Mozambique

Introduction

Mozambique is located on the southeastern coast of Africa and is bordered by Tanzania to the North, South Africa and Swaziland to the South, Zimbabwe to the West and Zambia and Malawi to the northwest.

Mozambique is made up mainly of coastal lowlands, rising toward the west to a plateau ranging from 500 to 2,000 ft above sea level and on the western border to a higher plateau (6,000 to 8,000 ft), with mountains in the north reaching a height of over 8,000 ft. The highest mountains are Namuli (7,936 ft), Binga (7,992 ft) on the Zimbabwean border, and Serra Zuira (7,306 ft) in Sofala Province.

The most important rivers are the Zambezi flowing southeast across the centre of Mozambique into the Indian Ocean, the Limpopo in the south, the Save in the middle and the Lugfenda in the north. The most important lake is the navigable Lake Niassa. In the river valleys and deltas, the soil is rich and fertile, but southern and central Mozambique has poor and sandy soil, and parts of the interior is dry.

Climate

Two main seasons, one wet and the other dry, divide the climatic year.

The wet season, from November to March, has a monthly average temperature of between 26.6°C and 29.4°C (80°F and 85°F), with cooler temperatures in the interior uplands.

The dry season lasts from April to October and has June and July temperatures averaging 18.4° to 20°C (65° - 68°F). The average annual rainfall is greatest (about 56 inches) over the western hills and the central areas, and lowest in the Zambezi lowlands averaging 16 to 32 inches.

Location

The Republic of Mozambique covers a total area of 799,380 sq km (308,641 sq miles). This includes 13,000 sq km of inland water, mainly comprising Lake Niassa, the Mozambican section of Lake Malawi. Mozambique is bounded to the north by Tanzania, to the east by Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe and to the south by South Africa and Swaziland. With some exceptions towards the Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe borders, it is generally a low-lying plateau of moderate height, descending through a sub-plateau zone to the Indian Ocean.

The main reliefs are Monte Binga (2,436m above sea-level), the highest point of Mozambique on the Zimbabwe border in Manica province, Monte Namuli (2,419m) in the Zambezia province, the Serra Zuira (2,227m) in the Manica province, and several massifs which are a continuation into norther Mozambique of the Shire highlands of Malawi. The coastal lowland is narrower in the north but widens considerably towards the south, so that terrain less than 1,000m high comprises about 45% of the total Mozambican area.

The shore-line is 2,470km long and generally sandy and bordered by lagoons, shoals and strings of coastal islets in the north. Mozambique is divided by at least 25 main rivers, all of which flow to the Indian Ocean. The largest and most historically significant is the Zambezi, whose 820km Mozambican section is navigable for 460km. Flowing from eastern Angola, the Zambezi provides access to the interior of Africa from the eastern coast.

Plant and animal life

Although Mozambique retains some dense forestlands in the north-central interior and on the Chimoio Plateau, most of the north and east-central areas are open forest. In the south the open forest of the east becomes brush and savanna grassland to the west. The largest forest reserves are on the Chimoio Plateau west and southwest of Beira and in the northern interior south of the Lúrio River. Mozambique maintains four national parks in the central and southern areas, Gorongosa, Zinave, Bazaruto, and Banhine.

Wildlife populations include water Buffalo, Elephant, Warthog, Leopard, Baboon, Giraffe, Zebra, Antelope, Lion, and numerous species of ungulate and cat. Crocodiles and Hippopotamus are still found in slow-moving waterways. Snakes, including impressive pythons and dangerous puff adders, cobras, and vipers, are found throughout the territory.

Flamingos, cranes, storks, herons, pelicans, ibis, and other tropical water birds exist throughout Mozambique but are more numerous in the moister areas of the northeast. Scavengers include crows, vultures, and buzzards, and game birds include guinea fowl, partridge, quail, and a range of geese and ducks.

Game reservations and national hunting areas are located largely in the central and southern areas, with the exception of the important Niassa reserve on the Tanzanian border and the Gilé reserve southwest of Nampula. The largest game areas are just south of the Zambezi bordering the Chimoio highlands. The nation's five hunting reservations are Niassa, Gilé, Marromeu, Pomene, and Maputo.

National Parks and Reserves

Various national parks possess the conditions suitable for safaris and other similar activities. Outstanding because of their importance are Gorongosa (Sofala), Zinave (Inhambane/Gaza), Banhine (Gaza) and Bazaruto (Inhambane). There are also several hunting reserves, such as the Elephant Reserve (Maputo), Pomene (Inhambane), Gile (Zambezia), Marromeu (Sofala), and Niassa (Niassa), as well as other designated hunting areas scattered throughout the country.

The Gorongosa National Park (3,770 sq. km), once regarded as among the richest in Southern Africa, is currently benefiting from rehabilitation work on its infrastructure and restocking of the animal population. The Bazaruto National Park, located on the island of the same name in Inhambane province, is the only marine park and constitutes an important tourist attraction due to the enormous possibilities it offers for diving and underwater fishing.