Protected area
Mutinondo Wilderness
Private wilderness of granite hills, miombo and rivers on the Muchinga Escarpment, for walking, swimming and birding.
111 km² · 0 gates · 2 campsites · Run by Privately owned
About the park
Mutinondo is a privately owned wilderness of more than 10,000 ha on the Muchinga Escarpment, about 30 km west of the Luangwa Valley: granite domes rising out of miombo woodland, with clear rivers and rock pools between them. It is a place to explore on your own feet rather than by game drive, with over 70 km of trails, mountain biking, wild swimming and paddling, plus rock art. Birders come for its 374 recorded species, and it is one of the best-known sites for the bar-winged weaver; wildlife is returning but sightings are not guaranteed. Accommodation is four stone chalets and a campsite. It is 70 km south of Mpika, turning off the Great North Road at Kalonje onto 25 km of graded bush track.
Highlights
- Hiking the granite inselbergs, including the 10 Peaks Challenge
- Swimming and canoeing in the rivers
- Birding for miombo specialists such as the bar-winged weaver
- The miombo leaf flush in September
Good to know
- About 10,655 ha of miombo, granite inselbergs and rivers
- Over 70 km of walking trails
- Four chalets and a campsite
- Turn-off at Kalonje on the Great North Road, then 25 km graded track
- About 600 km (10 hours) from Lusaka; fuel in Mpika or Serenje
When to go
Best time: June–August for hiking; September for the leaf flush; January–March for birds
Gates
No gates confirmed yet.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Privately owned before you travel.
Campsites
- Kankonde Camp, MutinondoCampsite · just outside4.3
- Mayense Campsite, MutinondoCampsite · just outside4.3US$25 pp/night
