Nyika National Park, National park on elevated plateau in northeastern Zambia.
Nyika National Park is a protected area on an elevated plateau near the Malawi border, covering approximately 80 square kilometers of varied terrain. The landscape alternates between grasslands, forests, and rolling hills shaped by its high elevation.
The area was established as a protected reserve during British colonial times, originally covering parts of both Zambia and Malawi. After independence in 1963, the original reserve was divided between the two nations along their new border.
The name Nyika comes from local languages describing elevated areas where water begins to flow, showing how the region's geography shaped its identity. Visitors can sense this connection between the landscape and its cultural meaning as they walk across the high plateau.
The park is only accessible from Malawi via the M14 road, with entry points at Chisenga and Katumbi. Direct access from the Zambian side is not possible, so visitors must cross the border.
The park contains the only example of the Southern Rift montane forest-grassland mosaic ecosystem found within Zambia. This rare combination of habitats makes the protected area scientifically and ecologically significant.
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