Mozambique Habitat Guide

Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa and is bordered by Tanzania to the north, South Africa and Swaziland to the southwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Zambia and Malawi to the northwest. The waters of the Indian Ocean that edge a long coastline of over 2500km make up the eastern frontiers of the country. The coastline is deeply indented with beaches bordered by lagoons and deltas while off shore waters contain coral reefs and strings of islands. A 64 km long archipelago of offshore islands known as the Bazaruto Archipelago lies in the Mozambique Channel; it is made up of four main islands, Bazaruto, Benguerra, Santa Carolina (Paradise Island) and Magaruque.

The coastline changes into a low coastal plain before rising to a plateau that, in turn, transcends from a low-lying tabletop (500 to 2000 ft) to mountains (6000 to 8000 ft) in the west and north. This vast plateau accounts for nearly half the area of Mozambique. The highest mountains are Namuli (7936 ft), Binga (7992 ft) on the Zimbabwean border, and Serra Zuira (7306 ft) in Sofala province. The Zambezi River is the largest and most important of the 25 main rivers that traverse through Mozambique before falling into the Indian Ocean. Other major rivers in the region are the Limpopo River in the south, the Save in the centre and the Lugfenda in the north. Lake Niassa is an important navigable inland water body. Along the coast and in the river valleys in Zambezia and Gaza provinces, the soil is fertile and conducive to agriculture. In the other areas of the country, soil conditions vary from sandy and poor to dry and barren land.