尼卡国家公园(Nyika National Park)海拔常年维持在2000米以上,最高点恩甘达峰(Nganda Peak)达到2605米,这让它成了马拉维甚至整个中非环境最独特的地方。这里没有非洲常见的稀树草原和酷热,取而代之的是连绵起伏的绿色丘陵、深邃的森林山谷和清凉甚至有些凛冽的高原空气。作为马拉维建立于1965年的首座国家公园,它3200平方公里的广阔腹地里藏着非洲密度极高的花豹种群,还有像苏格兰高地一样的荒原景色。
尼卡高原(Nyika Plateau)的景观会让人产生身处欧洲北部的错觉。这种独特的 Afro-montane(非洲山地)生态系统在整个大陆都不多见。由于地势极高,这里的气候和山下完全是两个世界。就算在最热的10月份,山上的平均气温也就21摄氏度左右,到了6月到8月的冬季,夜晚气温会降到零下,清晨推开营地房门常能看到草地上挂着霜。去之前一定要带上厚实的防风外套和抓绒衣,清晨六点半出发时冷到需要抱着热水杯才能缓过劲来。
名字 Nyika 在当地语里意思是“水来源地”,这片高原是马拉维北部最重要的水源涵养地。高原上分布着大大小小的溪流和天然水库,这种湿润的环境造就了极其丰富的植物多样性。除了草场,山谷里还零星分布着常绿森林,这些残存的森林是许多特有鸟类的避难所。这种清冷、孤独且空旷的美感,是去惯了常规游猎景点的旅行者最迷恋它的地方。
尼卡是马拉维观察花豹(Leopard)的最佳地点。这里的花豹密度在非洲中部名列前茅,而且由于高原视野开阔,在晨昏时分遇到这些大猫的概率很高。不同于其他公园,由于这里基本没有狮子出没,旅行者被允许在向导陪同下进行徒步游猎。这种直接用双脚丈量土地的体验比坐在越野车里要刺激得多。走在起伏的丘陵间,你可能会与成群的伊兰羚羊(Eland)、罗安羚羊(Roan Antelope)或斑马撞个满怀,这里的克劳希斑马(Crawshay's Zebra)身上布满了细密的条纹,非常漂亮。
如果你喜欢骑行,尼卡是少数几个可以进行山地自行车游猎的国家公园。在海拔两千多米的高度蹬车确实是个体力活,但当你俯冲下坡,风从耳边呼啸而过,两旁是受惊跑开的羚羊群,那种自由感是无与伦比的。对于垂钓爱好者,切林达(Chelinda)附近的坝区可以钓到彩虹鳟鱼,只要在办事处办好许可证就能一试身手。
植物爱好者通常会选在1月到2月的雨季来访。这时的尼卡变成了名副其实的云端花园,超过200种野生兰花竞相开放,其中有11个品种是尼卡独有的。虽然雨季的泥泞路面让驾驶变得困难,但漫山遍野的野花、普罗蒂亚(Protea)和剑兰绝对对得起那份颠簸。如果你的主要目标是动物摄影,那么5月到10月的旱季更合适,草长得没那么高,动物会集中在水源地附近。
去尼卡的路不算好走。从首都里朗威(Lilongwe)开车过来大约需要480公里,通常先要到姆祖祖(Mzuzu)补给,那里是进入北部前最后的大型城镇。从姆祖祖再开约130公里到达伦皮(Rumphi),最后的60公里山路是真正的挑战。一定要租一辆四驱车(4x4),普通的轿车几乎不可能爬上通往塔齐马大门(Thazima Gate)的陡坡。入园费是每人每天10美元,车辆还会根据载重收取小额费用。
住宿方面,切林达(Chelinda)是核心区域。那里有条件极好的木屋别墅,也有相对平价的自助式营地。这里的切林达营地(Chelinda Camp)房间里都有火炉,每天晚上工作人员会帮你点燃木柴。在没有网络信号的夜晚,听着火苗噼啪作响,窗外是偶尔传来的鬣狗叫声,这才是真正的非洲旷野体验。
国际游客的成人门票价格为每人每天10美元,持有居留许可的外国人为7美元。除了人头费,私人车辆进入还需支付大约3到15美元不等的车辆费,具体取决于车型重量。
如果你想看野生兰花和最绿的高原景色,建议在1月至2月前往。如果是为了游猎和避开雨季泥泞的道路,5月至10月的旱季是最佳窗口,此时天空晴朗,气温适宜,但记得晚上非常冷。
非常有必要。虽然旱季理论上普通车可能勉强到达大门,但进入公园后通往切林达的60公里土路崎岖不平且有陡坡,雨季更是湿滑不堪。为了安全和通行效率,必须使用高底盘的四驱车辆。
尼卡没有狮子和犀牛,因此不具备完整的五霸。但这里有极高密度的花豹,水牛和非洲象虽然存在但由于高原地形复杂,并不像在平原公园那样随处可见,需要耐心寻找。
Mervis Mwai Maigwa The biggest park in Malawi, and obviously the best. You don't want to miss this while in Malawi. Use a 4×4 Car...
Yi-Hsuan It was really nice, we saw zebras, various kind of antelopes, hare, owls, monkeys and some different animals on the plateau. The lodge and the tour is all pretty nice. We tried the walking tour, car tour and bike tour, all are really worth it. Hope to came again.
Kay de Silva We camped at the Chelinda campsite. It was incredible, Watson our camp host was fantastic and our walking guide was so knowledgeable on the area. I loved camping here and would recommend it highly and come again. Staff on site and at the reception were fantastic. It was nice to have a shaded camp spot with picnic table. Hot showers and clean toilets. Camp fire was kept alight for us as we needed. We saw lots of Zebra, Reed buck, Bush buck, hyena stalking at night, lots or different birds, variety of flowers!!! Would have loved to have more time to explore the different view points in the park. 2 days was good but if you want to explore more consider 3 or 4.
Yu Chun Ma Please don’t try the bike tour if you don’t have a good stamina. The road is so bad that you will need to walk your bike across the plateau (although an unforgettable experience). Will recommend the game drive !
Brian Kumangirana The environment and surrounding is amazing! The location offers fresh air, a wide variety of animals to view and a very comforting tour. The cuisine was good (at least it offers variety of lean meat for those looking on eating healthy) Safe environment and a good place to take your children for some wildlife education! Did I mention they also have elephants which are easily spotted?? Hahaha Unfortunately my camera died whilst I was on the tour of the park area. Next time I visit the location I will definitely add more photos to the collection for those who find the images interesting. For further tours and insight, follow my Instagram @brendon_kumangirana