Mutinondo Wilderness

Mutinondo is a privately run wilderness area of some ten thousand hectares on the edge of the Muchinga escarpment, made up of miombo woodland, dambo grassland and a set of bare granite whalebacks that rise a couple of hundred metres above the trees and can be walked up for views across the whole area. Three clear rivers run through it with waterfalls and pools. It is set up for walking rather than driving, which is unusual in Zambia.

What you actually see

• The granite domes - bare whalebacks rising a couple of hundred metres above the woodland.
• The walking trails - a network set up for hiking rather than game drives.
• The rivers - three clear streams with falls and pools for swimming.
• The miombo woodland - the broadleaf forest that covers most of the reserve.

When to go

May to October is dry and the walking is easiest. The rains from November bring flowers and mushrooms but heavy going. June and July are cold at night.

Honest expectations

This is a walking and landscape destination, not a game reserve; big animals are scarce. The access road is rough and can be difficult in the wet. Accommodation is comfortable but limited in number.

Nearby

Nachikufu Cave is north, and Kundalila Falls is southwest.