Great Plains & Plateaux
Africa is famous for its endless plains, or 'Siringit' in Maa language, believed to have given the word ‘Serengeti’ in English. A word we’re sure you’re all familiar with. And for some, imaginaries tied to the continent are of exactly that, great plains filled with wildlife of all shapes and sizes, a blazing sunset in the background. High ridges, and impressive landscapes, filling the mind with wonder and endless possibilities. Africa’s geology is perhaps intimately linked to these narratives, as the constant tectonic shifts of the Great Rift Valley (emerging from the Red Sea in Egypt and down into Mozambique) have shaped incredibly unique landscapes across most of the continent. From Ethiopia's mystical mountain ranges and highlands to Kenya and Tanzania’s Mara-Serengeti ecosystem to Malawi’s superb geological formations, Nature's immensity radiates more than ever. But the Rift Valley is not the only place for stunning plains, and Zambia holds a few secrets too.
A few of our favourite Plains & Plateaux...
Bale Mountains
Home to the Ethiopian Wolf
Another of Ethiopia’s mystical mountain ranges. Uniquely beautiful and exhibiting the usual levels of endemism Ethiopia is known for, the Bale Mountains are a must see for photographers, travellers and nature seekers alike. Their beautiful landscapes could be described as a paradise of flowery highlands and mythical forests, in the likes of the beautiful jungle-esque Harenna Forest. However, one of its claims to fame lies with the presence of the only ‘African wolf’ on the continent, the Ethiopian wolf that call the Bale Mountains home. For any lover of wildlife and rare things, these mountains are worth the effort. A few days are usually needed to find this intriguing animal, but what a delight it is when you do meet the wolves! Some groups or individuals even allow you to step out of your vehicle and follow them at a reasonable distance. A chance to really get to know or photograph this truly unique species!
Simien Mountains
Ethiopia's Mystical Mountains
Few mountain ranges on the planet are as more noteworthy than the Simien Mountains. Noteworthy, yet largely unknown to the world. A place where high peaks of 4550m fall hundreds of meters down into a single drop towards the lower lands to the north. A place where the mind is free to wander limitlessly, into the horizon. Scenically, few places rival the marvel that are the Simien mountains. Groves of Saint John’s wort lend the highlands their fairytale appearance, and upon the mountain peaks, rocks, and often snow, create an otherworldly experience. Not to mention the endemic wildlife that inhabits this mystical place. Troops of hundreds of gelada baboons frequent the cliffs, forests and grasslands of the mountains. At ease with the presence of humans, the geladas make for fascinating encounter: you can easily mingle with the family, observing them as they examine you. And upon the higher peaks dwell the magnificent yet highly endangered Walia ibex, that have also become habituated to humans, though reaching them is a trickier, adrenaline-filled task.
Plateaux and highlands of Malawi
Stunningly Reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands
Malawi is a stunning landlocked country blessed with spectacular highlands, rolling hills, beautiful beaches and incredible diversity. Split by the Great Rift Valley and famous Lake Malawi, the country is stunningly reminiscent of the Scottish highlands. Far up in the north, bordering Zambia, the Nyika Plateau is a true hidden gem. Standing at an altitude of around 2500m AMSL, the Plateau towers above the Great Rift Valley. It is perfect for hiking and cycling amongst zebra and hartebeest. Nyika is also known to have one of central Africa’s highest leopard densities, so keep your eyes peeled for flashes of rosette shaped gold. One of the best times to visit Nyika is, we believe, during the rainy season (December to March) for 400 different endemic orchid species bloom throughout. A very unique landscape, perfect for a few days of adventure and unwinding. And in the south, Malawi’s highest peak is in fact a massif with 20 peaks that are over 2500m high. Often referred to by locals as ‘the Island in the Sky’, Mulanje is a natural formation of pure beauty, syenite and granite. Waterfalls and plateaux, gorges and rivers can be found all around. Perfect for hiking and adventuring, or simply retreating from the world amidst myths and legends, the Massif is home to the Mulanje Cedar, a tree that can rise to 30m high, as well as to an array of small herbivores and birds.
Kenya’s Mara
Quintessential Africa
The Mara… what more can be said. Beautiful across the seasons, it attracts millions of tourists each year, especially in the months the Migration occupies its plains. Wildebeest to be seen endlessly, past the horizon even, as they get ready to cross the Mara river in what is considered to be the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. In the low season, dramatic skies and thunderstorms gather to unleash nasha, the much needed and blessed rains that fall biannually, in the months of March-April and November. The Mara is beautiful in green, and few sights rival the clouds condensing, dark and heavy across its vibrant plains.
The Serengeti
The 'Endless Plains'
Few places in the world hold ecological importance equal to that of the Serengeti ecosystem. A vast, unfenced landscape spanning 30 000km², it is one of the last wild places where animals can migrate without being impeded by fences or cities. Along with its Kenyan neighbour, the Masai Mara, the Serengeti makes up one of the largest protected ecosystems on earth. Home to millions of grazers that migrate each year from south to north, chasing the greener pastures and the rains, and to the highly-dense population of resident predators that feed on this infinite reserve of game, the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is brimming with life. This boundless place derives its name from the Maasai language, the word ‘Serengeti’ meaning ‘endless plain’ in Maa. And indeed – only once travellers have laid eyes on its immense horizons can they make sense of the otherwise ungraspable expanse that is the Serengeti National Park.
Ndutu Grasslands
The Densest Population of Cheetahs on Earth
It could be said that the Ndutu region of the southern Serengeti is the birthplace of the Great Migration. A constantly moving natural wonder of the world, the Migration and its millions of wildebeest and zebra, arrive at the Ndutu grasslands in February and March to calve, before heading north toward Kenya again. The bridge between the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and the Serengeti Conservation Area, Ndutu exhibits a unique landscape of acacia forest and golf-course-like plains that stretch towards the Serengeti. Yet, the pretty vistas are not the only reasons tourists flock to this unique region. Perhaps it has something to do with the utterly gorgeous, famous ‘blonde-maned lions of Ndutu’, or the fact these grasslands harbour one of the densest cheetah populations on earth. It might even be the interactions between these predators and the passing mass of birthing wildebeests, zebras and Thompson’s gazelles, a real insight into the’ circle of life’. Whichever the reason, drawing people from all four corners of the globe to this special place, one is very much guaranteed a raw and exciting display of African nature at its finest.
Liuwa Plains
Zambia's Great Plains
In a remote and jaw-dropping part of western Zambia, pristine wilderness persists. Home to the Lozi people, the mystical Liuwa floodplains are little known to tourists but well worth the detour. Green grasses, sparkling river channels and pools brimming with lilies make the Liuwa Plains a true wonderland for travellers looking to explore something different…almost exclusively. An otherworldly landscape that harbours the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa (Nov-Dec) as well as healthy lion, hyena and cheetah populations. In the late 19th century, the King of the Barotseland declared his people custodians of the area and its wildlife. At the time, this contrasted with other fortress conservation practices that dominated the conservation world, focusing solely on wildlife preservation and forsaking local communities, often evicted from their ancestral lands in the name of conservation. Now managed by African Parks, the area’s legacy lives on: a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem, with vast grazing herds, predator numbers and thriving birdlife.
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