fire burning to keep you warm.
Nyika , Malawi
From $690 per person/per night
Safari
7 Rooms
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Property details

The property

The main lodge is reminiscent of a European ski lodge, built almost entirely of wood (with the exception of the stone bar) and warmly lit by no less than three fireplaces; one separates the lounge and dining room, while another forms the centrepiece of a second lounge. The atmosphere is cosy and convivial. Outside is a large wooden deck with panoramic views of the plateau, and stairs leading down to a counter and some bar stools; perfect for a sundowner.

The rooms

There are 7 double-storey chalets (including one family unit with two rooms) sleeping a total of 16 guests. Each wooden cabin has a spacious, open-plan bedroom with twin beds and a sitting area in front of a fireplace, which is lit for you on chilly evenings. Upstairs is basically another living area with a good view. En-suite bathrooms have both baths and showers, with steaming hot water supplied by the communal donkey-boiler.

Activities

The best way to experience Nyika is on foot with a professional guide; they'll open your eyes to an astonishing array of plants, from grasslands to Miombo woodland and natural forest, and walk you alongside herds of Crayshaw's zebra, roan antelope and eland. On game drives you can look forward to occasional sightings of elephant, hyena, leopard and side-striped jackal; and don't forget your binoculars as Nyika is a birding hotspot! A network of dirt tracks makes for exhilarating mountain bike missions, and fly fishing in the trout dam is a fun alternative.
Trips

Nyika Tours & Trips

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Malawi’s highlands & islands
Malawi

Malawi’s highlands & islands

8 nights from $4.1K per person

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How to book Chelinda Lodge

How do I book Chelinda Lodge?

Chelinda Lodge can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Malawi trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Malawi trips featuring Chelinda Lodge or get advice and suggestions from one of our Malawi specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Chelinda Lodge?

Stays at Chelinda Lodge start from around $690 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Chelinda Lodge

Malawi

Nyika National Park

Add something different to your trip with world-class walking and hiking in this bucolic plateau.